Chapter 11 #2
Shocked, I look back up at him, and he blows a kiss, smiling. I mouth the words thank you, and he winks back. What is it with those boys and their winking? It does things to me.
“You will have fifteen total plates, with a drink pairing for each. Each drink has been carefully selected and paired with your bite flight, and will be approximately one to two ounces. Once complete with the starters and main course, you will have a flight of desserts served with a coffee.”
“Wow. I have no words other than I’m so excited to try any and everything.”
The servers all smile and dip away.
Lizzy grabs my hand and whispers, “You said you didn’t sleep with anyone.”
I chuckle, “I didn’t.”
“Then why… all this? A special menu? Comping our dinner? This would have to be almost a grand for tonight.”
“I don’t know.”
Lizzy lets out a thoughtful hum.
“We need to find out more about these boys.” I nod up to the second balcony and see the four of them are deep in conversation, pointing at something on the table.
Likely a drawing of some sort. I realize this is the first time I’ve caught Callum not looking at me.
It’s intoxicating to watch him. The way the heel of his foot props on the chair leg while his hands grip and rub into his thigh.
The way his jaw moves when he speaks or how the light reflects off pieces of his hair.
When the server walks up a minute later with our first tray and printed menu of all the things we’ll be trying tonight, an excitement pulses through me.
In front of us is a small salad in a glass twice the size of a shot glass, paired with a white wine.
I pick up the small fork and carefully stab it into the glass, capturing all the ingredients for the one perfect bite.
When I place it in my mouth, I'm overwhelmed by the intense flavor, and my eyes nearly roll into the back of my head. When I open my eyes again, I see Emmett and Callum watching me. Emmett has a huge smile spread across his face, and he turns to say something to Callum, who nods, smiling. I have a feeling it’s about me and I’m dying to know what it is.
Callum catches me looking, and signs in ASL, Eat your food and stop watching us.
How did he know I knew ASL?
I sign back, Thank Emmett for us, followed by my command for him to stop watching us.
He smiles, and I watch his lips tell Emmett, who snarls at me when he sits back down, causing me to chuckle. Then Callum signs back, Maybe I enjoy watching you.
Maybe I enjoy watching you, too.
With that, I turn away before I can see his response. It feels like I’m in high school passing secret notes to a crush, only now I’m signing in the middle of a very expensive restaurant.
“So he signs too?”
“Apparently.”
The server brings our second dish. Another salad with a sort of balsamic glaze. I’m pretty sure I’m in heaven right now. How is this my life?
“You have it bad,” Lizzy says.
“What? No.”
“I’m not faulting you because damn. The only problem is, who do you choose? All four of them seem to be smitten with you and all of them are hot as hell.”
“Do I have to choose?” I tease.
Lizzy’s eyes grow wide. “I like your style. I always said a man could never hold you down, maybe four can.”
Laughing, I continue, “Well, I think we’re putting the cart in front of the horse. I’m not dating any of them.”
“This sure feels like a date.”
“I’m here with you.”
“Yeah, but no.”
“What?”
“You can’t keep your eyes off them. We’ve hardly spoken.
Which, don’t get me wrong, I’m not hating it because I love that you’re getting the attention you deserve.
Like you said, you’re not even dating them and look how they treat you.
Imagine if you were dating them.” She wipes an invisible tear from her eye. “It would be magical.”
“I love you. You know that?”
“I love you too, sis.”
That’s what we are. We’re sisters from different misters.
When we met in elementary school, we immediately hit it off and were inseparable.
During our freshman year of high school, her parents got divorced, and she took it hard.
Even harder when her dad started dating again so soon.
She lived with me for a while until her parents finally put their foot down and made her go home.
But I was always there for her, and she was always there for me. My ride or die.
We finish all the starters and several sandwich bites.
I’ve lost count of which tray we’re on, but my bladder is about to explode.
I’ve had so much to drink and even though they aren’t normal-sized glasses, I feel obligated to drink it all at one time to make sure the pairings all go together.
So that being said, I’m feeling a little tipsy.
Emmett seems to have everything planned perfectly except for that one detail. When it comes to alcohol, I'm definitely a lightweight.
“I’ll be back.”
She nods, tipping back the most recent drink. An Argentinian wine.
When I walk out of the bathroom a few minutes later, Callum is standing there in the dimly lit hall. "We need to stop meeting like this," I say, giving my skirt another tug.
He smiles. “There isn’t anyone inside?” He points to the restroom.
“No.”
