“Oh, I know,” I groaned. Seb opened his eyes, a flash of fear or anger crossing his face. “He did come by here yesterday, all pissy and judgy. I told him it was none of his business who I date. I am a twenty-nine-year-old woman who can make her own choices.”
Seb’s dimpled grin spread over his cheeks. “Of course you did. But you’re not twenty-nine yet. You still have four more days to claim you’re in your mid-twenties.
“How did you remember when my birthday was? I haven’t said a word.”
His honey-brown eyes darkened, the tension between us thickening. “It was kind of a big day for me one year. I’ve never forgotten that date.”
My heart sent a hard kick to my ribs, butterflies taking flight in my belly. I eyed him skeptically. “Seriously? Or didLuke remind you?”
“Yes, seriously. And I don’t think your brother is going to be giving me birthday gift ideas for you.”
“He’s not just my brother. He’s your best friend too,” I reminded him. My finger traced the pattern of one of his tattoos over his right pectoral as I worked up the courage to say what was on my mind. “If you want to walk this back, I get it. I don’t want to be the thing that gets between your friendship. If it’s going to ruin things between you two, we can go back to being just friends. I won’t even go back to hating you,” I joked lamely. “See, how chivalrous of me.”
“Lydia.” He held my chin between his fingers, lifting my head to meet his eyes. “For about three minutes this morning, I thought you were gone. I thought he had gotten into your head and convinced you not to give me a chance. I’ve never felt panic like that in my entire life. If you think I am going to voluntarily let you go because my buddy has an issue with it, you’re delusional. I’ve waited ten years, eleven months, and twenty-six days for you. He can fuck right off if he thinks he has a say in this.”
“So, we’re doing this? You and I?”
God, his smirk could melt the panties right off my body. “Fuck yeah, we are. It’s you and me, little wild.”
I crashed my mouth into his with a surge of emotions. Holding on to his shoulders, I hopped up, wrapping my legs around his tapered waist. To Seb’s credit, he didn’t miss a beat. He squeezed my ass cheek with one hand, his other cradling my head with his fingers laced into my knotty locks. I tried to get closer somehow, pushing myself into him as we fought for control of the kiss.
“Take me back to bed, Seb,” I said between kisses.
“So bossy.” He smirked against my lips. He could complain all he wanted. He still carried me back to our room and laid me down on the mattress, covering my body with his.
23
Sebastian
“Why are you heading over there this early?” I asked Lydia with a scowl. I had plans for us this morning. Naked plans.
I closed the shop for the day, which wasn’t great for business but necessary. I thought I was going to have a few hours of alone time with Lydia before we were needed at the wedding venue. The service didn’t start until 2:00 p.m. What the hell was the rush to get over there at 10:00 a.m.?
She shot me a quizzical look. “I have to get ready with the girls.”
“For four hours?” I complained. I could hear the whining in my voice and had to tell myself to get a grip.
“Yes, for four hours. Do you have any idea how long it takes to do six women’s hair and makeup? To get everyone in their dresses, including the bride?”
“Apparently, four hours,” I grumbled.
Her sassy, annoyed face pulled a smirk from me. She left her silvery hair down, cascading over her shoulders. The leggings that she wore hugged her ass perfectly, a flannel button-up that she’d found in my closet hanging loosely over her smallframe.
She turned to the counter in the kitchen, gathering her things. She pulled me toward her with an invisible string. I covered her ass with my hands, pressing a path as they trailed toward her hips. Her soft moan was followed by her perky ass backing up against my already swelling cock.
“Let them get started without you,” I whispered.
“That’s not how this is supposed to work,” she said, her breathy voice not sounding very convincing. Her ass pushed into my dick again, and she clearly wasn’t making any effort to get away.
I kicked her legs apart and slipped my hand around her, snaking my way under the fabric of her leggings to her warm, wet center.
“Seb,” she warned, followed by a dirty hum.
“Lydia,” I mocked. I pushed one finger into her, then another. Her head tilted to the side, exposing more of her sweet, soft skin. Animal instinct took over, and I bit down on the side of her neck, thrusting my erection against the crack of her ass.
She turned her head, eyes wide with panic. “Don’t leave a mark,” she said quickly.
I looked her in the eye before kissing her gently on the lips. “No mark, little wild. I promise.”
