Fate, Destiny, and Serendipity are three evil bitches all working together to make my life as painful as possible right now.
Because this scene isn’t uncomfortable enough, the DJ dims most of the lights, with the exception of a spotlight, guaranteeing that everyone in the room can see the most uncomfortable moment of my life. And given some of the shit I’ve done, that’s really saying something.
The room erupts in catcalls as “Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” begins playing. We awkwardly shuffle from foot to foot through the intro and I can see the questions racing through my own mind mirrored back in his mocha eyes. I give him a subtle nod, telling him that, “Yes, we really are going to do this.” As content as I am just standing this close to Dominic after thinking I’d never see him again, I can hear Andrew’s buddies starting to toss out sarcastic comments. With great flair, I throw my arms around Dominic, taking firm hold of one ass cheek in each of my hands, pulling him so we’re standing cock to cock as Steven Tyler begins to sing. Dominic’s eyes widen, but as I study him for the slightest hint of panic, I see his dilated pupils and feel the uneven rise and fall of his chest against mine. Every time I sway my hips from one side to the other, giving Andrew and his buddies the show they were begging for, I feel Dominic’s dick brush against mine.
My eyes flutter closed when Dominic’s hands land on my shoulders, only to jolt open when he pushes me away from him. As the song continues, we playfully make our way around the floor and the rest of the wedding guests begin to fade into the distance. The only person who matters is standing less than two feet away from me, but it’s still too far.
I inch my hands toward Dominic’s back, taking note of the way he sucks in a sharp breath as my hands graze over the top of his suit coat. Now that I know at least a not-so small part of him is interested in me, I need to make him see just how badly I want him. One thumb brushes the nape of my neck as he draws my body inches closer to his. This may be my only chance to apologize to him, so I allow my hands to drift back to the top of his ass as I speak.
“I’m sorry about the other night. When I see something I want, I tend to go for it, without thinking about the consequences of my actions. And I honestly didn’t realize until today how it probably looked to you, seeing Kennedy jumping on me when I got out of the car. You aren’t the first guy I’ve fucked around with, but something about you is different. I hate knowing that I upset you. Kennedy and I have been covering for one another for a long ass time and I didn’t think I’d ever see you again, so there was no need to explain who was picking me up. Had I known then what I know now, I would have told you that she’s my best friend, nothing more.”
“Tony?” Dominic says softly. I fucking love the way my name sounds on his lips.
“Yeah?” I can hear the need in my own voice. If it wouldn’t be so fucking obvious, I’d take Dominic by the hand right now and walk out of this party.
A strong hand squeezes the back of my neck. “Shut up. Right now, I don’t want to think about anything.”
Each step we take in time to the music brings us a bit closer to one another. A lump forms in my throat when Dominic starts singing along with the lyrics. His voice is amazing, but it’s the way he stares deep into my soul that has me close to my breaking point. He’s making me feel every single word, wishing I could wake up next to him, feel him sleeping in my arms. Everything. In an attempt to ease the sexual tension that’s sucking all of the air out of the room, I brace my arm in the middle of Dominic’s back and dip his head to the floor. The crowd erupts into cheers as I pull him back upright. Instead of giving me a much-needed break from the longing in his eyes, I’m even more drawn to him than before. My gaze drops to the tip of his tongue working its way across his lips. I lean in, desperate to taste his plump lips again when there’s suddenly a petite body shoving between the two of us.
“Okay boys, the fun’s over,” Kennedy announces, wrapping her own arms around my neck as she hip checks Dominic out of the way. “You two were about a millimeter away from doing something I know at least one of you would regret instantly.”
Looking over her shoulder, I offer Dominic a silent apology. The fact that Kennedy has a valid point does nothing to ease the emptiness I feel as I watch him walk away from me. For just over a minute, I allowed myself to believe that there could be something more for us, even if only for tonight, and I hate letting that go. “Come on, lover boy. It’s time for you to dance with the love of your life.”
