Page 22 of Rosé with My Fake Fiancé
“Can we go downstairs to dance?” Jade asks. She’s been swaying and moving ever since we got here, and she gazes hopefully at Tessa.
But it’s Sara who answers. “Two shots, finish your drink, and then yes!”
We each grab the tiny plastic shot glasses and raise them in a toast. I don’t know what I’m drinking, but it’s potent and sickly sweet as it slides down my throat.
Tessa turns down the next shot, and Emma just shrugs and takes it instead, hammering down two in a row, a move that surprises her friends. Jade washes down the shot with her gin and tonic, holding up the empty glass when she’s done.
We move down to the dancefloor, Tessa’s fingers twined with mine. When there’s room, I twirl her, and she laughs, though I can barely hear it over the music. Gracefully, she spins toward me, her back to my front, and my hands go to her hips.
With Tessa’s head on my shoulder, her ass fitting into me perfectly, I am barely aware of anything around us. I let my nose run up the shell of her ear, my eyes half-closed while I breathe her in. Her ass is giving me ideas. Lots of them. Ideas that make me think about this beautiful, poised woman getting filthy with me.
I wasn’t expecting a second night with Tessa, never mind getting to see her dressed up, so sexy and beautiful while she dances. I want to strip her down, spend some time with Tessa’s body, uninterrupted time where I can make her limp and satisfied.
This dancing, though, is torture. I’m hard for at least a dozen songs. We’re both sweaty, and I just want to get Tessa alone.
We weave our way off of the dance floor and up the stairs. It’s blissfully quieter in the stairwell, and I tug on Tessa’s hand. She slows, and we fall back from her friends and linger in the stairwell. “You’re quite the dancer.”
She laughs. “I love it. I haven’t danced in ages. Maybe we’ll go back after our water break.”
Tessa’s leaning against the wall, and with me being a few centimeters taller than her in her heels, she has to look up to meet my eyes. We’re quiet for a few moments, tucked into this corner of the landing. I can hear the music pumping from below, laughter and conversation from the room half a floor below us.
All of that fades away as I step closer, placing my hand on Tessa’s hip, smoothing my fingers over the fabric and warm skin underneath. Her eyes widen, her chin tilting further up, her soft lips just begging for me to taste them.
I do. I meet her parted lips with mine and swallow the small sound of surprise she makes. Her lips are just as soft as I thought they’d be, the mild flavor of cosmetics giving way to sweetness and warmth.
Tessa clutches at me and opens her mouth, pulling me closer and deeper into her. It’s just my tongue now, but I want more of me inside of her, thrusting and wet and heavy.
I want to take Tessa home and make her scream.
Voices get louder, and laughter erupts, reminding me that we’re in public. One of those voices sounds familiar, too.
When the person comes into view, it’s James. I glance back at Tessa.
A possessive wave rolls over me. She’s disheveled, her lips swollen from the kiss, and her eyes dazed. I did that to her.
She notices James, her eyes sharpening. I look back in time to see James realize who we are, just as he’s about to set foot on the first stair above the landing. He falters for just a moment and then continues, still talking. He’s got a good poker face, but I saw a flash of something.
I turn back to Tessa. Her eyes are closed, and I slide my hand to her neck and use my thumb to tilt her chin up so I can take her mouth again. My first thought is that I hope he turns around and sees us, but that fades away because all that really matters is that I’m kissing Tessa. This time it’s sweeping and stroking, long kisses that light me up, and I barely notice as the voices fade into the party upstairs.
But they do, and I break away from her, grinning and pleased with myself. “Come on,” I say, stepping away and offering her my hand. “Let’s go catch up to your friends.”
We find Emma and Sara seated on a couch, a low table in front of them. Tessa sits in one of the upholstered chairs across from them, and I perch on the arm of the chair. “Jade went to get water,” Sara explains, and in a few moments, Jade is there passing out water bottles. She’s frowning, and after a few sips, she speaks. “I bumped into Yumi at the bar. I don’t think she knew who I was.”
Tessa grimaces. “How did that go?”
Jade’s eyes flick to the side once, and Tessa’s mouth tilts into a frown. Jade squares her shoulders and sets her jaw. “We got to talking and... Tessa, they’ve been dating for eight months.”
Emma gasps, and Tessa falls slack against the chair. I remember our conversation yesterday where Tessa said they’d broken up five months ago. I put a hand on her shoulder, wanting to comfort her. All she wanted was a fun weekend with her friends, and it’s been hit after hit. I want nothing more than to wipe it all away for her. Jade notices my touch and gives me a small smile of gratitude.
“He was cheating on me?”
Jade paces the small space in front of the couch, and Sara and Emma touch Tessa, comforting hands surrounding her.
“There’s more.” Jade’s voice is tight and strained. “I don’t think she knew you two were still dating. She made some comment, and I couldn’t quite catch it over the music, but it was something about James and...” She shakes her head. “Sorry, I should have asked her to repeat it, but I just wanted to get the hell away from her.”
There’s a moment of quiet where all I can hear is the beat of the music, and Jade and Sara’s awkward glances at me are nearly audible even over that noise.
Until something behind me catches Sara’s eye. “Oh shit, they’re coming here. Someone, I don’t know, laugh?”
