Chapter 23
CHAPTER 23
DIXIE
T he night was still warm as Hayes and I walked back to our villa. My hand was tucked into his, his thumb brushing slow circles against my palm. Every little touch sent a ripple of warmth through me.
The dinner had been perfect—a feast of laughter, stories, and incredible food. Kathy’s toast had me teary-eyed, the kind of teary-eyed where you didn’t even realize you were crying until you blinked and felt the dampness on your cheeks. Her words about family, about love, had struck a chord deep inside me.
I wasn’t jealous or envious. Not really. I admired them. All of them. They had a huge loving family. Even the teasing was in good fun.
With the night winding down, my heart felt light, and my head was just a touch fuzzy from the wine and the cocktails Hayes kept slipping me throughout the evening.
“I don’t know how your family does it,” I said, breaking the comfortable silence between us. “It’s like being in a movie. They’re all so big-hearted. Full of love. And drama-free!” I laughed, the sound carrying on the breeze.
Hayes smirked, glancing at me as we reached the villa. “Drama-free might be pushing it. You haven’t seen us during a game of Monopoly or after someone loses their luggage. Or when we argue over who gets to use the private jet for a weekend.”
I grinned and bumped him lightly with my shoulder. “Still. They’re incredible. And Kathy’s toast? Ugh. It was perfect. I can’t wait for the wedding. You did tell me it’s black-tie, right?”
“Only the fanciest for Armand and Kathy.” Hayes unlocked the door and held it open for me to step inside. “You’ll look amazing. But you could show up in flip-flops, and you’d still steal the show.”
I rolled my eyes as I kicked off my sandals, but my cheeks flushed all the same. Hayes had a way of saying things that made my stomach flip, his words striking a delicate balance between charming and sincere.
Inside the villa, the air was cooler, carrying the faint scent of sea salt and flowers from earlier in the day. I walked over to the small vanity by the bed and began unclasping my earrings.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy,” I admitted as I set my earrings down. “This whole day—this whole week—it’s like everything I didn’t know I wanted. A big, loving family. Endless sunshine. Laughing so much my cheeks hurt. And you.”
I caught his reflection in the mirror as I turned to unfasten my necklace. Hayes stood a few steps behind me, his hands in the pockets of his white linen pants, his expression soft and unreadable.
“I’m just so grateful,” I continued, feeling a lump rise in my throat. “Grateful to be here. Grateful for you.”
For a moment, he didn’t say anything. Then he crossed the room in a few strides and put his hands on my shoulders. His touch was light, but it sent a spark down my spine.
“You make it sound like you’re the lucky one,” he murmured, leaning close. His breath was warm against my ear. I felt a shiver that had nothing to do with the cool breeze coming through the open door. “But you have no idea, Dixie. No idea how lucky I feel to have you here with me. I can’t believe how fate put you in my path at that party.”
I swallowed, trying to ignore the way my heart pounded in my chest. “You’re good at this, you know. Making a girl feel special.”
“Not a girl,” he said, his voice dropping. “You.”
The simplicity of the statement made my stomach flip all over again. I turned slightly, about to say something, but he was already reaching for the zipper at the back of my dress.
“Let me,” he said softly.
I let out a breath, my hands falling to my sides. He slowly pulled the zipper down. When the zipper was fully undone, he slid the straps of the dress off my shoulders, letting the fabric fall in a soft whisper to the floor.
I stood there in just my strapless bra and panties, the air cool against my skin, my pulse thrumming in my ears. I wasn’t used to feeling this exposed, this vulnerable—but with Hayes, it didn’t feel scary. It felt safe.
He stepped closer, his hands brushing against my arms as he leaned down to press a kiss to my bare shoulder.
“Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?” he asked, his voice low and husky.
I let out a soft laugh, my nerves and the wine making me giddy. “You keep saying that. I’m starting to think you have a one-track mind.”
His lips curved into a smile against my skin. “Guilty. But can you blame me?”
I turned to face him fully, my hands resting lightly against his chest. His shirt was soft under my fingertips.
“I don’t know what I did to deserve this,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “To deserve you.”
He cupped my face in his hands, tilting my chin so I had no choice but to look him in the eye.
“Dixie,” he said, his tone serious. “You don’t have to do anything to deserve this. Or me. I’m here because I want to be. Because I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”
My breath hitched, and I felt my eyes prick with tears. “You’re going to ruin me, you know that?”
He smiled, pressing his forehead to mine. “Good. Because you’ve already ruined me.”
His hands slid down from my face, tracing the curve of my neck, sliding over my shoulders with a gentleness that made my breath catch. I could feel the warmth of his touch even through the thin fabric of my bra.
“Hayes,” I whispered.
He didn’t rush. That was the most remarkable thing. In a world where everything moved at breakneck speed, where instant gratification was the norm, Hayes took his time. His touch was deliberate, reverent. Like he was memorizing every curve, every line of my body.
He unhooked my bra and let it fall away. But instead of immediately touching me, he just looked. His eyes traveled over me with an intensity that made me want to simultaneously hide and press closer to him.
