Chapter Thirty-One
Ant
Ididn’t have the heart to tell Lilavati exactly how badly she sucked at hula when she flopped down into her seat at our table. But she’s a smart woman so I’m pretty sure she knew.
She does, however, look so hot in her grass skirt that I ask her not to change when all the other women involved in the dance disappear to put their own clothes back on.
“You’re not going to ask me for a private performance later, are you?” She looks horrified.
“No. Not of hula dancing at least.” I slip my hand between the layers of grass and leaves and find her smooth thigh underneath.
“I do like how this skirt gives me hips for once.” Lil rustles the grass in her lap.
“Your hips are perfect just as they are.” I lean in and press a kiss to the delicate bump at the end of her collarbone. Keeping my lips off her skin is getting harder and harder. “I’ll get you another drink.”
I wander over to the bar, thinking more about what Lilavati and I will be doing in less than thirty minutes, if I have any say in it, than what’s going on around me. Which is my excuse for why I find myself accidentally standing next to Warren, waiting to be served.
I’ve managed to avoid him so far this evening, but he’s been shooting daggers at me all night.
“This is a family event, Anthony,” he says, mispronouncing my name yet again. “Might I request that you keep your unseemly displays to yourself? Lili’s grandmother doesn’t need to be subjected to that kind of behaviour.”
Based on my conversations with Grandie, she’s more than happy to see PDAs if it leads to Lil partnering up. Which is where this is going. At least from my point of view. I’m aware it might take Sparky a little time to catch up, but I’m a patient man.
I’d like to tell Warren to go fuck himself, but not only am I patient, I’m polite. Mostly.
“I’ll take that under advisement, thank you, Warren.” I’m hoping that’s enough to put an end to the conversation. I start to turn my back on him, but he continues.
“It would also be wise to keep yourself under control at the wedding tomorrow. Unlike last night. We don’t need another outburst ruining what should be a joyous event.”
Okay. Maybe I’m not as patient as I thought. But he’s such a pompous turd.
“You think that was me losing control?” I turn to fully face him, my elbow on the bar.
“That was me showing remarkable restraint. Miles deserved to have his block knocked off for the way he spoke about Lilavati. About your daughter.” I lean on that last word.
Not that it makes him think twice about his attitude.
“This is exactly what I mean. Resorting to violence at the slightest provocation.” Warren’s tone is loaded with condescension.
I take a deep breath and count to ten. Well, I make it to seven at least.
“Two things, Wazza.” I use the nickname deliberately, knowing he’ll hate it.
The increased colour in his face confirms I was right.
“One, the provocation was not slight. I won’t tolerate disrespect of my partner from anyone, on any level.
Which is something you should bear in mind yourself.
And two, I have never had to resort to violence in my life, but should it be necessary, I will. ”
“You overreacted. It was a bucks’ night. He was drunk. And as Lili’s father, I expect you to show me some respect.” Oh, so now he’s pulling the father card? Fucker.
“He’s a misogynist, drunk or sober. As are you. And I’ll show you some respect when you’ve earned it. So far, you’re way short of the bar.”
A vein suddenly pops out on his forehead and starts pulsing. Fuck. I hope he doesn’t have an aneurysm. Although, if I’ve met anyone who deserves one more, I can’t remember them.
“I’d be very careful if I were you. Marion and I were giving Lili the opportunity to come to her senses and realise you’re beneath her on her own. But I won’t hesitate to step in and make sure you’re history if she doesn’t wake up to herself soon.”
“For a man who doesn’t appear to give a damn about his daughter, you certainly seem invested in her relationships.” I break off and signal my drink order to the server. “Fortunately for Lilavati, your opinion doesn’t matter to me. Hers does.”
“I will not have that girl embarrassing our family by marrying a beach bum. Consider yourself on notice, Anthony.” That pulsing vein is taking on a life of its own.
“And there we have it. Your real concern. But don’t worry, I wouldn’t dream of hurting Lilavati by telling her what a total bastard you really are.” I take a sip of my drink to stop myself from saying more. Because if I let go, this will get ugly.
“How very gallant of you. I, however, will do what needs to be done, should it become necessary. Destroying you would be a pleasure, frankly.”
I’ve had more than enough of this conversation.
“Knock yourself out.” I pick up the drinks the barman has put in front of me and return to the table where Lilavati is chatting with Louise.
“What was all that about?” Lil asks with a worried frown, looking over my shoulder to where Warren still stands at the bar, glaring at us.
I’m not going to lie to her. But like I told her stepfather, I don’t want to cause her any more stress or heartbreak.
“Just getting instructions from Warren on how to behave at a wedding.” I drop a kiss on top of her head and put her drink in her hand. “I’m off to take a whizz. Will you be alright for a minute?”
She nods and I stride off. I need a minute to cool down.
I know I should’ve held my tongue, if only for Lil’s sake.
Making an enemy of Warren wasn’t my plan, but the way these men treat their wives and girlfriends behind their backs makes my skin crawl.
