“Don’t patronize me,” Brandon grumbles. He stands up and announces he needs a food break. Several people echo the sentiment, and we all get up to head toward the kitchen. I’m following behind Naomi when someone tugs on mywrist. I startle, then relax at the sight of Harlow. She winks and discreetly pulls me down a hallway.
“What’re you doing?” I whisper while checking over my shoulder.
Harlow’s grin is wolfish as she presses me against a wall, her hips pinning me.
“I couldn’t wait,” she says, and my heart soars. We smash our mouths together in a desperate kiss.
“Fuck, I missed you,” Harlow breathes.
“Not as much as I’ve missed you,” I pant. “I’ve been counting down the days until I could do this again.” I squeeze her ass and kiss her again. I can feel her smiling as we break apart. Harlow rests her forehead against mine as we both wrestle our breathing back under control.
“What if we left early?” she asks.
“Greedy, greedy.” I tsk and tap her on the nose. “I’m not sure when I’ll see Em or Casey again before I have to fly home. Let’s stay another … half hour?”
The reminder I’m leaving in less than two days is like a bucket of cold water dumped over the moment. Harlow’s face falls, and her shoulders do that sad little droop that makes me want to hold her in my arms.
We just said hello. I hate knowing I’m going to have to say goodbye again so soon.
“Hey,” I whisper and caress her cheek. “We have all night together, okay?”
“I know …” Her words thick with emotion.
“Can I tell you something that will cheer you up?” I ask, since I knew I’d need something to distract us both.
She raises a skeptical eyebrow. I slide my hands up the front of her shirt and grip her by the collar. Pulling her forward, I whisper against the crown of her ear, “I’m not wearing any underwear.”
Harlow groans, her body sagging into mine as if her legs went weak. “Lily.You’re killing me.”
“Don’t believe me?” I taunt and hike my leg up, the hem of my dress riding up to reveal the soft, creamy skin of my thigh. “See for yourself.”
She slides her hand up my leg and under the hem of my dress. Her fingers find my center wet and warm for her. My breath catches as her pupils blow wide.
“Fuck,” she groans and teases her fingers through my folds. My breath hitches, and fuck this.
“Let’s get out of here,” I say.
Harlow’s eyebrows rise up her forehead. “Seriously?”
I nod, licking my lips, hungry for something far better than Carlos’ signature charcuterie board.
“Take me home, Harlow.”
“Have you ever been restrained?” I ask as I rest my head on Harlow’s chest. We’re both breathless from the last round, our bodies needing a small break.
Harlow didn’t hesitate to rush us out of there. It was tricky trying to make leaving early and at the same time unsuspicious. But between her “work emergency” and me setting the groundwork early on my stomach “bothering me,” I think we’re in the clear.
“Nope,” she says with a little laugh. “Never.”
“… Would you?”
Harlow glances down at me, and I stare up at her from under hooded eyelashes. I may or may not be playing up the adorable little pout she has trouble saying no to.
“Are you asking if you can tie me up?”
I bite my lip to hide my grin. “Yes.”
She hesitates, thinking, while her hand absentmindedly strokes my back. “Okay.”
