“Where are you staying?” I asked.
“About that…”
“Yeah?”
“I seemed to have forgotten to book a hotel room. I was hoping I might be able to crash with a friend…might be more…cost effective,” she sassed back. Damn I loved this woman. She was absolutely perfect for me. And I couldn’t wait to tell her.
“I might know someone you can bunk with,” I played along.
“Oh, and Luca.” Elise stopped walking, and I turned to face her.
“Yeah?”
“I may have forgotten my pyjamas too.” She dropped that little bombshell and sashayed away, leaving me staring at her arse.
With my tongue half hanging out of my mouth, I followed her across the room like a lost little puppy. When we reached the group of girls she’d arrived with, she joined their conversation, leaving me to take care of what I needed to. There was only one problem with that though. What I needed to do was be buried balls-deep in Elise. Concentrating on anything else was proving a challenge. When I looked up, I saw I wasn’t the only one suffering. Bryce and Logan looked like they were in physical pain while Tyler was hovering around Ava like a bad smell.
I lasted three minutes.
Three minutes was all it took before my restraint snapped and I had to get my hands on her. Moving to Elise’s side, I stepped in behind her and slid my hand around her hip, resting it on her belly. When her fingers drifted down and tangled with mine, peace settled over me.
“Would you like another drink?” I offered, needing to do something other than stand there looking like a pussy-whipped chump.
“Sure. But just water please,” Elise replied politely, brushing the hair from her shoulder.
From where I was standing and my height advantage, peering over Elise’s shoulder gave me direct viewing access to the promised land. I could see straight down her dress to her creamy boobs that were taunting me with their very existence. Elise may have thought she won; showing up here unexpectedly, making me almost come in my pants with this sexy-as-fuck dress, but I was going to have the last laugh. Peeling her out of it soon would be my fucking pleasure.
I grabbed a couple of waters and returned to Elise’s side. Steering her away from her newfound friends, we made our way around the room, making sure we were seen by everyone who needed to see us. I introduced her to a few other people who were sponsored by the same sports drink company before we took our seats and prepared for the boring part of the evening.
After what felt like a million and one boring speeches, dinner was finally served.
While I ate my steak and potatoes, Elise chatted with Marianne. They were hatching up some plot that I had a feeling I was going to get roped into at some point, but seeing the way Elise’s eyes lit up, I didn’t care. I’d do anything to make her happy. All it took was that smile and I was done.
“How often do these types of events happen?” Elise asked, turning back to me and sliding her hand along my thigh under the tablecloth.
Clearing my throat, I managed to force out an answer. “Usually only once a year. The rest of the time they’re a lot less formal.”
“Less formal?”
“No monkey suit required,” I confirmed.
“Ah. What if I said I liked the monkey suit?” Her wandering hands crept even farther up my leg.
Sucking in a breath through my nose, I tried to keep my expression neutral. No one needed to know just how badly she was tormenting me. I could stop her wandering hands, or I could repay the favour. If she thought I hadn’t noticed that thigh-high split up her smooth leg, then Elise didn’t know me at all. I noticed alright. I think every guy in here did. The only difference was, I was yet to take advantage of the situation. Something I was about to rectify.
The moment my hand touched her skin, we both jumped in our seats. I wasn’t expecting the zap of electricity to pass through me.
“Luca…”
“Payback, Elise,” I taunted with a wink.
While I was completely consumed with Elise, I was nudged in the ribs from the other side. Or should I say I was nudged in the very sore, slightly bruised ribs. “So, Conti, you glad your girl decided to crash the party?” Tash asked unashamedly. Beside her, Logan shrugged an apology, and Bryce just chuckled. I guess they were used to the way she was.
“Absolutely,” I confirmed without hesitation.
“Why didn’t you bring her down with you then?” Tash probed.
“Tash…” Logan warned, and she just waved a hand in his direction.