And the fact that they have the audacity to think they’re better than me—than anyone—gives me the screaming shits.
I only have to put up with this—in such close proximity at least—for another forty-eight hours or so, then Lil and I will be on our way home.
Once we’re back on our own turf, we’re going to have a chat about what’s going on between us. Because for me, Lilavati is endgame. And I won’t allow Warren or Miles or any other fucker from this crowd to mess with that.
Once I’ve calmed down, I make my way back to the table and collect Lil. The food and wine might be exceptional, but the company sucks and I don’t want to spend another minute at this ridiculous party.
What I want is to spend some quality time with Lilavati. In her grass skirt. And nothing else.
“Do you think you can be very, very quiet?” I ask, pressing my lips against the curve where Lilavati’s neck meets her shoulder as she swipes the keycard at the door. History would suggest the answer is no, but we’ve yet to make full use of the lanai and we’re running out of days.
“Why would I … ohh,” Lil responds, working out what I’m planning by the way I lead her through the apartment, turning out lights as I go, and stepping us past the wide glass doors.
The tiki torches from the luau flicker in the distance, the sound of music and the chatter of the guests floating up to us on the flower-scented evening breeze.
“We haven’t properly christened the lanai.”
We come to a stop in front of the big, round outdoor bed.
Lil quirks an incredulous brow at my response. She’s thinking about the very pleasant couple of hours we spent making out after our snorkelling trip to Molokini Crater. Hours during which she showed off her manual dexterity, and which I, of course, had to repay. Twice.
“That didn’t count.” I spin her around and press the length of my body against her back, my fingers fighting their way through the fronds of her skirt, in search of the smooth, warm skin of her thighs.
“As enjoyable as it was, for future reference, if there’s no oral, and no fucking, it doesn’t meet the criteria of a full christening. ”
Lil laughs. “Well, that’s good to know.”
I find the side ties of Lilavati’s bikini bottoms and tug before sliding one foot between hers to nudge them apart until the bikini lands on my foot.
Her grass skirt rustles as I slide my hands around the front of her thighs, my thumbs coming up to skim her already wet and swollen folds.
She whimpers, and a shiver runs through her.
Before I have a chance to suggest it, she’s undoing the top of her hula costume.
It drops to the floor, and she rubs her arse back against my already throbbing cock.
“On your knees for me, Sparky.”
There’s no hesitation. Lilavati kneels on the bed and, without any urging, falls forward so she’s on her hands and knees. The moonlight catches the smooth curve of her back, shines on her beautiful, glistening pussy, peeking out between the parted layers of the skirt.
I grab a cushion from beside her, drop it to the floor and kneel. She’s at the perfect height for me to swipe my tongue through her folds. I love the taste of this woman. I can’t imagine I’ll ever get enough.
With a deep sigh, she collapses her elbows and slides her knees further apart, opening her up at the perfect angle for me to bury my face while my hands work frantically to free my cock.
With one hand clamped on Lil’s hip to hold her steady, and the other stroking my erection, I nip and lick and suck at her dripping flesh until she’s squirming and whimpering and grasping at the mattress with desperate fingers.
“I don’t think I can be quiet,” she gasps. Tension is building in her thighs. Her back is arching. She’s getting close.
I squeeze the base of my cock, trying to hold off my release.
“If you can’t, everyone still at that luau will hear. Will know what I’m doing to you right now. Is that what you want?” The shudder that runs through her suggests she might, which ratchets my arousal even higher.
I slip two fingers inside her, curled at just the right angle to detonate her orgasm.
With a strangled gasp, Lil slaps her hand to her mouth, squeezing her cheeks as hard as her muscles are squeezing my fingers in release.
As fast as I can, I retrieve the condom from the pocket of the shorts that are still around my feet. I tear it open, roll it down my length and slam into her still-pulsing warmth.
Long, hard strokes have a wild release building, threatening. But I’m not ready. Not like this. I need to see her. It’s never been a thing before, but seeing Lil’s face when she climaxes—when I climax—has become something I need.
I pull out and flip Lil onto her back and gaze down at her.
Fuck, she’s beautiful. Every line and curve.
Every angle. The small breasts topped with tight dark nipples.
The dip of her waist. The valley of her belly below her ribs as she cants her hips.
But most of all, the intensity of her eyes.
Her gaze clings, unsmiling and intense. Honest and raw. Yearning. For pleasure. For me.
Kneeling on the bed between her legs, I pull her up to sit on my lap, her legs wrapped around my hips, rustling grass spread around us.
I dip my head and suck one of her nipples, pressing the head of my cock to her entrance but no further. Her eyes roll back in her head, and her entrance tightens.
“Ant,” she gasps, pushing against my tip. “Please.”
“Look at me, Lilavati. I want you to look at me.”
Dark chocolate eyes lock on mine, and the whole world falls away. Time melts. I sink into Lilavati’s heat.
And for the first time in my life, I understand what it means to make love.