Chapter 18
eighteen
. . .
Lila
We’d both gotten burgers, and Hugh had insisted I take a bath before he wrapped me in the hotel robe and applied the Neosporin to the irritated skin.
I didn’t know that anything had ever felt more intimate than this man sitting beside my tub once again, even though it was a large enough bathtub for both of us, and then drying me off and applying ointment to my irritated bikini area.
That was not something I ever expected a man to do for me.
Hugh was this big, rugged guy, but he was so attentive and caring at the same time.
I’d offered to return the favor and attempted to drop to my knees, but he’d tugged me back up and pulled me onto the bed, where we’d both fallen asleep for two hours.
Apparently, orgasms really wiped me out because I rarely napped, but I’d had no problem dozing off.
We’d gotten up and dressed for the rehearsal dinner, which was here at the hotel restaurant. It was going to be a small group, and just family, and I was thankful that I had my black cocktail dress from the awards banquet I’d attended after winning nationals.
“Damn, you look gorgeous,” he purred as he tugged me close to him.
He wore a white button up, which was wrinkled, per usual.
But he wore black fitted dress slacks and dress shoes.
His hair was wavy and thick. After watching the little he had to do to make it look sinfully sexy, I envied him.
I’d had to add waves to my hair after the bath and the nap, as my hair obviously took a bit more effort.
“You look beautiful,” I said, pushing up on my toes to kiss him.
We hadn’t kissed enough. I wanted to spend hours kissing this man.
He must have felt the same way because the next thing I knew, his hands were beneath my butt, and he lifted me up, causing my dress to bunch at my waist, and my legs wrapped around him.
He turned so my back was against the wall, and his tongue tangled with mine.
My fingers were in his hair, and I’d never wanted someone so badly in my life.
We stood there kissing for what felt like forever, when his phone buzzed in his back pocket. He groaned and pulled back.
“What are you doing to me, Snow?”
“I could ask you the same thing.”
“Yeah? Do you know how much I want you?” he asked, his voice gruff and his lips just a breath away.
“You did stop me from returning the favor.” I looked up at him and studied his gaze. That little voice in the back of my head had wondered why he didn’t let me unzip his pants and pleasure him the way he’d pleasured me.
His sage-green eyes searched mine. “And you think that’s because I don’t want you?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know, but the thought did cross my mind.”
He gripped my hips and lowered me over his engorged erection. My eyes widened as he slid me down and then slowly lifted me back up. “It’s definitely not that.”
“What is it, then?”
“I’m not ready to take anything from you. Right now, I fucking love pleasing you. But it’s not because I don’t want you. I’ve never wanted anyone more.”
I let out a long, strained breath and placed a hand on each of his cheeks. “Pleasing you would be giving me something.”
He smiled this big, wide grin. “You’re too fucking sweet for your own good, Snow. Come on. Everyone’s downstairs waiting for us. You can tell me all the ways you want to please me after dinner.”
He slid me down his body until my feet hit the floor.
The man was so tall. His hands were large.
His shoulders broad. Yet, we somehow fit together, no matter what position we were in.
Standing. Hugging. Sitting. Me grinding against him.
I didn’t know how it worked so well, but it did. “Sounds like a deal.”
He adjusted himself and groaned before pulling the door open, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
We stood next to one another on the elevator, the backs of our hands touching, as his finger looped around mine until the doors opened. Then we both stepped off and made our way to the restaurant.
His hands slipped into his pockets, and we were just two friends attending a wedding together again.
“Hugh! Lila!” Georgia came running toward us with a mopey-looking guy behind her. He had surfer vibes, but he looked uncomfortable as he stood there.
Hugh wrapped his arms around his sister before she turned to me and gave me a big hug. “Damn, Lila. This dress is gorgeous.”
“Thank you. I love yours,” I said, taking in her black slip dress.
“Thanks. This is Dikota,” she said as she introduced us.
“Nice to meet you.” I smiled, and Hugh grunted something, but the way he stood hovering over the smaller man had me biting back a laugh. He could be so big and growly when he wanted to be.
Gracie came running up and held her arms up for Hugh, and he scooped her right up. Cage gave me a hug and glanced over at Hugh and then at Dikota, and the two brothers appeared to be communicating without using words.
“There they are. Lila, I want to introduce you to Kaeran.” Brinkley paused to hug Hugh, and then he extended his arm to her boyfriend, who nodded and shook his hand.
