Page 255 of Sweet Temptation

Since then, we’d been blissfully playing house together, and there’d been not a moment of drama… from my brother, from the Kings, from Blair Sanchuk… or anyone else.

Which meant that as time wore on, I hoped, Ronan would be able to relax when he was with me, more and more…

Like tonight, at the Christmas party.

I was almost done wrapping gifts, and they looked fabulous. I bent over the couch, reaching for the tape that had rolled away from me… and a hand landed on my butt.

I squealed.

Ronan hooked an arm around my waist and tugged me against him as he sat down. Actually, he tugged me right onto his lap.

“I got you something,” he murmured into my ear, his teeth grazing my lobe.

I wriggled in his lap, and I felt the rigid hard-on beneath me. How long had he been standing there, staring at my ass? “Oh, yeah?” I purred. “Can I unwrap it now…?”

He held something up in front of me. It was a gift. A small box wrapped in gold paper.

“What!” I bounced a little, and he groaned as I gave him an unintentional lap dance. I snatched the gift out of his hand. “Oh, baby,” I gushed, “you shouldn’t have.”

Of course, he should have.

I smiled at him over my shoulder… and I saw his face. He looked horny, like he was enjoying my ass in his lap… but something was off.

He seemed… nervous?

I got up and strut over to the tree, and put the gift underneath with the others, so he could breathe easy. Then my phone started buzzing on the bar—and playing “Smooth Criminal.”

“Don’t answer that,” Ronan growled, sitting forward as I strode over to the bar.

I answered it. “It’s Ash, though,” I stage-whispered, as I lifted it to my ear.

Ronan sighed.

“Summer’s dildo factory! We have them in all shapes and sizes!”

“Shapes?” Ash said. “Do I wanna hear this?”

“Absolutely. We’ve got eggplant shaped, mini cucumber, stuffed sausage…”

“Would you shut up?” Ash chuckled. “I called to tell you something important.”

“Ohhh. What is it?” I leaned forward on the bar and thrust my ass in the air as Ronan stalked over. He slid his hands over my hips and gave me a squeeze.

“I married Danica,” Ash said.

“What?” I froze as Ronan’s hands strayed up my back beneath my shirt.

“I married Danica,” Ash repeated.

And he was totally, stone-cold-sober, absolutely fucking serious.

“You absolute asshole.” I straightened up and swatted Ronan’s hands away. “When did this happen?” I demanded.

“Yesterday.”

“What?” I literally did shit-all yesterday. “And you didn’t invite me…?” The words were out of my mouth before it dawned on me. That maybe Danica didn’t want me there? Ashley’s ex-girlfriend… at their special day? My head was reeling as I struggled to comprehend. “Talk to me. I need details.”

“We did a private thing, just her and me,” he said cooly. “So you didn’t miss out.”

---