I shake my head, grinning into a sip of beer. After hanging around long enough to finish it, I wonder where Eve is. I ruffle Theo’s hair on my way from the room.
“Where are you going?” Benson objects.
Tracking down your sister. “Snack run. I’m hungry. I want more of your mom’s pastries before they’re cleared out.”
“Make me a plate, too.”
I flash him a smirk. “Nah, you’re on your own.”
When I locate Eve again, I pause outside the dining room where the food is. She’s laughing with Jess and holding her new niece, making faces at her to get the baby to smile. I watch for a moment, rubbing at my chest.
Eve spots me, lighting up. “Cole! Come here, Gracie always gets the biggest kick out of you.”
I cross the room, reeled in by an invisible line anchoring my heart to her. The baby latches on to my finger when I offer it, gurgling happily. The girls laugh when I pretend it's a hockey stick and narrate Gracie scoring a goal.
“Soon enough you’ll be ready for your first mini stick.”
“Ohh, she’s so enamored by your voice you struck her silent to process,” Eve jokes.
“Nope, that would be poop face. That’s my cue,” Jess says.
“I’ve got her.” Benson swoops in from behind, plucking their daughter from Eve’s arms. He kisses Jess’ temple. “Relax, babe. Enjoy yourself.”
She smiles gratefully, following him. I envy their open affection.
“Alone at last,” Eve teases in an undertone.
“Not as alone as we could be.” I tip my head, indicating her parents' neighbors engrossed in conversation in the corner.
Her hip nudges mine and she bounces her brows. I return it with a secretive smile meant only for her.
She glances at the neighbors before catching my eye. My abdomen clenches when she reaches for the cocktail wieners. Batting her eyes, she gives the tip a tantalizing lick, then closes her lips around it.
“Evie,” I mutter.
“Mm,delicious.” Her eyes gleam, aware of what she’s doing to me. “Want to try it?”
I can’t handle it anymore. My self-control snaps.
When no one’s looking our way, I take her hand. She follows without hesitation. We slip away without drawing attention to ourselves, heading upstairs. I quickly bypass the bedrooms, pulling her into the bathroom at the end of the hall.
Her eyes sparkle when I press her to the door after locking it. “What’s wrong?”
“This.”
My mouth slams against hers. I swallow her gasp, kneading her waist. The kiss is deep, filthy, relentless. It’s tinged with the force of my need for her.
“Is that all?” Her eyes cloud with a dreamy haze.
“No. I need to touch you.” I fist her sweater dress, bunching it at her hip. “You drive me fucking crazy when you wear these.”
Swinging her away from the door, I push the dress to her waist and lift her to the counter.
I groan at the sight of her stockings. “Garters.”
They’re integrated as part of her tights and they’re sexy as fuck on her. My mouth finds hers in another smoldering kiss, swallowing her husky laugh at my reaction. I tug on the sheer material, wrapping the garters around my fingers.
“These protect my thighs from rubbing together,” she murmurs. “They come in other colors, if you like them on me this much.”
