CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
JORDAN
I had scheduled two appearances Saturday, both of which would have people speculating about a possible wedding.
Granted, we weren’t going to take it as far as to leak a picture of us at a chapel, but I figured if people saw us shopping together, they’d get the idea. It helped that the few places we visited were all draped in wedding paraphernalia. It didn’t take a genius to put two and two together, which was what I was hoping for. We could dupe everyone by simply being in the right place at the right time.
Our dinner that night was even supposed to resemble a rehearsal dinner. It was a private party at the Border Grill, which ended up being more like a loud fiesta where Max made Reid wear a sombrero.
Every time Reid tried to take it off, Max shouted, “Ohana!” Somehow the word had developed new definitions and it now just meant what Max says goes.
I tried to choke down my fajita, but it was useless. I was so nervous about my night with Reid that I couldn’t even focus on the fact that his Twitter following had more than tripled since our first night out when he’d serenaded me at the restaurant back in New York.
Ren sent me a text saying that Reid’s team had been so pleased with his PR that they had a few more actors they were sending our way.
Which meant more money for Ren.
And most likely a promotion for me.
It’s not that I wasn’t happy, I was elated, but everything was going too well. And that freaked me out.
Because when things were that good, something had to hit the fan, right?
Max stood at his end of the table. “Shall we make toasts to the happy couple?”
Colt chuckled. “It’s not really a wedding, so—”
“To my brother from another mother, Reid.” He sighed happily. “Because let’s just clear the air. Ain’t no way we both came from the same person.”
“Hear, hear!” Reid lifted his glass.
“I love you, Reid. I think we both know how epic my toasts can be. But I’ll just say this. I’m so happy you’ve finally found your crab.” Max grinned at me. “Yes, he told me the story. Don’t be ashamed, Sebastian. Under the sea is better . . . it’s wetter, take it from me.”
I groaned. “Please stop singing.”
“Anyway.” Max lifted his glass higher. “To the happy couple. Don’t have kids first.”
“Wait, what?” Reid asked.
Max shrugged. “Let me be first, bro. I gave up sex for you and Jezebel, so the least you can do is let me show Father our firstborn.”
I kicked Reid under the table.
“Fine,” he spat, and he narrowed his eyes at me while rubbing his shin.
“I, too, would like to say some words.” Jason stood. “You know, considering the last wedding I was at was my own and I wasn’t able to actually make a toast. Then again, I was blind in one eye, intoxicated, and marrying a vampire—”
“I knew it!” Max pounded the table with his hand.
Jason ignored him and lifted his margarita in our direction. “Jordan, I’m happy to welcome you into our crazy family. Keep Reid away from sugar-free gummy bears, walk in front of him when he sees a grandma, and if he suddenly bursts into tears for no reason, it’s probably because he smells Bengay. ChapStick makes him piss his pants, and if you go anywhere near an old people home, be prepared for lots of rocking back and forth and shouting.”
“Thanks,” Reid croaked. “Great toast, man.”
“Well, I tried.” Jason flashed him a grin.
Colt and Milo both stood together, holding hands. Milo lifted her glass. “To the girl who’s marrying into crazy.”
“So very true.” Becca winked from her seat.
“Reid,” Colt started. “Never thought I’d see the day where you and your eyes settled down, but I think I speak for men everywhere when I say, thank you.”
Reid winked at Milo.
She giggled while Colt shot daggers in our direction.
“Now”—Max stood—“if everyone will please bring their attention to the schedule, I think you’ll be pleased with what I’ve written in.”
“‘Free time,’” I read aloud. “Really?”
“Go wild.” Max laughed. “Though not too wild, maybe like half-wild, not full spring break.” He reached for Becca’s hand, then kissed it. “What say you? Mandalay Bay?”
“YES!” Becca shot to her feet. “It will be like reliving the island together!”
“Yay.” Max pumped his fist lamely. “Fish.”
“You’ll be fine.” Becca grabbed his hand, then waved good-bye to everyone.
