I knew I shouldn’t, but I reached for the leg of her chair anyway, dragging her towards me—watching her eyes flare as I pulled her legs between my spread knees. “Prove it.” I murmured, waiting in pulse-thrumming anticipation as I pushed her wateracross the countertop. “Show me you can be a good girl and drink every last drop.”I challenged whisper soft.
She searched my eyes, lips parted on a retort that never made it past her lips.
“I dare you.” I hummed low and egged her on, knowing I had her. “Unless you don’t know how,Rookie.” I smirked as something electric hummed in the air between us.
Oh so slowly,nervously, Sara picked up the bottle, and my eyes dropped to her lips as she tipped the bottle against that temptingly smart mouth of hers in compliance—watching as that slender throat worked while she swallowed.
“Atta girl.” I murmured breathlessly. “But I know you can take a little more, can’t you?” Sara’s eyes went wide as I rasped. “Unless you need me to teach you how.”
“Sorry about that.” Gina tossed her blonde hair over her shoulder as she slid back onto the barstool on the other side of Sara.
Sara jumped so hard that she nearly fell off the stool, and I only grinned, steadying her back into her seat as she sputtered water everywhere.Checkmate.
Sarah was coughing as Gina spread some caviar on a chive blini and popped it into her mouth. “What I’d miss?”
“Nothing at all.” I said casually, sliding Sara a wink that made her narrow her eyes.
Sara rested an elbow on the counter and leaned on her hand, scratching her face with her middle finger—subtly flipping me off.
There she is.I dropped my gaze and suppressed a smile.
“Dinner’s ready.” Liam announced and tipped his head, motioning for us to follow him into the dining room as he headed that way with several plates in hand.
I followed behind Sara and purred into her ear, “Don’t think this is over, pretty girl. I want you to drink every last drop, andswallow,like the good girl I know you are.” I smirked as she nearly tripped, but I was right there to catch her, and I always would be.
The most beautiful plates of food were spread across the flower-dressed table, soft music played in the background, and candles flickered all around us.
“Birthday girl first.” Gina beamed, inviting Sara to start us off.
Liam and I exchanged a look while we waited with bated breath to see what Sara would serve herself. She gingerly took a very small amount from the dishes directly in front of her and then quickly passed the plates to Gina.
Liam wasted no time. “Here, have some of this too.” He plopped a comically large pile of shredded meat onto Sara’s plate before she could object, and I passed a few more plates towards Liam to aid in the effort.
Gina, to my frustration, uncorked yetanotherbottle of wine, topping everyone off, and I realized Liam and Gina were definitely not on the same page regarding Sara. Had they even discussed this at all? They were usually so in sync.
After the girls had served themselves, I loaded up my plate, and Liam did the same, keeping a bright smile on his face as we worked overtime to keep the conversation light and easy.
“This is so cute,” Gina commented halfway through the meal. “It’s like a little double date.”
My chest tightened as Liam scoffed. “Hardly. Carter isn’t Sara’s type.” He shot a look at me. “And she’s definitely not yours.”
I felt Sara’s gaze flick up to me for a millisecond, but I didn’t dare look back. I was still on thin ice from Thanksgiving.
Throughout dinner, Sara made a good effort oflookinglike she was eating, but by the end, I knew she’d just pushed most of the food around on her plate.
The only thing shehadfinished was her wine, because Gina kept refilling everyone’s damn glasses the moment they’d emptied.
After dinner, we all crammed onto the deep-seated sofa with Liam and me on the ends, and the girls in the middle, but aboutten minutes into the movie—Gina leaned over to Liam and whispered something before they disappeared down the hallway and didn’t return.
Sara brushed against me as she quickly reached for the remote and cranked the volume up, muttering, “When Gina’s in town, they’re like thisevery freaking night.”
I chuckled and laid my arm over the back of the couch. “I guess that means it’s just you and me now, birthday girl.”
“Guess so.” Sara’s eyes darted to mine and then quickly away, not full of so much tease now that we were actually alone.
There was a heavy thump from down the hallway and then a muffled squeal from Gina, and a deep laugh from Liam.
“Let it begin.” Sara groaned and turned the TV up a little more.
