Page 14 of Love Beyond the Illusion
I love her attitude.
“That’s not what I was thinking,” I quip. Before Piper can reply, a cocktail server walks over to us with a tray carrying two shots of what looks to be vodka.
“These are from the older couple at the end of the bar,” she says, bending between us. “They said you two look like how they did when they first fell in love fifty years ago.”
Piper and I both glance over to the left. The man and woman hold up their martinis in the air with sweet smiles on both their faces.
“Wow. Okay, thank you.” I hand Piper a shot glass, then take one for myself.
“They’re still staring,” she says through a tight grin.
It feels so good to let loose and be free. I smile at her, then raise my glass toward the couple. “Bottoms up.”
Piper and I take both shots together, quickly followed by a light, distant clap.
She grimaces. “Damn, that burns.”
I slam my glass on the table and rise, knowing that this shot will heighten my buzz. I’m having fun with you,” I admit, gently lifting Piper from her chair and into my arms. She immediately falls into me with a giggle. The smell of lavender hits my nostrils. It’s powerful yet subtle at the same time and causes my body to flush with warmth and my dick to flex.
“Me too. It’s bizarre, right? That we’re here in Vegas together after both of us skipped our fights—flights, I meant flights.” She curls into me, giggling once again.
“It’s definitely not where I imagined I’d be spending my Friday night.”
She tucks into my shoulder with my arm around her. I look down, her round eyes blaze into me. My heart skips a beat when she lifts her chin, bringing her glossy lips upward with a confident smile.
“Piper?”
“Yes?” she answers with a raspy voice.
I’ve never been one to hit on a lot of women. My experience in life has mostly been them coming on to me. An old roommate once told me that women find silent, reserved guys more attractive than those who try too hard. Up until that point, I haven’t thought about it that way. It’s always how I’ve been. But with Piper, I’m compelled to pursue her. “Can I kiss you?”
Her eyes flicker while she breathes out a confident, “Yes.”
My eyes take in the landscape of her mouth before lowering my lips to hers in a gentle kiss. The instant we connect, my world comes to a complete standstill. She’s soft and warm—and kissing her feels as natural as taking in oxygen.
I involuntarily squeeze her tighter, tugging her deeper into my mouth. She opens slowly, letting my tongue slip in to caress hers. It moves deliberately inside my mouth, exploring and tasting.
Her shoulders sink into me as she curves further into my chest. Piper slips her arms around me back. Every single care I’ve had in the world dissipates, and I’m powerless to stop it. I submit to the weightless feeling of existing only with her. This is a new sensation for me.
I cautiously pull back but continue to lightly kiss the different areas around her mouth. “I don’t want to be without you. I’ve never felt such an instant connection with someone before,” I whisper into her sweet skin.
“I feel the same,” she mumbles as the noise of clanging chimes from the gamblers increases once again.
A quick movement from the corner of my eye startles me, and then both Piper and I are hit with a downpour of ice-cold liquid. I gasp as the shock in temperature cuts off my air. I quickly noticed that Piper got most of whatever spilled on us and was drenched.
“Oh my god, I’m so sorry!” says the young, anxious man standing beside us.
“What the hell, man?” I snap, stepping between Piper and this clumsy asshole.
“It’s okay!” She laughs, clutching my blazer. “It’s fine. I’m completely fine.”
“Are you sure? Are you alright?” I start to laugh as well. Swiping some cocktail napkins off the table next to us, I hand them to her first, then grab a few more for myself.
“I’m fine. It’s only water, that’s all,” she reassures me again, shaking the leftover ice cubes from her shirt.
My eyes fall to her hard nipples peeking through her thin, cream dress. All I can think of is circling my tongue around their raised peaks. “Are you cold?”
She glances down at her chest, biting her bottom lip. “Yes. Can you tell?”
