“Sure you’re okay not being up there?”

Stassi smiled against Alec’s neck, all the while moving his hands under her dress to squeeze her backside. “Mmm. As long as you keep grabbing my ass like that I’ll be perfectly fine right here.”

Alec chuckled into her hair as she turned and watched the couple in front of her. It was the first night they’d been to one of the parties in a while, but he knew she loved them. The red hot look on her face as she watched. “I have a surprise for you,” he whispered in her ear.

“Ooh. I do love surprises.”

“Do you? Perfect. But you have to come with me to one of the back rooms.”

“The back room? So scandalous.”

“I know.”

Stassi’s face lit up as she stood, switching her champagne to the other hand so she could pull him up with her.

He wrapped his arm around her waist and tucked her into his side as they made their way down the hall. He inhaled her perfume as they walked, so soft and sexy. He loved the way she smelled. The way she felt. The way she loved. All of it.

Stassi smirked and raised an eyebrow as he took a small key out of his pocket. “Aren’t these supposed to stay unlocked?”

“Come on, Blondie, you know we’re VIP.”

“I can’t believe you actually said that.”

“I know. Not my finest moment. Now get your sexy ass in there.” Alec held open the door as she waltzed through, her slinky black dress hugging the curves of her hips each time she moved. He closed the door behind him, then went to the nightstand and took out a small gift box with a simple white bow from the drawer. He turned and placed it on the bed, his pulse quickening with thoughts of what was to come.

“For me?” Stassi asked, a coy little drawl in her words.

Alec simply nodded toward the present, his eyes never leaving hers.

She held out her champagne for him to take, then closed the distance between herself and the bed, her shiny black high heels clicking on the hardwood floor as she walked. She picked up the box, turned it around a few times, then gave it a shake.

“Glad it’s not breakable.”

Stassi laughed and delicately slipped her fingers under the bow, then tossed it to the side. Her eyes burned into his as she took off the lip, then peeked inside. “My, my, my…Alec Taylor…what do you have in mind with this?” She pulled out the silver blindfold and twirled it around her fingers.

Alec placed her champagne on the dresser, then shrugged out of his dress jacket and laid it over the chair. “Tonight, Blondie, is about you and your fantasy.”

“Oh, yeah? I don’t remember telling you I had any specific fantasies.”

“You didn’t.” Alec unbuttoned his shirt and placed it by his jacket, then slowly made his way to Stassi. “Not verbally, anyway.”

Stassi’s chest rose and fell with slow, deep breaths.

He placed his hand on her throat, and her quickening heartbeat beneath his fingertips told him he’d been right. “I think you enjoy being in control. It was a rule of yours that first night, but I think you dream about letting it all go.”

Stassi rubbed the material back and forth between her fingers, the skin on her cheeks turning pink as she did so.

Alec slipped her mask off her eyes and let it fall to the ground. He took the blindfold from her fingers, kissed her eyelids, and then secured the material over them. “Let go. Let me take care of you.”

Stassi didn’t respond. Didn’t react. Simply stood still, her mouth slightly parted, eyebrows furrowed.

“If you don’t want to do this, we won’t.”

She nodded, her face relaxing a little.

Alec’s hand traveled up her neck until he cupped her chin, then lifted her face so her eyes met his. “Is this something you want?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. Lie down.”

She nodded again, then took a few steps backward until the back of her legs touched the mattress. She sank down into the comforter and positioned herself in the middle of the bed.

“Okay, Blondie. This, right now, isn’t about me. I won’t be getting off in here.” He picked up the champagne from the dresser, then joined her on the bed. “This is about you, always wanting to be in control. Always needing to run things. It’s who you are, and it’s adorable as hell. It’s one of the many reasons I love you.” And he did love her. With every bone in his body. He knew without a doubt he’d spend the rest of his life with this woman.

Stassi let out a nervous chuckle, then went silent again.

He took a drink of champagne, making sure to let some of the cool liquid coat his lips. He straddled her, and thank the lord above he still wore his pants, otherwise he wouldn’t have been able to stop himself from sinking inside her.

He leaned forward, ran his nose up the soft skin of her neck, and then brushed his mouth over hers.

