Without warning, before I can even respond, he straightens up. Following his gaze, I see Kodi and Mav approach, and disappointment that he no longer holds my undivided attention creeps into my veins.
Absolutely not. I willnotallow myself to feel disappointed. This is just two friends who have chemistry being drunk and flirty, that’s it.
Kodi’s arms wrap around us both and she looks at me with a drunk smile and watery eyes. “Darcy, Tate! I love you guys soooo much. Thank you for coming.” She hiccups at the end, she had a good time tonight but is going to regret it on her flight tomorrow.
“Love you too babe. Wouldn’t miss it for anything. Get some sleep tonight, and send all the pictures,” I say, kissing her on the cheek. I reach out for Mav’s hand. “Take good care of her for me. Call me if you have trouble getting her dress off—it has so many fucking buttons.”
“Thanks, D, I got it off once already though so I think we got it from here.” He laughs, throwing a wink in my direction, then prying Kodi off of me and guiding her towards the door. “I need to get her to bed if we are going to make this flight in a few hours. Thank you both!”
I shiver as Tatum and I stand outside waiting for our Uber to arrive. He drapes his suit jacket over my exposed shoulders, and I’m swallowed by his warmth and his cologne. I decide to rest my head on his shoulder, my eyes growing heavy, the business of the day catching up with me.
“Wow,” I say, accompanied by a yawn. “I’m tired.”
“I bet. You did a lot—It’s been a long day.”
“Remind me if I ever get married, to just go to the courthouse or elope in the mountains.”
“Noted.” He laughs as a small, blue Corolla pulls up to the curb. Tate double-checks that the license plate matches then opens the door, grabbing my duffel and gesturing for me to get in. To my surprise, when he enters the car, he wraps an arm around my hip, pulling me into his side again. I get comfortable with my head back on his shoulder and eyes closed as the Uber takes us back to Tate's place. A gentle hand nudges me awake and I drag myself out of the car, Tate leading me into a sleek skyscraper and onto an elevator on the opposite side of the lobby, sliding a key card and pressing the penthouse button.
“The penthouse, huh? You are a bachelor,” I laugh, letting my head rest against the cool, elevator wall as it begins its ascent.
“I like nice things and pretty views, I can’t help it.” My cheeks heat when I notice the hungry way he stares at me from across the elevator.
“I do not understand you, Tatum Reed.”
“And I don’t understand you, Darcy Whitestone.” Just then the elevator pings and opens into a short hallway that leads into a sleek yet homey living space.
Tatum drops my duffel by the door and his hands find my waist, spinning me to face him as he backs me into the wall. His lips are so close to mine they almost touch, and his minty breath hitting my face, sends my pulse skyrocketing. His hips have me pinned to the hard surface behind me.
“Tate,” I blurt, suddenly feeling like I’ve downed five shots of espresso—my skin is on fire and my heart is pounding.
“Darcy,” he growls in that low, dark tone from earlier in the night. “Do you want this?”
“I do.” My voice is faint. I’m nervous because I’ve always been attracted to Tate and if tonight is the only night that I am courageous enough to give in to our attraction, then I’m going to do this. In a labored whisper, I add, “Just tonight.”
“Just tonight.”
And then his lips are crashing into mine, nothing about the kiss gentle. He tangles one of his hands in my hair, while the other he has firmly grasped around my hip. I slide my hands up his chest and behind his neck, kissing him until we pull apart—breathless and in need.
“Take me to bed, Tate.” I urge.
Lifting me by the waist and wrapping my legs around his hips, he carries me down the hall and sets me gently on my feet. Turning me so he can unzip my dress, Tate lets it fall to the floor before pulling me back to face him.
“Fuck,” he groans, having discovered that I wore absolutely nothing under my dress all day. There wasn’t a reason to—the dress has built-in support and would show panty lines.
“Your turn, Tater Tot,” I say with a smirk. I unbutton his white dress shirt, running my pointed fingernails down his abdomen and through the patch of hair above his pants before popping the button on those too. With a grip on his boxers, he pulls them off and I don’t even have time to admire the view before he pushes me backward towards his bed and lays me down, then pushing my knees open. He stops at the end of the bed, scrubbing a hand down his face as he takes me in. I’ve never had a single look make me so nervous and soaking wet at the same time, the way he is now. On instinct, I snap my thighs closed.
“Don’t hide from me. You’re fucking gorgeous.” He growls, bringing himself to kneel in front of me and pushing my legs open. He leans over me to claim my lips again, before trailing down to my neck, nipping and sucking along the way. His hands roam my body down over the swell of my breasts, down between my legs where his thumb finds my clit and begins to rub in what feels like agonizingly slow circles with just enough pressure that my hips are bucking up to find more friction. “Anxious, are we?” He says into my ear.
“Tate, please.” I whimper. Oh my god, this man is making me fucking whimper.
“I like it when you use your manners. Say it again.”
God, that shouldn’t have been as hot as it was and I am so going to regret saying this would be an only tonight thing. He pushes back onto his haunches, lazily stroking his erection. A bead of precum glistens on the head of his cock. Following my eyes, he swipes at it. Our eyes reconnect and stay locked as he gently rubs it along my bottom lip. Without a second thought, I greedily swipe my tongue out to taste it.
I reach out, and his veiny cock feels hefty and warm in my hand—my pussy throbbing at the thought of the delicious stretch it’s about to cause.
“Tatum, please. Fuck me.”
