Still, I can’t seem to look away. Even if I could, something tells me he’d be forcing me right back into this position, unableto fight off the hot lash of need a second time. Sweat clings to my upper lip. I lick it away and nearly slide right off my chair to the space between his legs when he shifts. He hooks his foot around the leg of my chair and pulls me closer to the table.
My lower body disappears from view. His fingers flex hard against my thigh, and then the rounded edge of his pinky glides over my pebbled, flaming skin, climbing?—
I snap my thighs shut, trapping his hand. The amusement flickering through his eyes doesn’t exactly settle me. It’s not the subtle, teasing kind. No, Grayson’s staring at me the way I imagine a wolf eyes a lost, juicy gazelle after a sparse winter.
“Please,” James barks. “Who are you to tell me what I can and can’t say?”
Kate sighs beside me. “James, let it go.”
“I was invited here tonight by your family, Jill!”
“My mother hardly counts as my entire family,” I croak, immediately snatching my lip between my teeth.
Grayson pushes my thighs apart, wider than they were in the first place. So wide that I’m nervous my knee is going to knock against my sister’s before he pulls my chair closer to him. My spine snaps straight when he grips my inner thigh tight enough for the skin to pinch beneath his fingertips.
A spear of arousal plunges through my middle. His rough touch isn’t for show. It’s all for me, and we both know it.
“That’s rude, Jillian,” Mom snips.
My sister’s fiancé speaks, though his words are muffled in my ears. “Let’s all just relax. Have another glass of wine and dig into dessert.”
Someone speaks next, but I’m not listening anymore. My vision blurs when Grayson swipes his thumb over the slick mess I’ve left on my inner thigh. He smears it around, coating his finger in it. I want to pull the tablecloth back to watch as he touches me but use every ounce of my willpower to stay still.
Heat drifts across my temple, then the tip of my ear. “Is it dessert you want, sweetheart?”
My wineglass is cold against my skin when I pick it up by the stem and force myself to take a sip. The red wine is expensive but still tastes disgusting. It’s all I have, though. Yet it does nothing to help stifle the wanton desire I feel right now.
“I think it is. That’s why your thighs are so slick, Jill.” Each word is more growled than the last. “You’re nowhere near as hungry as I am.”
Reality frays at the edges when he pulls his hand free and brings it to his wineglass. With his first finger glistening, he runs it along the rim, smearing my arousal over where his lips have been. Then, he cranks my internal temperature to dangerous levels by taking the stem of his glass and bringing it up to his lips.
I hold my breath and watch him run his tongue along the same path he just drew before pressing his lips to the rim and taking a long swig of the wine.
Without thinking, I spread my thighs even wider and wait. Time slows as he places his glass down and returns his hand to where I want it. This time, he doesn’t bother with being coy. Every nerve ending in my body sparks to life, sending me jolting as he cups my bare pussy and squeezes.
“Shit!” I curse, my eyes bulging.
My sister lays a hand on my shoulder and leans in front of me, worried. “Are you okay?”
I wet my lips and nod jerkily. “Yep. Yeah, just a shiver. There must be a draft in here.”
“Are you sure?”
Grayson curls one of his fingers and guides it through my lips, spreading me. My eyes cross as I grip the edge of the table and whip my head to the side. It’s hard to focus on his facewhen he repeats the same motion again. Then, that same finger is drawing a gentle circle around my clit.
“Jill! Truly, are you alright?” Kate pushes, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear.
My boss’s voice joins hers, stoking that unmanageable flame burning bright inside of me. “Do you need to step outside, sweetheart?”
“Maybe that’s a good idea,” Mom huffs. “You look flushed. Are you feeling ill?”
My clit throbs painfully beneath the teasing touch. I fold myself over the table and dig my heels into the floor, pleading tears filling my eyes as I finally manage to focus on Grayson.
Before I can form the words, he’s removing his hand and, with an ease I can’t begin to understand, has an arm around my back to help me up. My knees threaten to give out completely, but I force myself to stand. I lean against Grayson’s firm chest and let him hold me, knowing damn well I need the support.
I should be slapping him for this, but goddammit, I can’t. I’m still so,soaroused, and the last thing I want to do is spout something that’s going to encourage questions from everyone watching us. I want to get out of here and to our room. Then, he’ll have a chance to make this up to me. And if he doesn’t, he’ll pay for embarrassing me like this.
My thighs glide together from how wet I’ve made them. The steady drip of arousal doesn’t stop, either. Even now, while I’m struggling to keep from orgasming from mere friction. I’m not about to give anyone a chance to figure out the truth here. Grayson seems to be thinking the same thing. He stares at my droopy eyes for a moment before beaming a kind smile at my family.
