Chapter 9
WILL
“Uncle Will, can I talk to you?” Milo asked me as the wedding reception was winding down.
“Sure. What’s up?”
I motioned to the chair in front of me, and he climbed on it. I was facing him, but I was also keeping an eye on Paige, who was three seats away. She’d been deep in conversation with my sisters up until a minute ago when they’d gone to bring a fresh round of drinks. They were all tipsy already.
“So, Mom and Dad are going on their honeymoon in two weeks,” Milo said.
I nodded.
“And Mom wanted to talk to Aunt Val so I could stay with her, but… can I stay with you? I like Aunt Val, but….”
And now I understood why he’d waited until my sisters left. He hadn’t wanted to hurt Val’s feelings.
“Of course you can. I’ll talk to Lori.”
Milo clapped his hands in excitement. “Can we build a birdhouse?”
I ruffled his hair, filled with a strange happiness. “Sure.”
Before Graham, Jace and I had been the ones to show Milo the ropes when it came to manly activities, as Lori called them. Now Milo was basking in the fact that he had a dad who could show him all those things.
I wasn’t ashamed to admit that I’d missed our time together. I was thrilled to spend a week with him.
As Milo hopped off the chair, running straight to Lori, I realized Paige had been watching us and was smiling warmly. Val and Hailey returned, carrying tequila shots. They’d been chugging champagne for the past few hours, and now were topping it off with shots?
I was one to talk. I was buzzed from champagne… and still high on Paige. On the taste of her mouth and the smooth skin of her thighs. She was getting tipsier by the second, but it was endearing to watch her be a goof and have fun with my sisters.
They were talking about her dad. She was telling them about one of his deployments, and I was shamelessly eavesdropping.
When she’d said her dad had been in the Army, I realized what she’d meant that day about detectives not being her type.
She’d said it jokingly, but paired with her comment today about understanding my sister’s worry, and her insistence on the day we’d bought the alarm that my looking around was making her uncomfortable, there might be some truth behind it.
That didn’t sit well with me, because I liked Paige.
The sweet way she’d reached out to me in the church completely took me by surprise.
The way she’d goofed around the entire day, pushing my buttons even more than usual…
somehow she’d known I needed that today.
And that kiss… how she’d surrendered to me. My dick twitched at the memory.
When all of the guests had left and only family was around, Paige rose to her feet. She was beyond tipsy. Her gait was steady, but other things gave her away. She grabbed her phone too tightly; her movements were too brusque.
Over her shoulder, I saw her pull up the app for ordering a cab.
“You don’t need to order anything. Those cars we all came in are waiting outside.”
“Oh.”
“I’m taking you home, Paige.”
She blinked up at me, giving me a dazzling smile. “That’s nice of you. Thanks.”
On the way to the car, I tucked her into my side, half supporting her weight. I’d been right about her level of tipsiness.
In the car, I became aware that I wasn’t faring much better.
The champagne had gone straight to my head.
Not touching Paige took a huge effort. Her dress slid off one leg, revealing all that creamy skin.
I sat next to her, careful not to make any contact.
If I kissed her, the driver would be in for quite a show.
“How did you like the wedding?” I asked.
“It was great. I’m so glad you talked me into going.”
I leaned in, whispering right in her ear.
“I’m quite good at talking you into what I want.
” I could feel her wanting to argue with me, maybe dish some more of that sass.
Almost without thinking, I touched her bare thigh on the spot where I’d slid the garter on her other leg.
She let out a sound between a sigh and a moan, and when I cocked my head in her direction, I nearly lost all my control.
Her eyes were hooded, full of lust. It took all I had not to kiss her.
It became clear quickly that she was also tired. She slid lower in her seat, and her head kept lolling to one side or the other as she dozed off.
“You’re tired. Relax, I’ll hold you.”
I slid my fingers under her chin, tilting her head on my shoulder. Before long, she was asleep. I would have liked to talk to her, but this worked just fine for me too. She made an adorable sound, like a purring cat. Her hair smelled like strawberries.
When we arrived at her building, I rocked her gently.
“We’re here, Paige. Wake up.”
She blinked her eyes open, straightening up. I climbed out of the car, then opened her door, helping her out.
“This is me,” she said unnecessarily.
“I’m walking you to the front door.”
I scanned the area and decided it was semisafe. It was a sleepy residential area, with an inner courtyard and free access to the staircase. The corridor didn’t have a full wall, so I could watch Paige walk to her apartment, but there could be plenty of creeps waiting somewhere along the way.
Paige was fidgeting. “Will, I had a great time tonight, but….”