“Beautiful,” he murmured, leaning down to press soft kisses along my neck.
I arched into him, my fingers threading through his hair. His lips found that sensitive spot just below my ear. I let out a soft gasp and pressed myself closer to him.
“Tell me what you want,” he whispered, his breath hot against my skin.
“You,” I breathed. “Just you.”
He lifted me effortlessly, my legs wrapping around his waist, and he carried me the short distance to the bed. He gently laid me down, staring down at me.
Hayes took his time removing his own clothes, never breaking eye contact. When he was finally naked, he crawled over me. He kissed me with his tongue dueling with mine.
He kissed down my jaw and then to my breasts.
“Dixie,” he groaned against my skin, his hands trailing softly down my stomach. He dipped his head to tease my belly button before continuing downward, skimming over my hips to the matching G-string.
“Damn,” he breathed. His fingers brushed against my panties. He looked up at me, pure passion in his eyes as he slid the panties to the side.
I sucked in a breath as he touched me for the first time, circling his fingers lightly. I arched into him, wanting more.
“Tell me if it’s too much,” he whispered, his mouth grazing the soft skin of my inner thigh.
“No!” I gasped out. “Please.”
He chuckled softly against my skin as he pressed two fingers inside me. I moaned, feeling the tension building between us. His thumb brushed against my clit, sending sparks shooting through me in an instant.
He moved his fingers slowly inside me, stretching and filling me perfectly. He was so patient, so deliberate. As if we had all the time in the world.
I twisted under him, my nails digging into his shoulders as the tension grew and grew until finally Hayes moved his thumb again. He rubbed over my clit. I let out a cry that echoed through the villa. His name was on my lips as I shuddered under him, holding on to him tightly as the wave washed over me.
When I could catch my breath again, he leaned down to claim my lips once more. The kiss was slow and lazy. He reached for the box of condoms on the nightstand and quickly put one on.
“I should have brought ten boxes,” he teased. “We’ve burned through a box already.”
I smiled. “I guess we’re going to have to pace ourselves.”
“Like hell.”
He positioned himself between my legs, his cock at my entrance. He paused, staring into my eyes.
“I want to be slow,” he whispered. “I want to take my time with you.”
“Then take your time,” I whispered back. “We have all night.”
He pushed slowly inside me. I gasped at the feeling of him filling me up. But even as he stretched me, it felt perfect. Right. As if we were made for each other.
He started moving slowly, groaning as he filled me with long slow strokes, his hips meeting mine with a rhythm as old as time itself. The sound of skin slapping against skin filled the air.
“Hayes,” I moaned, my fingers clutching at the sheets. My body arched into his, desperate for more.
He nipped at my earlobe. “Tell me what you need.”
“Faster.”
His hands found mine, lacing our fingers together.
“Harder,” I groaned.
He pulled away and rolled onto his back. “Ride me. Take what you want. I’m yours to do with as you please.”
I smiled and eagerly climbed on top of him. He was hard and ready, his cock pressed against my abdomen. I stroked him slowly, the head teasing at my entrance before finally sliding inside.
“Dixie,” he groaned. “Fuck…”
“You tell me what you want,” I said.
His hands gripped my hips, guiding me as I began to move. Slowly at first, then with increasing urgency.
“Just like that,” he groaned, his head tilting back against the pillows.
I leaned forward, changing the angle, and felt him hit that perfect spot inside me. A moan escaped my lips. His hands roamed my body—my breasts, my back, my ass—touching everywhere.
“You feel incredible,” he whispered.
I quickened my pace, riding him harder. The tension was building again, that delicious pressure growing with each thrust. His thumb found my clit, rubbing slow circles that made me gasp.
“Hayes,” I breathed. “I’m close.”
“Let go,” he urged. “Come for me.”
The friction was electric, making me see stars. Each thrust sent a jolt through me as I got closer and closer to my second orgasm of the night.
I cried out as the orgasm washed over me like a tidal wave. The force of it had me collapsing on top of him. His hips bucked under me as he chased his own release. His loud grunt and stiff body signaled he’d also reached his climax.
Hayes wrapped his arms around me and held me tight. His breath was ragged against my ear as his body shook and jerked beneath me. Every twitch triggered another spasm of pleasure that tore through me.
We lay there intertwined, a tangle of limbs and satisfied sighs. I could feel his heart pounding against my chest.
After a long moment of comfortable silence, Hayes shifted slightly and propped himself on his elbow to look at me. His eyes, still dark with leftover desire, carried a softness now, a tenderness that made my heart swell even more for him.
“Maybe I’ll buy this place,” he murmured.
I laughed. “What?”
“It can be our hideaway. It’s so peaceful here. And beautiful.”
I smiled and shook my head. “I don’t know if paradise is for sale.”
“Everything is for sale.”
I laughed. “Only to someone like you. The rest of us mere mortals have to accept visits are the best we’ll get.”
“Then I guess you better stick with me.”