Based on Damian's grim look, the introduction had not gone well. In college, I'd seen that look more times than I could count. I'd seen it when he was staring down a three-hundred-pound linebacker or when he'd take his anger out on anyone dumb enough to challenge him after he'd had one too many beers at the bar.
I stood up as the two drew closer, but Janice shook her head and pushed Damian towards a grove of trees a few hundred yards away. I had to give the girl credit. The fury wafting off Damian would send most women running for cover.
When I saw Erica meandering through the crowd towards the bar, I met her halfway.
"What happened?" I asked.
She looked over her shoulder at her father and frowned. "My dad called Janice a blonde bimbo and then insinuated he would like to bend her over a desk and..." Her voice trailed off.
"Jesus. Your dad really knows how to push your brother's buttons."
"Yeah, and he needs a drink, so I've been relegated to the beck-and-call girl."
"You could be my beck-and-call girl, anytime."
"Thanks, but I'm booked for the foreseeable future. You can walk with me. If you want." The expectant lift of her brows and soft smile reminded me of the girl I'd met nearly a decade ago. The girl I'd caught skulking from the bathroom this morning, was a jaded and sadder version. Something I planned on remedying.
"I would love to."
I followed after her and watched the sexy sway of her hips as she maneuvered through the growing crowd. Her dress fell shorter than I would have liked since her sky-high legs were on display for every man there. She was like a gazelle on the African plain with her long-legged gracefulness. The awkward teen was now a woman so captivating that I caught multiple men swiveling in their chairs to follow her progress across the sand.
"A dry Tanqueray martini straight up with a twist, please," Erica told the bartender.
"Does your dad think he's James Bond?" I asked.
"I'm sure in his delusional mind, he's an attractive and suave secret agent with stealth ninja skills in and out of the bedroom," she said with a snort.
"I did not need that visual."
Her bewitching laughter drifted into the fragrant air, stunning me stupid. "How long are you staying in Maui?" she asked, a smile playing on her lips.
"Until Monday. I thought I'd take a few extra days to enjoy the sunshine before heading back to Seattle. Aren't you going to get something?" I asked after the bartender handed me a beer.
"No, I'm pretty sure I downed an entire bottle of champagne before I left my mom's suite."
"Wow, and you aren't even stumbling. That's impressive."
"I've had a lot of practice. Plus, I wouldn't want to receive another lecture from my mom on the plethora of empty calories in alcohol." She was trying to make lite of a fucked-up situation, but I knew the ugly truth. Erica's mom, Allison, had an unhealthy obsession with weight. Erica's to be exact.
"Fuck that," I said under my breath. She shied away from my scowl and pointed at her dad.
"I better get back. I'll see you after the ceremony."
"Yes, you will." I captured her elbow. "And we are going to finish our conversation."
"Right. Can't wait," she replied with a weary sigh.
Thirty minutes later, after all of the guests had taken their seats, Erica stood beside her father as her mother floated down the aisle accompanied by a string quartet. Allison Wood was very attractive, for a woman her age, and commanded the attention of every person in the audience. She'd always had a flair for that.
I'd spent more time with the Woods than my family during college, much to my own mother's chagrin. It was trading one type of crazy for another. Christopher and Allison Wood were rich, sophisticated, and obsessed with appearances. They were pretty shitty parents, all in all, but at least they could put food on the table and clothes on their kids' backs.
Janice and Damian slumped into the chairs I'd saved just as the preacher started droning on about enduring love. Whatever magic Janice had spun in that grove of trees had worked. Damian no longer looked like he was about to breathe fire.
When the ceremony ended, we walked to the banquet hall. A line had formed to greet the happy couple, but I had no desire to make nice with the Woods. And I needed to talk to Erica.
"I'm going to go find Erica," I told Damian and Janice. I found Erica across the room in front of the head table, sipping a glass of champagne. The smile on her face dipped when she saw me heading her direction.
"Hi. You hanging in there?"
She shrugged. "Sure."
"When are you going to tell me what's been going on with you?" I grabbed her by the elbow when she turned to leave.
"I can't do this right now," she spluttered over her shoulder.
"I'm not letting you out of this that easily."
"It's my parents' reception. I'm not going to discuss this while family members and friends mingle within earshot."
"Then come to my room later."
Her nose wrinkled up as she turned to face me. "No. I'm not coming to your room."
"You're afraid to be alone with me?" My teasing tone only seemed to piss her off more.
"I'm not afraid. I just think it would be best if we didn't spend time alone."
"What are you afraid is going to happen?"
"You're still a tease. So, I know nothing is going to happen."
I stepped closer, allowing my words to wash over the delicate flesh of her ear, because goading her was impossible to resist. "I don't recall teasing you in the bathroom earlier. In fact, I'm pretty sure you were two seconds from coming in those tiny shorts."
She choked on her champagne, murdering me with a glare. "I was not," she said, her tone as prim as the upward tilt of her chin.
"You're a horrible liar, Erica. Did you go back to your room and touch yourself? Did you make yourself come, thinking about my fingers inside of you? Is that why you skipped out on breakfast?" I needed to stop because my dick was starting to respond to the images I was creating with my words.
"You're delusional."
"I can tell you what I'd like to see happen," I said, lowering my voice even more. "I'd like to peel that dress from your body and suck on those beautiful tits I know are hidden underneath." She stilled beside me, except for her chest, which heaved with each of her shallow breaths. "Then I'd taste you. See if your pussy is as delicious as I remember. And after I'd had my fill, I'd fuck you. Again, and again. Until you're hoarse from screaming my name."
Her hard, little nipples and the flush spreading up her neck revealed she was more turned on than angry. "Don't play with me, Dante."
"I'm not playing."
She set her glass on the table and crossed her arms over her chest. "What's so different now? Why are you willing to risk the wrath of my brother? Is it because I'm broken and you think your magical cock can fix me?"
"You're not broken. And you know what's different. You're not a naive kid anymore."
She laughed, but it was tinny and lacked any humor. "Why? Because you assume I'm not a virgin?"
Holy. Fuck.
Her eyes dropped to the ground under the weight of my stare. My dick tried to jump out of my pants and I forced open the top button of my shirt.
"You're still a virgin?"
The question hung thick in the air between us.
"And if I were?"
"Jesus," I swore as I rubbed a hand through my hair. "How is that even possible?"
Before she could respond, we both noticed Damian and Janice heading our direction. I groaned, but Erica waved them over with a relieved sigh.
"We're not done," I whispered into her ear.
She ripped her elbow out of my hand. "That's where you're wrong. We are done, Dante."