She glanced to the building, then at the car. I realized she thought I was inviting myself into her apartment or her bed. I stepped closer, taking her head between my hands, looking her straight in the eyes.
“Let me walk you to the door. I just want to make sure you’re okay.”
She bit her lip, then nodded. It was a testament to how tipsy she was that I got no sassy reply. Paige lived on the second floor, and I was satisfied there was no creep inside.
I walked her to the door and stood right behind her while she searched for her keys. I felt the heat of her body against my chest.
“Here is where I leave you, Paige.”
She turned around. “You really just wanted to walk me to my door?”
“Yes. You should get an alarm, by the way.”
She chuckled, bringing her hand to her temple in an army salutation. “Yes, sir. But only if you help me install it.”
“Of course.” I brought my lips to her cheek, then trailed them to her mouth, kissing one corner, then moving to the other.
Then I kissed her. I hadn’t thought a kiss could be hotter than the one at the wedding.
I’d been wrong. She leaned back against the door for support as I deepened my exploration.
She was free to touch me this time, and she took full advantage.
She started with my arms, then moved to my shoulders before descending to my chest. I groaned against her mouth, and then one of my hands was on her thigh, touching her bare skin.
She rolled her hips forward. I moved my hand higher just a fraction of an inch and then stopped.
My other hand tightened on her shoulder.
I was fighting the urge to move my hand even higher.
She seemed to realize that… and moved it for me.
She was going to be the death of me. I needed to touch this woman intimately.
I’d barely refrained when I kissed her at the wedding, but now, in this dark hallway…
. One inch, then another, I trailed my fingers, until I reached between her legs.
Her pussy was drenched. I was trembling with the desire to push her panties to one side and sink my fingers inside her.
Hell, I wanted to drop to my knees and worship her with my mouth, right now.
Instead, I retrieved my hand completely, placing it on the door with a loud thump. I had to tear myself away from her.
Outside the building, she’d been wary of me coming up.
Now she was aroused in addition to being tipsy, and I knew that combination meant she wasn’t thinking clearly.
She’d regret this tomorrow. I was a nanosecond from breaking down the door and taking her inside, spreading her wide and feasting on her, sinking inside her.
I pulled on every ounce of self-restraint and almost moved away…
but then she lowered her hands to my hips, slamming them against hers.
Fuck, fuck, fuck. I was only human, and I was so turned on, I could barely think.
My dick was painfully hard, and the suit pants weren’t much help covering it.
The length of my cock was pressing against her belly, and the friction was driving me insane.
Paige had wound her hands in my hair, and she lifted one leg up my thigh, opening herself up.
I nearly came in my pants. I breathed in and out, and finally tore my mouth away from hers.
I brought both hands to her hips, pushing them firmly against the door.
“Fucking hell, Paige. You’re killing me.”
She was looking up at me with pent-up desire.
I wanted nothing more than to go inside with her.
If I thought I could keep my hands off her, I would.
Just to talk to her, maybe find out a little more about her reticence about my job and how deep it went—if it was a deal-breaker.
I was content even to just take some more button pushing from her.
I wanted to be with her partly because tonight of all nights, I didn’t feel like being on my own, but also because I was consumed by her.
I’d always followed my instincts, and I felt it deep in my bones that I wanted Paige in my life, perhaps even needed her. I wasn’t sure how I felt about needing someone since I’d pushed away that concept at seventeen, but the entire day, that instinct had grown stronger. I wouldn’t ignore it.
“Go inside. We’re both buzzed from the champagne, and I’m very close to losing control. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
She blinked, then said awkwardly, “You’re right. Thanks for keeping a clear head.”
She turned around, but not before I noticed a strange expression on her face.
It looked like shame, possibly even disappointment.
I wanted to clear something up. I brought a hand to her waist, figuring it was safe to touch her because she had her back to me, so I couldn’t get lost in her eyes or be tempted by her mouth and lose all reason.
I brought my mouth to her ear. “Paige, this doesn’t mean I don’t want you. I do, and when we take that step, I promise I’ll fuck you so good.” My voice was almost a growl. Her knees buckled, and she missed the lock twice. I covered her hand with mine and guided the key inside the lock.
“Will….”
“But I want us both—you especially—to be completely sober and in full possession of our mental faculties.” I kissed the top of her back, then lower between her shoulder blades.
“And in full possession of our senses, so you won’t miss any single thing I’ll be doing to you.
” I spoke every word against her skin. I felt a small quiver snake through her just as I took my hand away from her waist. She turned the key in her lock, then went inside.
I fought against all my instincts to keep from knocking at her door.