“You look beautiful,” I rasped, and if I wasn’t mistaken, my hoarse compliment made her blush.
“You think so?” She tipped her head, making the curly strands of her hair sway back and forth before she turned in a circle, giving me a three-hundred-sixty view of the dress.
The front was sweet and innocent, but the back? It was practically backless with the way it dipped into a scoop that rested on her lower back. It was so low I had to swallow at the sight of the skirt bumping upward with the curvature of her perfectly-shaped ass. An appreciative groan that couldn’t becontained rumbled through me in an almost animalistic sound, and the cheeky little smile she gave me only confirmed she’d heard me.
“I know so. Come here.” I quirked my finger, urging her to get closer.
I needed her in my space, in my air, more than I needed gravity to keep me grounded so I wouldn’t float into orbit. Shit, that was exactly how she made me feel. Like I was floating just above the ground with giddiness. I had no idea where the hell I found the patience to stay where I was as she sauntered towards me, her hips swaying this way and that. My cock throbbed behind my slacks.
Fuck, how the hell am I supposed to keep my hands off her?
The moment she was within reach, I knew the answer to that question. I wasn’t even going to try. I pulled her into me with my hands curved around her hip, and it didn’t go unnoticed how perfectly they fit there.
Mine. Made for me. Mine.The words ping-ponged around in my head.
“You’re fucking gorgeous.”
“You’re not so bad yourself.” She grinned and stepped back, then signaled for me to turn. I rolled my eyes but did as she asked. She whistled, and I chuckled as I turned back fully to face her. “You definitely fill out a dress shirt.”
“And you’re lucky we’re going to my place, or I’d make you change.” I was smirking, but I knew I’d fucked up when she frowned.
“Excuse me?” she asked with that hint of attitude I loved so much. I immediately pulled her back into my arms. “Austin,“ she warned, but I wasn’t worried.
“I just mean you look so damn pretty I know I’d end up getting in a fight by the end of the night if I took you out around other guys. Or worse, arrested.”
“That wouldn’t be my fault or my dress’, Hart.”
“Oh, I definitely know that, Elizabeth.”
“Liz,” she quietly corrected, but for some reason, I liked being the one to call her by her full name.
“Angel, it would be some dumb guy staring at you like he’s undressing you with his eyes, and I’d have to punch him out for even thinking he could disrespect you like that.”
“You know you wouldn’t have to.” She blushed, but something in her eyes heated slightly. She didn’t mind the idea of me stepping up to defend her honor. “Plus, you’re acting like you didn’t just see me this morning.”
“Honestly, baby, it feels like every minute until now was too damn long.” She blinked then rolled her eyes.
“You’re too smooth for your own good, Hart.”Hart.She was cute trying to be all tough girl around me. Something flashed in her gaze for a split second, something that gave me a little peek into her vulnerable underbelly. That’s when it hit me—she thought I was playing her.
“And you’re too gorgeous, Verdusco.” I swallowed and lifted a hand to stroke the side of her face while I talked seriously. ”Just so you know where I stand. I’m being real with you, baby. You look incredible every damn time I see you. These aren’t smooth words to charm you but the god’s honest truth. You take my breath away. Every time I look at you, it feels like the first time.”Especially when she sleeps.Not that I was ready to say that out loud and give her a reason to push me away or call the cops on me.
“Austin,” she gasped softly, her eyes set on mine as her hand rose and rested lightly on the center of my chest. Elizabeth’s soft heat permeated the material, making my cock throb at the thought of what it felt like to be skin against skin with her. Not just her hand on my chest but the two of us lined up perfectly.
“When you walked into Marie’s, I was a goner.” Her eyes flashed, but it happened so quickly I wondered for a moment if I’d imagined it before her face turned to a neutral expression. One that reminded me of that first night and how easily she’d dismissed me. “I won’t lie; that night, I tried to fight the urge to head right towards you like everything inside of me demanded I do. It was like my soul recognized yours.
“Honey—“
“But those couple of minutes I held out felt like a goddamn eternity.” My voice sounded hoarse in my own ears. “And when you told me you weren’t interested, it felt like Cupid himself had shot me straight through the heart,” I admitted. Talking about my feelings wasn’t something I was used to. Not with being raised by a bitter, heartbroken drunk of a father, or with my tough-as-nails best friends, or my brothers, who avoided emotions harder than the plague.
Well, they had. Until Merri last year.
She stared at me for a long moment. I swallowed hard, my Adam’s apple bobbing and nerves flowing heavily in my veins. I could see the wheels turning behind her pretty stare and had a feeling I wasn’t going to like what she was about to say.
“Is it the chase you like?” Her gaze never wavered from mine. I shook my head.
“No, it’s you,” I answered honestly. My eyes were locked with hers, afraid to miss something. I watched, fully captivated by the goddess in front of me as she licked her lips, tempting me more than she could have ever known.
She could have easily called bullshit. Part of me expected her to. But she didn’t. She simply stared at me. Her breathing changed. Mine did, too. Grew heavier, faster as her chest rose and fell a little quicker, drawing my eyes down to those sinfully, perfectly-made lips and then down lower to her cleavage before returning to her eyes.