“How’s the restaurant business, Hugh?” Kaeran asked.
“It’s going really well. I found me a secret weapon,” he said, winking at me, and I swear my belly did little flips and I felt my face heat. “Lila has things running smooth enough to let me sneak away for a weekend.”
Georgia studied her brother before turning to me with a big smile on her face. “Come on, let’s get a drink.”
The next hour was spent greeting family and seeing all Dylan’s sisters, who I hadn’t seen in years. They were all pregnant, aside from Dylan, and everyone was joking that there must be something in the Honey Mountain water. I met their husbands, and everyone was having a good time.
Wolf’s family was making their rounds, as well.
We were waiting for Dylan and Wolf, who hadn’t shown up just yet.
“Of course, those two are late to their own rehearsal dinner,” Everly said with a laugh as she typed out a text on her phone and let us know she was texting Dylan now.
“Hey, they’re the only ones allowed to be late,” Vivian said.
“They’re here,” Charlotte and Ashlan said at the same time. The Thomas sisters were as close as the Reynolds siblings.
It was refreshing.
“And who do we have here?” a very attractive man said, reaching for my hand as we stood in the private room and were just getting ready to head to the table.
“Oh, hi. I’m Lila.”
“I’m Sebastian, the big, bad Wolf’s brother.” He chuckled and raised the back of my hand to his lips, slowly, and kissed it.
Hugh was watching from a few feet away as we’d intentionally kept our distance. We were just friends, after all, at least for appearances. His green gaze locked with mine, and I didn’t miss the heat there. Nor the anger.
Or was it jealousy?
“It’s nice to meet you,” I said, pulling my hand away as politely as possible.
“Oh, for God’s sake, it’s my rehearsal dinner. Keep your paws off the guests. Sorry about that, Lila,” Wolf said, before giving me a brisk hug. Dylan swooped right in and did the same.
“I’m so glad you’re here. I see you’ve met my brother-in-law-to-be.
Charming, isn’t he? He’s all bite and no bark, so be careful with that one,” she whispered close to my ear and then glanced over to see her cousin brooding as he watched us.
“Ohhhh, someone does not look happy. Such a protective friend, huh?” She chuckled and then winked at me.
Hugh appeared at my side after hugging his cousin and her soon-to-be husband, then glaring at Sebastian.
“Hugh, my man. I didn’t realize you two were together.” Sebastian extended a hand, and Hugh took it with a scowl on his face and gave him an equally grumpy greeting.
He didn’t respond to the comment; he just placed his hand on the small of my back and led me toward the table where Georgia was waving us over to sit beside her.
I hugged Hugh’s parents and their grandparents, who I hadn’t seen in a long time. There were maybe forty people attending the dinner, and it managed to feel very intimate as they were all family.
I’d never had a family unit like this, and I definitely admired it.
Or like the Sunday dinners I’d been attending at the Reynolds’.
It was something I think I’d always craved.
A hand found mine beneath the table, and I glanced up to see Hugh watching me before he leaned close to my ear. “You okay?”
I nodded. “Yes. Of course.”
I reached for my wine glass to take a sip, and he leaned close again. “How’s your vajazzle feeling?”
I chuckled and squeezed his hand. “Very good. Thanks for asking.”
“It’s something, Snow. One of a kind.”
I shook my head and tried hard not to laugh. Finn was sitting on the other side of Hugh and asked him something that he and Cage were clearly arguing about.
Georgia tapped my arm, and I turned to look at her. She leaned close enough so only I could hear her. “So, what do you think of Dikota?”
“He seems really nice,” I said, as I glanced around her to see him awkwardly talking to Charlotte’s husband, Ledger. Dikota did not seem comfortable being here at all, nor did he seem to be making any effort to hide his discomfort.
“He’s not as outgoing as I am. He’s sort of this broody guy.
But, girl, he’s got this possessive streak that I’ve never experienced.
Some guy said hello to me at a restaurant the other day, and he punched him in the face.
I was so startled because I didn’t think he even liked me that much. But wowsers, right?”
I tried not to react because red flags were going off in my head. Being jealous is one thing, but getting physical at a restaurant because someone said hello? That didn’t seem right.
“That’s an intense reaction. How long have you guys been together?” I tried to move the conversation to a safe subject.
“Three months. He’s a total wild card. I never know what I’m going to get. But it’s kind of fun, you know?”
“Yeah. I’m sure it is. And he goes to school with you?”