Page 204 of Force Play
“Of course I am,” I chuckle. “I’m in love with Ari. The last thing I wanted to do the other day was go on a date with fucking John.”
“Did Ari tell you his plans for tonight?” Liv asks.
“No,” I reply, puckering my lips and applying my favorite scarlet red lipstick, the same shade as my dress. “All I know is that he’s planning a date for us here.”
“What is it with these guys always wanting to have dates at home?” Lo questions. “I know Knox and Cole do that almost exclusively.”
Ella says, “Because our men are all very well-known in this city, and yours is well-known across the country, Lo. They always get recognized.”
“I can confirm that,” Liv laughs. “Lane likes to plan our date nights out since we have Sage at home. We can’t get through one without at least one fan coming up to him.”
“So you have no idea what Ari is planning?” Rory looks at me curiously.
“Well, I don’t know exactly what he has planned, but I can tell you that whatever he’s cooking in the kitchen smells fucking delicious.”
“He’s cooking for you!” Lo shrieks. “How cute is that?”
I smile and shake my head, backing away from my phone so the girls can all see me. “So what do we think?” I bend my leg at the knee and bring it up behind me so they can see the black pumps I have paired with the dress.
“Fucking gorgeous,” Ella chimes, hands resting on her bump.
“Are you wearing your necklace?” Liv asks.
“I’m pretty much always wearing the necklace,” I laugh, grabbing the jade pendant to show them.
“Then I think you’re ready, babe,” Rory smiles. “We’re so happy you get to go on the date you really wanted, Luc.”
I can’t help but grin. “So am I.”
There’s a knock on my bedroom door now, and Ari speaks up from the other side. “Can I come in?”
“Gotta go, ladies.” We quickly say our goodbyes, and I hang up the call before replying to him. “Come on in.”
Ari slowly opens the bedroom door and steps into view. I practically salivate at the sight.
It’s a rare occasion to see him dressed up, so seeing him right now in a crisp, white dress shirt, black slacks, and black dress shoes stirs up something in me.
Part of it is horniness, of course, but another part is just gratefulness that I finally get to call him mine.
“Wow.” His tone is full of disbelief and gratitude. “You’re beautiful, Lucia.”
I smile as I walk over to him and drape my arms around his neck. “You clean up well, Casanova.”
“It’s our first date,” he grins. “I wanted to make sure it was special.”
“It’s going to be special,” I say, pressing my hand to his jaw, “because it’s with you.”
He turns to kiss my palm. “Come on. I have everything set up out here.”
“I would hope so,” I tease, letting him take my hand and guide me out of the room. “I’ve been in here for hours.”
“Don’t be a brat, Lucia,” he huffs, though he’s still smiling.
“But it’s so fun.”
Ari spins around and holds me against him. “Save the sass for when you’re riding me tonight, sweetheart.”
“Be a good boy, and I promise I will.”