Stassi let out a soft moan, then flicked her tongue out to catch each and every drop of champagne from his lips.

He caught her tongue in his teeth, then sucked it into his mouth.

She gasped as his tongue worked hers, the taste and feel of him exquisite. With the blindfold taking away her site, her body was on high alert. More sensitive than ever before. And as he pulled down the tops of her dress and the cool air touched her skin, her nipples puckered and ached in response.

She dug her fingers into the comforter as Alec’s mouth trailed a hot path down her throat, between her breasts, and down her stomach.

Cool air once again greeted her over sensitized skin as he lifted her dress past her hips and up to her waist. She could only imagine how she looked to him. Laid out before him. Blindfolded. Her clothes scrunched up with everything on display.

“Oh!” she gasped as a drop of cold liquid landed just below her belly button. Then another a few inches down. She shivered as the champagne made a path from her across her stomach to just above her sex.

She fought the urge to rip the blindfold off and take the lead. To curl her fingers in his hair and push him south until he satisfied her with his mouth. But she held still, because she had wanted this. To not have to control every aspect of her life. To lie back and enjoy someone pleasing her without wondering what her next move should be. To accept the pleasure for what it was.

Alec’s hot tongue disrupted her thoughts. He dragged it across her skin, lapping up the drop by her belly button, and then he was gone.

She let out breathy gasps as his tongue came into contact with her again, licking and sucking each drop off her body until he came to the last one.

“Don’t move, Blondie.”

His hot breath on her sensitive folds had her shivering almost uncontrollably.

“I mean it. I’d hate for this one to fall.”

“Oh, Alec…” Her breathing became labored as he ran his fingers up and down her slick folds. Her clit pulsed in achy, delicious waves, and she needed him to fix it.

“Do you want me to take care of you?”

“Yes, please.” She waited, desperately trying to anticipate his next move. She couldn’t see him, couldn’t hear him… “Alec, please—” She broke off in a wild moan of ecstasy as his tongue found the drop, then continued down until he’d licked her entire pussy.

He grabbed her thighs and spread her open wider, to which she happily obliged.

She knew her orgasm would come soon; it’d been building since he’d slipped the blindfold over her eyes. When she’d lost her control, each and every nerve she had was turned on high. She found her nipples with her fingers and began to pinch them as he went down on her.

His tongue lapped at her clit, alternating between gentle licks and long, deep sucks.

She lifted her hips, grinding herself against him, racing toward her climax, and when he finally slipped two fingers inside and rubbed them against her most sensitive spot, she came undone. Her back arched off the bed as she squeezed her nipples harder, intensifying her orgasm, riding out the pleasure he’d given her.

He growled into her wet flesh as he spread her wider with his fingers, then ran his tongue along every crevice. “I could eat your pussy for the rest of my fucking life. I hope you know that.”

“I could let you.”

His tongue eventually slowed to gentle caresses, then he made his way back up her body, kissing and nibbling her flesh as he went. As he lay down beside her, he slipped his fingers underneath her blindfold and pulled it off.

Stassi turned and snuggled into his side. “You’re amazing.”

He chuckled and ran his fingers through her hair, then pulled her in and gave her a gentle kiss.

“I mean it. You’re amazing,” she said again. Her heart felt heavy in her chest. “I love you. So very much. I don’t think I ever thought I’d be with someone like you.”

Alec leaned down and crushed his mouth to hers. “I love you, too. I have since the moment I saw you.”

She wrapped her hand around his neck and brought his mouth to hers again. She delighted in the feel of his soft lips against hers. The way his tongue caressed her body. Her mouth. She loved everything about this man. They, alone, were perfect.

“Jackson!”

Alec and Stassi both pulled away from each other and turned their attention toward the noise. Someone was pounding on the doors, one by one, making their way down the hallway.

“Jackson, I swear to God if you’re in there…”

“Is that Gigi?” Alec asked.

Stassi stood and quickly pulled her dress back into place as she walked to the bedroom door, then pulled it open.

Gigi was, in fact, going to each room and banging on the doors, yelling like a madwoman for Jackson.

