Lori

By the time the main course was being served, I couldn't feel my toes. I'd been on my feet for twelve hours, but the wedding wasn't going to be over for another five. At nine, I slid out of the tent to call Milo. Afterward, I took advantage of the fact I was alone and took my first mini-break, enjoying the cool, salty air. I'd snapped a photo of the wedding rings and sent it to my cousin Pippa. She called me a few seconds later.

"Hey! Thanks for the pic. I always like to see my creations out in the wild."

"They're beautiful. So, when can we expect the special collection?" My cousin had created a limited edition collection of engagement and wedding rings a few years ago, and it took off. Now they wanted to grow that segment to a permanent line.

"I'm thinking next year. We still have to finalize details and contracts." 

"Can't wait. How are things in San Francisco?"

"Oh, you know. Sebastian and Logan try to boss us around. Emphasis on try," she said, referring to her older brothers. "Christopher and Max try to teach my girls every trick in the book."

I laughed, imagining how that went. There was a strong twin gene in our family. Christopher and Max Bennett were identical twins, and they'd used their likeness for many pranks as kids. It seemed common sense to teach Pippa's twin girls to do the same. I'd last seen the Bennett clan at Landon's wedding, and I missed them.

"So, business as usual," I concluded.

"Pretty much. By the way, I've heard interesting reports about a certain best man." I could hear the joy in Pippa's voice. I wondered which of my sisters had ratted me out.

"Pippa Bennett-Callahan! Are you prying?"

"Of course. And proudly owning up to it."

"Well, I'm working this wedding now, but I'll call you next week and fill you in."

"Okay."

As soon as I clicked off the phone, I realized the DJ was playing dance music, when my indications had been to switch to low-key chamber music while the guests ate. With a sigh, I headed back inside.

"Andrew, the guests are eating the main course," I said when I reached his booth.

"Sorry, Lori. I got carried away." He switched to a low-key tune. I headed to the bar next, in the far right corner of the room.

"Dylan, how is the ice supply?" I asked the bartender. We'd ordered enough ice for the entire event, but we only brought out one ice bag at a time, for cosmetic reasons.

"I still have some left. I think I'll need a new one in about twenty minutes."

"Why don't you go and get it now while everyone is eating? I'll stay here in case anyone needs something."

He nodded and disappeared through the personnel door. We'd set up a lounge area in front of the bar, comprised of five leather chairs and a small coffee table in between. I sat on one of them and felt my skin prickle with awareness. Graham was watching me again; I was sure of it. I'd caught him looking at me often tonight. 

I chanced a glance across the room and immediately found him, even though he wasn't in his seat. I felt even more wired to him than yesterday. That invisible thread linking us was growing stronger, and I had no clue what to do about it. Maybe he could feel that too, because each time we talked tonight, he'd kept a respectable distance, as if he didn't trust himself to be too close to me. Our gazes crossed. It was a good thing I was sitting because my knees weakened a little. I could swear his gaze was more molten each time he looked at me. He was an excellent best man. His speech had been fun and heartwarming, and he'd dutifully danced with each bridesmaid.

I'd tried to ignore the twist in my gut each time one of them had leaned in too close, or laughed with him. The maid of honor had been particularly possessive of him, monopolizing him for double the number of dances the other bridesmaids had. Yep, I'd counted. I was certain Jackie hoped they'd honor the long-standing tradition of the best man and the maid of honor getting it on during the wedding night. My gut twisted some more at the thought. It shouldn't bother me, but it did. I hadn't been so attracted to a man since before I had Milo. I could still feel the heat of his lips on mine, even though it happened twenty-four hours ago. Yeah, I'd counted that too. 

A waiter showed up next to me. On his tray, he carried a plate with the main course and a glass of orange juice.

"Your dinner, Ms. Connor."

Even though Amber had been generous enough to treat me to the entire menu, I hadn't had time to touch the appetizers. I was starving, but I was afraid that a full belly would drain me of energy. As if he could sense my hesitation, the waiter said, "I have orders not to leave until you accept the dinner."

I didn't have to ask to know who'd given the orders. Warmth spread through me. Not the kind that was sparked by a kiss and simmered on the surface, lighting up my nerve endings. It was the more dangerous kind. The kind that went deep into my bones and was impossible to shake off.

"Thank you." I took the plate and the glass. Eating at the coffee table wasn't elegant, but I'd promised Dylan I'd stay here until he returned with the ice.

I didn't dare look at Graham again. I didn't think I could meet his eyes right now and not give myself away. I wanted him. I wanted him so much that I wondered again if it wasn't smarter to head home after all.

As the evening wound down, it appeared that someone else wanted to stay here too. Jackie was complaining loudly about going back to the city so late. Graham didn't extend her the offer to spend the night here.

A funny thing happened once the guests started filtering out. Despite having been on my feet the entire day, energy spiked in my veins.

"I can't feel my feet," Amber complained after the very last guest left. She put a hand on my shoulder, beaming. "Thank you for everything."

"My pleasure."

"Should we start taking down the decorations now?" she asked.