A smile plays on his lips as he steps toward me, and I instinctively take a step backward.
“You aren’t going to beat me up if we end up in there, are you?” His words are like velvet gliding over my body.
My heart skips a beat. “No.”
He takes another step forward, causing his scent to swirl around me. “Are you having a good time?”
“Mmhmm.” It’s all I can get out because my vocal cords have retreated into hiding.
His hand comes up to my face, the pad of his thumb pulling down my bottom lip. “Use your words, Everlee.”
“Yes.”
He presses his body against mine and I can barely breathe. “Yes, what Everlee?” His words are low and silky, eyes like blue flames.
“Yes, sir.”
“Good girl.” My stomach is somersaulting on itself as butterflies erupt and my entire body tingles.
All the tension in my jaw releases as it drops to the floor. He called me a good girl, and I liked it. Not liked it, but fucking loved it. Do I have a praise kink I’m unaware of?
He leans in slowly, pressing his cheek against mine. “I haven’t been able to get you off my mind,” he admits, inhaling my scent as his fingers lightly dance across my shoulder.
My nipples are hard, and my pussy is purring like a freaking jaguar who’s just waking up from a long winter’s nap.
If they take long naps. Fuck, I don’t know, but clearly my brain isn’t functioning properly right now.
“Same. I…” It’s so hard to focus right now because he’s making my head spin. “I haven’t stopped thinking about you.”
“This is a problem for me, though.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t do girlfriends.”
“So?” I whisper as his hand moves to the back of my neck.
“You deserve more than what I can give you.”
His mouth finds its place under my jaw and my neck dips to the side, giving him more access as a moan escapes, but I don’t care. Not one fucking bit. His kisses glide down my throat.
“I love when you moan.” His lips brush softly against my skin.
“I’m sorry. I…” His tongue gently licks across my collarbone before he kisses it away, robbing me of my breath.
“Don’t be sorry. It makes me…”
His hand grabs onto my hip, squeezing roughly like he’s fighting with himself.
“Makes you what?” I whisper, turning into him, inhaling his scent.
He chuckles a low laugh. “I can’t tell you.”
My lips press against his neck. “Please.”
“God, you’re fucking intoxicating.” His kisses climb up my cheek, and I can’t wait. This game we’ve been playing to see which one will give in first. It’s going to be me. I need to feel his lips on mine now. I need to feel him inside of me. I need… him. Every part, every inch.
Grabbing a handful of his shirt, I push the bathroom door open with my foot and pull him in, pressing his back against the door.
Without hesitation, his lips crash to mine in a bruising, dominant kiss.
I open my mouth to moan and he takes the invitation, pressing his tongue in.
My head is dizzy with lust and desire. Fucking hell, he tastes like a dream.
Lost in the moment, his hands grip my hips and pull me to him, his hardening cock rubbing against me.
The consuming ache in me desperate to feel him. All of him.
“We shouldn’t be doing this,” he pants against my lips, hands sliding up my legs, lifting my dress.
“Shut up and let me have this,” I whimper, struggling to get closer to him.
“Fuck, Everlee,” he growls against my lips as he pulls me closer, our bodies grinding against one another hungry for release.
Passion swelling inside, I grab his belt, but his hands clamp on my wrists, stopping me.
My head is swimming in confusion. “What’s wrong?”
He closes his eyes and runs his fingers through his hair. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
“Done what? Kiss me? I wanted it.”
He shakes his head. “There are rules and I just…” He opens the door and walks out.
Rage erupts inside me like a volcano exploding in a flurry of confusion. “I don’t understand,” I snap, following him out of the bathroom.
“You aren’t supposed to.”
“I thought you wanted—”
He turns on a dime and steps forward, his hand resting on my face. “I do. So fucking much. But I can’t—”
“I—” I stop myself, staring at him incredulously. “I need to go. Lizzy is waiting for me,” I snap, walking around him.
“I’m sorry.”
Irritation boils under my skin from embarrassment, and my hands clench at my sides as I turn around and walk to stand in front of him. “What did you think was going to happen when you look at me like you do all the time and then follow me to the bathroom?”
“I wasn’t trying to fuck in it, if that’s what you think. I respect you more than that.”
“Are you saying I don’t respect myself?”
“No. I’m not saying that at all.”
“Then what?”
He shakes his head. “You deserve more than what I can give you.”
I roll my eyes, then poke my finger in his chest. “That’s fucking bullshit and you know it.”
I pivot on my heels and walk back to the table.