“Well,” Jason said with a nod to Colt and Milo, “you guys still wanna see that show?”
“Yup.” They left quickly.
And I was alone.
With Reid and his hypnotic eyes.
I toyed with my straw.
Reid watched me, amusement evident on his face as his mouth curved up into a smirk. “Nervous?”
“Nope.”
“Good.” He pointed to my straw. “Also, can I just say how relieved I am that you got all that biting aggression out on your straw before we made it to the bedroom?”
I glanced at my straw, which looked like it had been through a war zone as teeth marks marred every inch of it.
“That could have been you.” I pointed.
Reid shuddered. “Gentle, let’s practice being gentle.”
“Sex should be savored,” I whispered.
“Ah, so she does remember.”
“I remember that part.” I sighed. “I’m glad I did.”
Reid stood, then offered his hand. “Let’s go.”
“Okay.”
The walk back to our hotel was too fast.
By the time we reached the elevator I was fidgeting with my hair, twirling it around my finger, and I’d developed an inability to carry on a logical, normal conversation. I was just about to ask Reid if he thought the weather was nice, desperate for any sort of conversation starter, when he gripped me by the hips and pushed me up against the wall.
“Stop.” His lips teased mine in a beckoning kiss. “You’re overthinking this, like you overthink everything.”
“Maybe.” My lower lip quivered. “I’m a girl; it’s what we do.”
“I’m a man; want to see what I do?” He chuckled darkly, and then his mouth descended in all its spicy wildness, taking me from a simple elevator ride straight into the most epic kiss I’d ever received.
His body slowly pressed me backward until my butt connected with the wall. His tongue moved slowly in and out of my mouth, drawing out the kiss, making me lean forward, eager for more, anticipating the tingling sensation that would occur when his mouth connected with mine again. Reid’s hands pressed on either side of my head; his hips glided against mine as the elevator hiccupped, causing enough slight friction that I moaned aloud.
One hand moved from the wall and trailed down my hips until he reached around and squeezed my butt, then dug his hand into my thigh as the elevator hiccupped one more time. Reid’s hands had me more hot and bothered than was probably socially acceptable in public, but I couldn’t help it.
He was a master kisser.
Placing kiss after hot, searing kiss against my lips until they buzzed with his taste.
The elevator doors opened to our penthouse suite.
Reid stepped back. “Still nervous?”
“Yes.” I blinked. “No.” Reid’s eyes zeroed in on my face, slowly lowering until his gaze stopped at my lips.
“Don’t be. You’re perfect.”
Nobody had ever called me perfect before.
He made me feel like it was true.
Like I wasn’t invisible.
I shivered uncontrollably as all of my past insecurities surfaced and then, with one sultry look from Reid Emory, dissipated.
Shoulders straightened, I lifted my head and whispered, “I like it when you look at me like that.”
“I can’t help it.” His aqua eyes flashed with hunger. “It’s your fault I look at you this way, all your fault.”
“Guess you’ll have to punish me.” I stepped past him, giggling, as he swiped my hand, then slammed his mouth against mine. This time there were no slow languid movements of his tongue or his lips—no, this was possession, domination, and although I’d always booed the submissive type of girl, I was ready to get on my hands and knees and beg him to kiss me like that again and again until my lips were bruised.
My legs flexed, then clenched together as he deepened the kiss, then with one hand swiped the key card over the door handle.
We stumbled into the room.
The card fell to the floor.
Along with Reid’s shirt.
And somehow mine.
I looked down. “How’d you manage that?”
“Magic hands.” His smooth voice was just as enticing as his mouth. I laughed as he crooked his finger at me, then kissed me again, this time lifting me into the air and twirling me around a few times before setting me back on my feet.
“What was that for?”
“Overcome with excitement.” Reid nodded breathlessly. “Felt the need to do a little dance with you in my arms. Why? Didn’t you like it?”
I giggled. “I loved it.”
