“Don’t give me ideas,” I say sweetly.
My hands are still on his chest. I can feel his heart pounding steadily under my right palm. It’s a reminder that this powerful, handsome, vital man is also fallible. Mortal, made of flesh and bone.
He chuckles, my hands absorbing the rumble. “We’re putting on a show. Try to look like you’re enjoying yourself.”
Iamenjoying being this close to him. Enjoying his hands on my waist, holding me like they belong there. I blame this on the rum. If I were sober, I’d have already kicked him in the shins.
I give him an arch look. “I’m not good at faking it.”
“I know.” His head dips, his lips close to my ear. “Your screams were all too real.”
He’s baiting me. I’m not going to take it.
When he straightens, I look him in the eye, sliding my hands slowly up to his shoulders. “Or maybe I’m better at faking it than I thought I was.”
That’s a blatant lie. Every noise I made that night was one hundred percent real and totally involuntary, an instinctive reaction to the unbelievable pleasure he inflicted on me. Again and again and again. I’m getting turned on just thinking about it.
Which is a terrible, very bad, no-good thing.
Because this man is not for me. He’s made that more than apparent in every way possible.
He smirks. “We both know you weren’t faking it.”
He’s right, damn him. But I refuse to admit it.
I change the subject instead.
“So, why are we putting on a show?”
“So that Luna and Priest think we’re friends.”
“More like frenemies.”
One of his hands glides to the small of my back, resting just above my ass, and I hate how good and comfortable it feels, being in his hold like this.
“Besides,” he said coolly, “it’s a good photo op. The best man and the maid of honor, dancing together. It’ll make Luna happy.”
As if on cue, the photographer appears at our side. And I know he’s right. Luna has been fixated on wanting the photography team to capture the essence of the day and preserve it. So for my bestie’s sake, I lean into Alessio and smile. The hand on my back presses me even closer. I feel his cock brush against me as the camera flashes.
“Perfect,” the photographer says, grinning at us.
A few more snaps, and she moves on, taking pictures of the other guests as she goes. The second she’s gone, I jerk away, putting enough space between us that I won’t have his monster dick tempting me.
Oh God.Just the thought of his big, beautiful cock practically ruins my panties. I need to get my shit together. Or never touch another drop of alcohol again. Maybe both.
The song winds down to the final lyrics about meeting someone and it altering the trajectory of your life.
And they’re so not wrong. Everythinghaschanged since I arrived in St. Thomas.
Alessio releases his hold on me, and I step back like he’s made of fire and I just got burned. The DJ announces that we have a half hour left before the reception comes to an end.
It’s almost midnight.
Without even looking at him again, I head for Luna. We spend the rest of the reception dancing and laughing, and when it’s all finally over, she looks exhausted but happy.
“Everything was wonderful,” I tell her. “This was the most gorgeous wedding I’ve ever attended.”
“Thank you, Is.” We hug again, and then Priest is there to collect his wife and take her back to his bungalow.
