“What Latin lovers do.” Hand splayed against her sternum, my fingertips feather the smooth wings of her collarbones. I give a satisfied purr before I pull her up again. “Dancing is a vertical expression of—”
“A horizontal desire?”
“Old-school missionary, I was gonna say.” I don’t know whether it’s the role I’m playing that makes me say these things or whether it’s desire or jealousy. I just know I want more than this moment.
The beat changes, and it’s like someone up there is looking out for me. I slide an arm around her waist and my thigh between her legs.
“What the heck—”
“Just go with it. He’s still watching.” Not that I’d know, because I’m no longer looking at him.
Dancing with Ryan is the next best thing to having her in my bed. The proximity. The touching, bodies moving with synchronicity. I lead, she submits. I give and she ...
Fuck.I clasp my arms tighter, one hand on her backside and the fingers of my other curled around her ribs. And my God, can she move. Sultry, sinuous, all undulating provocativeness as I press my lips to the curve of her neck. She smells of exotic blooms and secrets and tastes like she might—
“Ryan.” A man’s voice, deep and assured.
Under my lips and my hands, she freezes. I straighten, pulling her in front of me as I slide possessive arms around her waist. Our bodies still flush, my front pressed to her back, I’m a bear hug of possessiveness.And it feels so right.
“Pete.” Check out the pronunciation of thatt. “And Annabelle.” I almost hear her forced smile. “You look stunning.”
“Thank you,” the bride murmurs.
“Congratulations. To both of you.”
“It’s so good of you to come,” the bride adds when the groom does not.
“Oh, I wouldn’t have missed this for the world!” Such forced pluck barely drowning out those piss and vinegar undertones. “This is Nathaniel—Nate. My boyfriend.”
All of a sudden, Pete looks like he’s sucking lemons.
How about balls, Pete. Suck ontheseballs.
“¡Enhorabuena!” I begin, my congratulations all magnanimous obliviousness as I nuzzle my stunning girlfriend, besotted. “I wishyou much ’appiness.” A little bit of Mario isn’t gonna kill anyone. Except my foot as Ryan presses the point of her heel to my toes.
“Thank you,” the bride replies softly. Meanwhile, the groom can’t take his eyes off my hands. On Ryan, obviously.
You snooze, you lose, pal.
I tighten my arms around her and whisper something suggestive sounding in her ear.Suggestive soundingmy ass—there’s nothing ambiguous aboutI’m going to make you come so hard you’ll forget what his face looks like.
Good that no one around here speaks Spanish.
“I bought you chef knives,” Ryan suddenly bursts out. “From the wedding registry. I figured you might want to use them. Someday.”
“That’s ... so nice of you.” The bride looks up, bewildered. “Isn’t that nice, Peter?”
“Yes. Nice. Thanks, Ryan.”
I can’t see Ryan’s expression, but I see his. Fucking entertaining, I’ll say.
“Well, we’d better ...” Ryan’s words trail off.
“Things to see and people to do,” I put in with a heavy accent as I turn.
“Things todo,” the wanker corrects.
“No,” I say, twirling Ryan around, then back into the cradle of my arms. I shoot him a wink over my shoulder. “I got it right the first time.”