“I think I just was,” I mumble, dumbfounded by the loss I feel after having him in my arms again. Kennedy grabs my biceps, shaking me until I realize that I’m just standing in the center of the dance floor like an idiot.
“Get a fucking grip, buddy,” Kennedy laughs, taking charge of our movements. “In all the years we’ve known one another, not once have I seen you this twisted up over a guy. It figures that the one you fall for is not only your brother-in-law’s best friend, but a man who lives a couple thousand miles away.”
Leave it to Kennedy to be the bucket of ice water on my fantasy. My sister all but gave me her blessing to jump this man’s bones and it’ll never go anywhere beyond this building. After tomorrow, he’ll head back to Phoenix and I’ll be here for the next week, wishing shit could go differently for once in my wayward life.
The song ends and people start filing off the dance floor. Kennedy stands on her tiptoes, kissing my cheek as she shoves a hand in my pocket. “Don’t think about everything that’s spinning circles up there. You have tonight, use it wisely.”
I thank Kennedy for saving my ass, as she always does, and shove past the couples who’ve stayed on the floor for the next song. I want to find someplace quiet and figure out if Dominic wants to have as much fun as we possibly can before he flies home. It’s not enough, but something about him captivated me the moment he approached me in the airport and I’m willing to take whatever he can give me.
After fifteen minutes of searching for him while ducking into the crowd every time my mother spotted me, I head outside to grab a smoke and clear my head. I shouldn’t have ran across the street to grab a pack earlier, but since I have them, might as well smoke up before I do something stupid like ask Andrew if he’s seen his friend.
When I reach into my pocket for the lighter, I pull out the keycard Kennedy slyly passed to me while we were dancing. The front of it has a room number and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out whose name the room is registered under.
“Hey, baby.” Turning my attention away from the room key I’ve been passing through my fingers for the past minute, I give Kennedy the slightest hint of a smile. She means well, but I’m fairly certain she didn’t ask Dominic for his room key, which means I’d technically be breaking and entering if I use it.
Do I want him bad enough to commit a felony? Fuck yes, I do.
“Hey, yourself. Thanks for this, I think.” I flash her the key before stuffing it into the inside pocket of my tux jacket. Kennedy leans into my side, resting her head on my shoulder.
“You deserve to be happy, Tony. I refuse to believe that the fates brought Dominic into your life without a damn good reason. Now, you just have to figure out how bad you want to learn that reason.”
Kennedy’s shivering, so I slide out of my coat and drape it over her shoulders. When she says shit like that, it almost makes me believe that fate, destiny, whatever the fuck you call it is more than some make believe shit.
“I think I made my wishes pretty fucking clear, Kennedy. Now, it’s on him.”And rather than talk to me about what we’re both feeling, he took off. Again.
“What would you say to him if he was standing here right now?” Kennedy asks, standing so she’s towering over where I’m crouched against the side of the building.
“I’d tell him I’m done playing games. That I know he wants me almost as much as I want him and it’s bullshit for him to find stupid reasons to get pissed off at me and run away.” The longer I speak to my best friend, the more my resolve fortifies. “I’d fucking tell him that I don’t give a shit if it’s a day, a week, or a fucking lifetime. There’s something about him that I want to get to fucking know.”
“Then I think you know what you need to do.” Kennedy stands, winking as she holds out her hand to me. “Come on, I’m suddenly not feeling very well.” She tosses her hand over her forehead like an old Hollywood actress about to faint, and we both laugh until the moment we walk through the front doors to the hotel. Then, it’s all seriousness and acting as we make our way around the room saying goodbye to everyone.
Kennedy sneaks out the side door and into a waiting cab. I watch until her taxi rounds the corner and head back inside. To avoid the risk of seeing anyone from our group, I take the stairs to the fifth floor before braving the elevator to the twelfth floor.
Chapter Six
