Chapter 10
Chapter 10
Reese
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Picking my Red Bull off the bathroom counter in my hotel room, I yawn and then take another drink. I’m already exhausted and have at least another six hours before I can sleep.
Last night, Brodie and I got into New York late. By the time we got to the hotel downtown and checked in, it was after midnight, and we were both starving. Thankfully, we were in a city that never sleeps, so we could walk down the block for a slice of pizza. Then, because at that point I was wired, we walked to Times Square to see the lights. By the time I climbed into bed, it was almost two in the morning, and then I woke up at ten to Brodie knocking on the door. He had been up early for his shoot and looked bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, despite getting less sleep than I did. While I got ready and drank the coffee he’d brought, he lounged on my bed, talking to me through the open bathroom door. Then, the two of us wandered the city together.
We went to a cute little café for breakfast, the New York City Library, which was so cool to see in person, the Ghostbusters firehouse, and the abandoned Track 61. After all that, we wandered through Central Park, where we each ate a hotdog while lounging on the grass. The day was magical. Then again, being with Brodie anywhere was its own kind of magic.
With another yawn, I grab my makeup bag and start the process of getting myself ready. I never wear much makeup, and that is not changing tonight, but I did get talked into buying red lipstick the same day I bought myself my own pair of strappy heels from Neiman Marcus. I’ll wear it tonight like the girl at the makeup counter taught me.
With my hair tied back away from my face in a tight ponytail that I took extra time making look perfect—even wrapping an under piece around the hair tie and securing it with a bobby pin—I add bronzer to my face, some blush, a little gel to my brows so they stay in place, and then line my lips and add the lipstick that is supposed to stay put for twenty-four hours.
When I’m finished and lean back to look at myself in the mirror, I blink at my reflection. I look like my aunt. I never noticed it before, maybe because I never wear makeup, but I look just like her, which means I look just like my dad. The realization makes me feel oddly connected to him.
Knowing Brodie will arrive any minute so we can get to the hotel where the event is being held, I finish up in the bathroom and then get dressed.
When I have my shoes on, I grab the small clutch I borrowed from my aunt and start adding things to it—not much. My ID, a little cash, my phone, the lipstick just in case, and… I look at the door that separates Brodie’s room from mine when I hear a knock.
Wandering to it, I open it and swallow. I should have known that Brodie in a tuxedo would be hard to handle. Heck, him wearing the shorts and tee he’d had on this afternoon made it difficult to focus. Then again, his shirt fit him like a second skin, and knowing what was under it had me imagining it off more than once. But in a tux? In a tux, he looks like he should be on a red carpet somewhere with some pretty little supermodel on his arm.
“Jesus Christ, Ree.” Snapping out of my runaway thoughts, I lift my gaze to his, and the world feels like it shifts under my feet when I see the look in his eyes. “You look…” He takes a step toward me, and I hold my ground. “You look beautiful.” His eyes wander slowly down my dress to my heels. “I didn’t think you could look any more beautiful than you do every single day, but you proved me wrong.” Oh, God. My heart is going to pound out of my chest. Either that, or I’m going to faint. “That dress.” I swear I hear him growl or groan and see his hands fist at his sides. “It’s perfect. You look perfect.”
“Thank you,” I finally get out, and his heated gaze meets mine.
Kiss me. The thought slams into my head so hard it catches me off guard. But I want it. I want him to kiss me. Like he knows exactly what I’m thinking, he takes another step toward me and wraps his large palm around my hip. His other hand goes to the side of my throat, then with his thumb on my chin, his lips lower to my…cheek. My eyes slide closed in disappointment. When I open them, his face is an inch from mine.
“Are you ready?”
So close. He’s so close I could kiss him if I were brave enough to just press my mouth to his. Am I? Could I do it? Should I? I like him a lot, and I like the easy connection we have. I like being his friend. But some part of me wants more. I don’t know when I decided that, but it’s true. I want more from him.
“Ree.” His thumb runs along my jaw, and I drop my gaze to his mouth. “Fuck,” he groans. I don’t know where I find the courage, but I lift onto my toes and press my mouth to his.
Just like that, something breaks between us, and whatever he had been using to hold himself back snaps. He doesn’t kiss me back; he completely takes over the kiss, holding my jaw, tilting my head, and touching his tongue to my bottom lip. I open for him instinctively and follow his lead. My heart pounds, my skin feels tight, and every part of me presses closer to him, wanting more. I’ve never experienced this kind of moment, and I feel greedy. Greedy and desperate for more. If my dress weren’t so tight, I would attempt to climb him, try to wrap my legs around his waist to get closer to the hard length of him pressing into my belly. When he nips my bottom lip and palms my ass, I whimper in need.
“Christ.” He licks into my mouth, then his lips and teeth join in, and his tongue works its way down my throat.
“Oh, God.” My head falls back when he nips the top of my breast.
“Fuck, Ree.”
“Please, touch me,” I beg, and he groans as my nails dig into his scalp.
“I will, but not now.” He kisses me again, deep and wet, before slowing the kiss and pulling away, breathing heavily. “The car is waiting for us downstairs.” He presses one more kiss to my lips, and my lashes flutter open. Damn… Right. I forgot we were supposed to be leaving, not making out in my hotel room.
“I fucking love that you look disappointed.” He smiles, running his thumb under my bottom lip. “And I fucking hate that we have to leave.” He swipes his thumb under my bottom lip once more. “Are you ready?”
“I just…” I lick my lips, which now taste like him and mint. “I just need to check and make sure my makeup is okay.”
“You look perfect, but I’ll wait.” He seems reluctant to let me go but does it anyway. While he waits, I walk into the bathroom and make sure my lipstick is still in place. By some miracle it is, which is a testament to the quality, and probably why it costs sixty dollars. I do, however, have to fix my hair. So, I do that and then walk back into the room, picking up my bag from the bed to finish putting my stuff inside. When I’m done, I meet him at the door, and he takes my hand, threading his fingers through mine. He doesn’t let it go until he has to so we can both get into the car waiting for us.