Page 16 of This

Someone reaches between us, and we both sit back. I look up as Ford sets a glass of wine in front of me.

“Sounds like it’ll be a while until dessert, so I grabbed you one of these.”

“Thank you,” I say, forcing a smile, but my eyes go straight back to Dane.

A corner of his mouth perks up. He tilts his head toward the house, and I can’t stand up fast enough.

“I’d better check inside to see if Joyce needs help with anything.” Before anyone points out she’s over on the grass, playing croquet, I walk away.

Dane’s already following when I reach the steps to the deck. Other than Ford, no one pays attention to the way he stalks me across the yard, his eyes burning through me. A group of servers gathered inside slows me down, so by the time I reach the living room, he isn’t far behind. I turn around in the hallway outside my room, and he runs straight into me, pinning me against the door.

“I’m calling for a do-over on the first time this happened.”

He drops his forehead onto mine and grips my hip. I force a breath, my body responding like a fucking Daphne.

“Will there still be a naked girl rolling across the bed?”

“I’ll need to get you undressed first.”

The door gives behind me. My back hits the other side by the time it shuts again. He grasps the backs of my thighs, lifting me. Dress hiked up, legs wrapped around him. I feel him through his slacks, long and hard, and when he thrusts forward, I moan, his name attached.

“I’ve been dreaming of that,” he says in my ear. “One more time, baby.”

He rocks against me, and I can’t help it.

“Oh my God, Dane.”

I pull his face to mine, not sure how I’ve lasted this long without his lips on me. I unbutton his shirt while he carries me to the bed, and I push the fabric off his shoulders. It hits the ground after he lays me down. He lowers on top of me and takes the same leisurely path his eyes strolled earlier, kissing his way down my body. His breath is warm through my dress and then hot on my thighs.

But everything turns cold when someone knocks.

Fuck.

Dane’s head pops up from between my legs, and I push onto my elbows, my pulse racing. I can’t remember if either of us locked the door.

“Hey, Bennett,” Liam says.

I consider not responding, but then he might try to come in. “Yeah?”

“Keaton’s looking for you. She needs help with some sparkly baggie things.”

“The gift bags. Okay. I’ll be out.”

Dane bites my inner thigh, and my teeth sink into my bottom lip in a poor attempt to suppress a moan. I fall back on the bed and add, “In a bit.”

He grins and runs his tongue over the same spot.

My hands push through his hair, and his thumbs are hooked in my panties when Liam says, “Oh, and Dane? Your dad’s here.”

“Thanks, man,” he calls over his shoulder.

“Dane,” I whisper-yell and shove him with my foot. He catches my ankle and secures my leg to stop me from trying with the other foot. I wiggle in a futile effort to break his hold, and he chuckles.

“Stop it.” He crawls up to hover over me. “You’re getting me all worked up again, and talking to my father with a visible hard-on will be incredibly awkward for everyone involved.”

The silver bar swinging between us has a dotted line etched in the metal on both sides. I wrap its chain around my fingers, glaring at him.

“It’s just Liam,” he says. He kisses my knuckles when I continue to pout. “He won’t say anything unless Keaton outright asks him.”

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