Stassi jogged into the hallway and waved her arms in an effort to get her attention. “Gigi, what the hell?”

“Have you seen him?”

Stassi had never seen Gigi so disheveled. Her eyes were bloodshot, her cheeks streaked with tears. “No, I haven’t. Why would Jackson be here without you?”

Gigi ran her fingers through her hair and looked back over her shoulder. “Because he doesn’t care what I think, that’s why. He doesn’t give a shit if he makes an absolute fool of me. He only thinks about himself.”

Stassi couldn’t believe what she was hearing. It hadn’t been too long ago they’d all been out for Lacey’s birthday, and Jackson and Gigi had been the perfect picture of engaged bliss. “What are you talking about? The man is over the moon for you. Anyone can see that.”

“Gigi, is everything okay?” Alec closed the door behind him, then came to stand by Stassi. “Is there something I can help you with?”

“Is LeAnn here tonight?” Gigi crossed her arms and tapped her foot impatiently.

“LeAnn? Who’s LeAnn?” Stassi turned toward Alec, her confusion only increasing when she saw his face had gone pale.

“I haven’t seen her tonight, no.”

“Who the hell is LeAnn?”

Gigi ignored her, speaking only to Alec. “She called him tonight and off he went, and now I can’t get ahold of him. I thought maybe they came here.”

Alec cursed under his breath, then placed his hands on Stassi’s shoulders. “She’s my older sister. I’ll explain it all later, but right now I need to call Jen. Okay?”

Stassi didn’t say anything, just went over all the information in her head. LeAnn was Alec and Jen’s sister. The one with the alcohol issues. The one they didn’t speak to. Why would she have called Jackson?

“Stassi, okay?”

“Yeah. Yes, okay. Go.” Stassi waved him off.

“I love you. I’m going to make the call outside. I’ll be right back.”

Stassi watched as Alec hurried down the hallway, and then he was gone. She turned back to Gigi, frustrated with her for having ruined their night with her bullshit, but kept her mouth shut when she saw her face. Gigi was…heartbroken.

“I knew this would happen.” Gigi sank down onto the floor, her knees pulled into her chest.

It was then Stassi noticed Gigi wasn’t dressed for the party. Instead of a black dress or skirt, she wore torn jeans and a paint stained grey top. “Why are you here?”

“I was with Jackson, and then LeAnn called, and he just…left. Like that.” Gigi snapped her fingers. “I’ve told him he can’t do those kinds of things. People will talk. It doesn’t look right. And if we want this to work…”

Stassi sat beside Gigi and brushed her hair away from her tear stained face. “Hey, it’s okay. Jackson would never cheat on you. Whatever is happening with LeAnn, Alec seemed to know what the deal was. I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

“Cheat on me? Ha.” Gigi put her face in her hands and chuckled into them. “I’m not worried about Jackson cheating on me. He couldn’t.”

“I know, that’s what I said. He’d never do that to you—”

“No, no. Not that he couldn’t out of some moral code.” Gigi wiped underneath her eyes and looked back up at Stassi. “He couldn’t because we aren’t together.”

Stassi was trying to keep up with the conversation, but she didn’t know what to think. Gigi wasn’t making any sense. Should she call Lacey? “Gigi, babe, you’re engaged. I’d say that means you’re together. Remember that big engagement party your sister threw you? With lots of presents and all your weirdo friends?”

“Oh trust me, I could never forget,” Gigi said, bitterly. “Lacey has been on my ass about my choices for years. I’m not being responsible. I shouldn’t get another tattoo. Another piercing? No way. Purple streaks in my hair? Stupid. And now she decides to be sister of the year and support my decision?”

“She’s grown a lot, you know? Since Trent and the end of her marriage. The party wasn’t just a party. I think it was her way of telling you that no matter what, she’d be there for you. To be happy for you and celebrate you and Jackson. To recognize your engagement in a real way.”

She took in a deep breath, held it for a few seconds, and then let it out. When she finally lifted her head, Stassi would have bet everything she had that nobody could ever find someone who looked as broken and defeated as Gigi. “That’s just it,” she whispered. “The engagement…Jackson…us. It’s bullshit.”