“I love—” His fingers dug into my sides as he looped his hands into my skinny jeans and slowly slid them down my body, his mouth following down the valley of my breasts to my belly button and stopping there. “This, this spot right here.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“You little rebel, tell me you used to have a belly button ring and I’m going to tattoo your name on Max’s ass.”
“Not yours?”
“Mine’s too pretty.”
“Fair.” I shuddered as his hot breath teased my stomach. “And yes, I thought it would make me cool.”
“Did it?” He blew across my skin.
“Huh?” I blinked down at him. “Did what?”
He licked a circle around my belly button as I dug my hands into his hair and pushed his head down so he would keep going.
Reid chuckled darkly, then glanced up, his piercing blue eyes making me dizzy with longing. “Did the belly button ring make you cool?”
“No.” I swallowed. “And I wasn’t brave enough to show it off, so it was pointless.”
“That’s too bad.” He started unbuttoning my jeans. I wanted to tell him to stop as nerves started to creep up on me again, but his eyes, those eyes were so adoring, so trusting that I let him. I let him slide my jeans all the way down my legs.
And when they got caught on my feet and I felt like an awkward turtle who’d just gotten pushed on its back, he slowly lifted one foot and tugged then lifted the other.
Being that close to a man, where he could see every single dimple in my skin, every single scar, every single mark, was terrifying to say the least.
But something about his touch, the way he held me, the way he explored, relaxed me.
“This isn’t a onetime thing.” He glanced up. “You know that, right?”
I nodded slowly.
“This—” He gripped my butt, then tugged my hips closer to him as he placed an open-mouth kiss across my lower stomach. “This isn’t a fling. This isn’t something that stays in Vegas. I need you to understand that right now.”
“I understand.” My voice shook. “And I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
“Good.” He winked.
And then my underwear was suddenly pooling at my ankles.
He stood, his grin devilish as he reached behind me and with one hand unhooked my bra.
“Talented.” I raised one eyebrow.
“Sebastian,” he teased. “You have no idea.”
“So show me,” I taunted.
Eyes hazy, I watched him beneath my lashes as he slowly cupped my face and whispered, “No complaining when you get dehydrated and are in desperate need of food. I’m locking us in the room until I’m satisfied, until you’re satisfied, and then I’m going to do it over and over again. If you want out, you better say something now, because once we start there will be no stopping.”
“Kinda bossy, aren’t you?”
“You love it.” His mouth fused against mine as he lifted me into the air again, as if I weighed nothing, and he plunged his tongue between my lips, tasting so warm and sweet.
“I do,” I admitted.
I hadn’t realized that we were already in his bedroom. Or that he had shut the door, or that he still had jeans on.
What? Had I blacked out or was he just that good?
It had been years since I’d slept with anyone.
And the first time I decide to jump back into the sack, so to speak, I jump back in with the king of sex.
The room was dim, and in that moment, I was very much aware why he was cast as the Phantom. There was something dark about him, something so seductive that my heart was racing as if I was in danger, but the good kind, the kind that you run toward even though you aren’t sure you’ll survive it. Like surfing a wave that could kill you.
Or standing outside during a hurricane.
His masculine beauty was both terrifying and intriguing. My body responded and arched beneath his touch like I was an instrument and he was the musician.
“Phantom,” I whispered. “Too bad you didn’t bring props.”
“Ah, so she wants the cape.”
I nodded.
“Next time.” He winked, dropping his pants to the ground, then tossing them in the corner.
Well, just another thing to be amazed about.
The man didn’t wear boxers.
Or briefs.
Or anything.
“So you never wear underwear?” My breathing picked up as he pushed me back onto the bed, his face a mask of pure concentration and lust.
“Nope.”
“Ever?” I squeaked.
“Nope.”
“Oh.”
“That bother you?” He smirked as he slowly hovered over me, his bronzed chest such a ridiculous distraction I had to blink a few times before I answered.
“Nope.”
With an amused chuckle, he placed a feather-light kiss across my temple and then down the side of my neck. “Relax.”
“I am relaxed,” I argued.