Lizzy watches me, and her eyes grow wide, drinking in every detail.
Collapsing into the chair, I take a deep breath. I won’t let him ruin this fantastic evening.
“You want to talk about it?” she asks.
“Not yet.”
She nods and changes the topic immediately, holding up a sandwich. “This one is probably my favorite. It’s so cheesy.”
A smile spreads across my face, thankful she knows me so well. She knows when to press and when to just let me be. “It’s almost as cheesy as you,” I say after taking a bite.
“Everlee’s got jokes.”
The rest of dinner passes with laughter as we discuss Lizzy's upcoming wedding, whenever it will be. It’s a nice distraction from Callum and his sex appeal.
I try to avoid looking at the second floor for the rest of dinner, but fail.
Fortunately, at those times, he wasn’t looking at me, but I could tell he was agitated.
We take the last bite of dessert and both slump back in our seats. A moment later, shadows descend on the table. We look up to find Emmett, Jax, Knox, and Callum standing around us. Most of the restaurant has cleared out, so it’s just us and the remaining staff.
“Well, how was it?” Emmett asks, beaming.
“It was phenomenal. Fantastic,” Lizzy sighs.
“It was absolutely outstanding. I didn’t know you were the owner.”
Emmett smiles. “It’s my passion project, and these boys helped me get it off the ground.”
“Well, thank God they did, because wow.”
Knox steps forward. “He’s been talking about it all day. He wouldn’t shut up.”
“Well, it was amazing. Words can’t describe. And you really didn’t need to do this.”
“It was nothing, Trouble,” Emmett says. “The look on your face when you eat. If I could frame it and look at it every day,” his words fall off. “That’s what brings me joy and—”
“Don’t say it,” I warn playfully, knowing he’s going to say something about my moans.
He smiles. “Is there anything else you want? Need?”
“Gosh no.” Maybe a dick. Anyone’s dick at this point, my subconscious chimes.
“Can I get a picture?” Lizzy blurts. “With all of us?”
“Of course,” Emmett and Knox answer at the same time.
Emmett calls our server over to take the picture.
Lizzy puts me in the middle of all the guys while she stands on the outside of Jax.
I’m between Emmett and Knox in the front, with Callum behind me to my right and Jax beside him.
Emmett and Knox slip their arms around me, with their hands resting on my waist, and a second later, Jax and Callum slip their arms in, resting their hands on my hips.
Fire erupts in my core with all of their hands on me.
Lizzy, being Lizzy and having planned this perfectly, gets one picture, then asks for a second with just me and the guys. I roll my eyes when I realize what she’s doing.
Their hands are reluctant to drop after the pictures are taken, which does little for the fire stirring inside of me. After a long moment, their hands fall. If not, it would have just been awkward.
Jax steps forward. “If it’s fine with you both, I’m going to take Lizzy home and Callum will take you home, Everlee.”
Before I can answer, Lizzy agrees for the both of us.
Glancing at Callum, his face is unreadable. It’s hard to tell if this was his idea or not.
“Perfect,” Emmett says, clapping his hands together.
There’s something about Emmett that just makes you smile. Leaning over, I give him a hug, then kiss him on the cheek. He tickles my side when I pull away, making me giggle.
“What about me?” Knox whines.
“You didn’t do anything,” Jax reprimands
“I helped with… something. I’m sure.”
My cheeks hurt from smiling as I lean over and plant a kiss on his cheek.
“Are we ready now?” Jax asks.
“Yes, we are,” Lizzy answers again, looping her arm in Jax’s.
“See you boys at home,” Jax says. “Good night, Everlee.” He leans down and gives me a kiss just off the side of my lips that leaves my head spinning. He hasn’t been overly affectionate, but that kiss, while it wasn’t on the lips, felt… intimate.
The valets pull two cars around. Jax and Lizzy climb into one, while Emmett and Knox climb into the other. I look around for Callum’s car, but the valets don’t move.
Once the others leave, Callum looks hesitantly at me. “Are you ready?”
I nod, and he scowls at me. I will not give him the words he wants.
He huffs, then pushes the door open, holding it for me. A cool gust of wind blows my dress up, and I quickly push it down, trying not to expose myself.
Parked just down the sidewalk is a black Audi Q7 with a man waiting in the cold by the back door. Callum holds his hand out toward the car. “This is us.”
He has a driver.
Of course he does.
He lets me climb in first, so I slide across, although the devil on my shoulder is yelling at me to make him walk around.
This is going to be an interesting ride.