"That's my job. Don't you even think about it. You two hop in that fancy car waiting for you and go to your fancy hotel room. Don't you have a wedding night to celebrate?"

"Yes, yes we do!" Matt exclaimed. 

Amber waved her hand dismissively, but winked at her husband. "Where's the hurry? You already knocked me up. Already sampled the goods."

Matt's eyes widened. Graham seemed suddenly very interested in a napkin he'd picked up off the floor. I pretended I didn't hear anything.

"Amber, I've got everything under control here. I'll tip the staff and then see to the decorations in the morning. Off you go."

She relented, and as Matt took her hand, Graham said, "I'll walk the two of you to the car."

Once they left, I tipped each member of the staff, thanking them for their work. I kept looking over my shoulder, checking if Graham had stepped back inside the tent. Usually, I was exhausted at the end of a wedding, but now I was so wired that I felt like tap dancing. After the staff left, I went by each lighting installation and turned it off. When I had two left, I heard someone step inside the tent. I would have known it was him even if we weren't the only ones left on the property. I recognized the strong, confident rhythm of his steps.

As I turned off the switch, the tent went darker than I expected. I realized Graham had turned off the last light at the same time. Some light was still filtering in from the house, but the semidarkness invited naughty and illicit activity. I couldn't believe my mind had gone there already.

Graham broke the silence first. "You did a great job today."

"Thanks, and back at you. You were an excellent best man."

"Does that mean I passed the test?"

"With flying colors."

He stepped close enough that I could see his smile. It was the closest we'd been for the past few hours, and I was suddenly very grateful he'd kept his distance during the party, because his proximity made it hard to think.

"You danced a lot," I said. 

"Comes with best man duties."

With one hand, he undid his bowtie and popped open the top button of his shirt. There was something incredibly sexy about the fact that he felt comfortable enough around me to do that. That one button he'd undone didn't reveal much, though. I wondered how much relaxing it would take for him to pop open another one, give me a glimpse of his skin. Hell, I wouldn't say no to a peek at a nipple either. What were we talking about? Oh, that's right. Dancing.

"You seemed to have fun dancing. The girls certainly did."

He was silent for a beat, then moved even closer.

"Do you know how hard it was to stay away from you tonight, Lori?"

I sucked in a breath.

"You were the only woman I wanted to dance with, and I couldn't have you. The whole night, I've been fantasizing about making everyone leave so we could be alone."

I couldn't form an answer. All thoughts fled me. All my muscles were strung tight. He brought one hand to my belly, and I knew he could feel the tension coiled in my body.

"You're so tense, Lori. I want to ravish you." His hand moved higher. "I want to taste you, make you mine."

He brought his mouth to my ear, moved his hand from my belly up to cup my face, and kissed me. I moaned when our tongues collided. His sheer masculinity made my entire body thrum, lighting me up on the inside. It felt out-of-this-world good, just like before. Was it possible that I'd forgotten what it felt like to be kissed? No, I just hadn't been kissed by someone who was so good at it. And deep down, I knew no other kiss would ever match Graham's.

I searched in vain for my arsenal of excuses. I couldn't think. All I could do was feel. When he brought me flush against him, and his erection pressed against my belly, I lost all decency. I wound my fingers through his hair, tugging and demanding. His passion lit me up. He cinched my dress up until his fingers were on the bare skin of my thigh. He slid it to my ass and hoisted me up until l felt the tip of his erection against my center. I almost came, and my panties were still on.

"I want you so much, Lori. I don't know what not wanting you feels like anymore."

"I want you too," I admitted, voice low, almost a whisper.

He kissed me again, and I lifted one bent leg onto his thigh, opening up, grinding against him. I needed more friction. Oh my, this was too much. Feeling his fingers digging into my ass cheek, his hard chest pressing against my breasts, teasing my sensitive nipples, the length of his cock rubbing against my clit—

I exploded the next second, coming so hard that the leg I was standing on shook. The one I'd lifted spasmed. Graham held me tight to him while I regained my breath. I couldn't believe I'd just climaxed. It usually took me about fifteen minutes to relax and work myself up to a high point. Embarrassment gnawed at me, but Graham put me at ease with one sentence.

"Lori, you coming like that was so damn sexy."

He took my hand, and we moved onto the pathway leading up to the house. As we stepped inside, I heard a buzzing sound. Graham took his phone out of his pocket, tossed it in the bowl with keys at the right of the entrance.

"Don't you want to take that? Could be important."

"Lori, that phone could be on fire and it wouldn't stop me."

Okay then.

Up the stairs we went, then into the master bedroom. He kissed me against the door, his hand tugging on the zipper of my dress. A shiver ran through me. My muscles tensed. 

"What's wrong?" he murmured.

"Nothing," I said quickly.

"Lori, I can feel you thinking, stressing. You go all rigid when you're nervous. Talk to me."

"I haven't done this in a while." I glanced out the window, at the ocean, not quite able to meet his eyes. The moon hung low, its glow amplified by the reflection in the water. Graham cupped my cheek, turning my head until our eyes locked.