“You’re freaked out.” Another kiss. “Overanalyzing.” His mouth descended to one of my breasts. I hissed out a breath. “And figuratively zipping up that skirt again.”
I whimpered as he sucked. “What was that?”
“There we go.” He blew across my skin.
I gripped the sheets as I tried to keep myself from leaping from my current position and tackling him. Why the torture?
“I love how responsive you are.” He paid attention to the next breast while his hand moved south.
“Uh . . .” It came out in a gurgle as I tried to clench my legs together and scoot away. “So, sex, that should happen.”
“Nope.” Apparently his new favorite word. “You aren’t ready for me yet. Believe me, that’s not ego talking, that’s truth.”
I looked down.
And paled.
“Wow, how exactly did they give you a penis enlargement? Your doctor does great work, really, but that’s not happening.”
“Calm”—his mouth brushed against mine—“down.”
“Says the Viking.”
“Viking?”
“Getting ready to pillage with his giant—” Reid licked my hip as I stuttered out, “Sword.”
“You do realize I’m trying to make this good for you, yet you keep distracting me with your talking. And do you even comprehend how freaking gorgeous you are? Or the hellish amount of self-control I need to keep myself from just straddling you and sinking into you? Hmm? Do you?”
I opened my mouth, but only a croak came out as my cheeks heated with embarrassment. Did he just say sink? Out loud? Apparently I was also a prude. Great.
“Sex should never be embarrassing . . . though I’m sure sometimes it is, because life is. Sex shouldn’t alter the way you feel about someone; it happens because you can’t imagine waiting one more minute.” He whispered, “One more second, without physically sharing the most intimate part of yourself with the person you lo—” He looked away. “The person you care for.”
Did I hallucinate, or had he been just about to say love?
“We need ground rules before . . .”
“Damn, you don’t make things easy, do you Jordan?”
Rhetorical question? The silence got awkward, but when I opened my mouth, he placed two fingers against my lips.
“No talking.” He nodded. “The only words I approve of are, more, Reid, yes, Reid, harder, Reid, Reid, Reid, Reid, Reid, Reid, and if you didn’t get it the first time, you can say my name, only my name. There will be no thinking about PR, no thinking about Otis, or your stupid plant, or the fact that I bring roses because that’s how my mom taught me to date. There will be tasting, lots of touching, and very close inspection of the most intimate parts of you. No pushing me away, not unless I’m hurting you, and you will not close your eyes. Ever.”
“But why would I—”
“Just keep your eyes open, so I can watch you watching me, so that you’re present, so that I can make sure you know exactly who’s making you feel this way.”
He didn’t give me any warning.
His hands moved between my thighs.
I closed my eyes.
And received a swat on the side of my hip.
I jerked my eyes open and glared.
“Feisty,” he teased. “I can work with that.”
And he did.
He so did.
There was no use fighting him as he played me like an instrument, and after about two seconds I was trying to figure out why the heck I was fighting him in the first place.
His hand left.
I leaned up on my elbows.
Just as his head lowered.
“Reid!” I shouted.
“Hmm?” He glanced up. “Sorry, kinda busy, so you’re going to have to use one of the preapproved words.”
He licked my thigh.
Then bit.
“Ouch.”
“Fail!” Reid snickered. “That wasn’t Reid approved.”
His tongue twirled dangerously close to my core; it was like his mouth was flirting with my leg.
My leg liked it.
Every part of me liked it.
“Reid!” I bucked off the bed. His hands moved to my hips and held me down. “More!”
He looked up and winked. “Love that phrase.”
“Reid.” I let out a little moan as I tried desperately not to float away and pet the unicorn currently flying overhead. Look, a butterfly! I wondered if Reid would be insulted if I took a picture of that wicked mouth of his and burned candles in front of it, you know, to pay tribute. His tongue swirled.
And then his breath was hot on my inner thigh again, raining kisses down my leg, then back up the other leg. My entire body was hot, then cold, then hot again as his mouth bit and nibbled places I didn’t even know existed.
He was going to be the death of me.