Chapter 37
I’m on my second glass, the mix of gin and prosecco making the twinkling string lights above fuzzy around the edge.
“I’m married, bitches!” Josie squeals as she and Penny step up next to me. She does a shoulder shimmy, and loops her arms through ours.
I catch Tyler’s eye across the dance floor and smile. “To my cousin. I never saw this coming.”
“How could we?” Penny adds. “But what a wonderful surprise it was.”
After the first dance, Josie disappeared and came back wearing the cutest little mini wedding dress and sneakers.
She’s hardly left the dance floor tonight.
Penny has joined her for most songs, one hand resting on the slight curve of her belly as Josie twirls her around.
Josie has clearly had a few too many drinks from the open bar, but I’m not far behind her.
I know I need to swap to water soon though.
“Uptown Funk” starts up and Josie and Penny head back to the dance floor, but I’d rather have another slice of cake. My aunt really outdid herself. Three tiers with the most delicious buttercream icing. I head to the dessert table to grab a piece and make my way to the nearest table.
“You’re looking a little green around the gills.
” My brother muses, dropping into the seat next to me.
He’s shed his suit jacket, his tie now wrapped around Penny’s red hair, knotted into a bow.
“Here, drink this.” He hands me a bottle of water and unscrews the lid to his own.
Reaching for my unfinished cake, he grabs the fork to help himself.
“Holy shit,” he says, around the bite. “This is delicious.”
“I washed mine down with gin,” I say, pointing to my empty glass. The words are out before I can think. Stupid gin talking for me. Austin’s relationship with alcohol is not something I take lightly, but he seems unfazed by my comment. He just lifts his bottle of water and winks.
“You think that’ll be you one day?” he asks, nodding his chin toward Tyler and Josie.
“Marriage, schmarriage.” I wave a dismissive hand but then I spot Liam on the other side of the tent, beer in hand talking to his brother who I was introduced to a bit ago.
I watch Liam laugh at something his brother just said, and the idea of marriage doesn’t sound nearly as crazy as it did a few months ago.
“You never know, Cass. You never know.” Austin nods to my untouched water. “Drink up.”
I flash him a wobbly smile. My brother will never stop taking care of me, even though I’m a full-grown woman. But I do need to sober up if I want to be clear headed with Liam later tonight. Unscrewing the top, I gulp it down.
A big laugh grabs our attention to where Josie is now spinning Penny, her bridesmaid dress flaring out around her legs.
Austin jumps to his feet. Penny is now ending her fifth month of pregnancy and Austin can’t help himself.
He’s always futzing about, doting on her like she’s fragile.
It’s honestly adorable, but it drives Penny crazy.
“She’s fine, Austin. Women dance while pregnant all the time.”
“Well…” He stands to head their way. “Lemme just check.”
I grab his hand and haul him back down. “Sit. She’s fine. Let her dance.”
Austin huffs a breath, dragging a hand down his face. “I’m being overbearing, aren’t I?”
I snort a laugh and hold up my thumb and index finger, an inch apart. “Just a smidge.”
We fall silent, letting the party happen around us.
“Mom looks good, doesn’t she?” Austin observes as Henry spins mom out and then back to him.
“So good, Austin. She looks so good.” We’ve spent more time together leading up to the wedding, and with each passing day I’ve noticed subtle shifts.
I enjoy the time with her more than I did back at Christmas, and the few times that flare of resentment rears its ugly head, I’ve been able to squash it down.
I don’t know if it’s because I’m in a better place than I was back then, or if time really does heal.
Liam’s sea green eyes connect with mine and his face splits into a grin, laugh lines creasing his cheeks. He’s also shed his tie, his top few buttons undone and his sleeves rolled up to expose all that sexy ink and even sexier forearms. I think I’d like to lick those forearms.
At that not so sober thought, I take one more gulp of water.
He raises his arms like an embrace, swaying back and forth then hooks two fingers, beckoning me his way.
I hear a huff beside me. Austin is warming up to Liam. Slowly. Penny’s not the only one he’s overbearing with.
Standing on legs that feel much steadier than they did a bit ago, I reach over and give Austin a purple-nurple, and he yelps in pain, clutching his chest.
“Jesus, Cass! That hurt!”
“Well, stop being an ass, Austin. It doesn’t look good on you.”
His eyes are warm, and yet he still mutters, “You’re a menace.”
Smoothing my hands down my dress, I take a deep breath and cross to Liam. As soon as I reach him, he takes my hand, leading me to the dance floor right as an old Madonna song starts up.
“Did you request this?” I ask, brow arched.
Liam tugs me against him, wrapping an arm around my waist and folds our hands together. It’s like the world has taken a step back and it’s just us.
“Maybe.” A beat passes and he tugs me even closer, his nose nudging against my ear. “Do you know how ready I am to get you home?”
His palm skims lower, splaying at the small of my back and I’m hyperaware of every place our bodies touch.
A tight tremor of anticipation coils its way down my spine, simmers low in my belly as my nipples pebble against the satin fabric.
There has to be a limit for how much I crave Liam, and tonight I want to test all those limits.
“When is an acceptable time to duck out, you think?”
I raise my head to glance around the tent. Everyone is so caught up with dancing that I’m not sure they’d miss us.
“Maybe after this song ends, we slip out?
Liam gives a quick jerk of his head and we sway to the song, all the sounds around us fading until it’s just the two of us.
“You’ve been driving me crazy all day.” His lips are close to my temple. Not quite touching.
“Just today?”
He makes a low sound in his chest. “Touché.”
I tilt my head back to look at him and his sea green gaze is already on me, heated with desire. His eyes drop briefly to my mouth and back up. “I’ve been very patient this evening.”
He tugs me closer until I feel his hardness press against me.
“Liam. We’re at a wedding.”
“I know where we are. ’Bout ready to get outta here, though.”
I don’t realize Liam has slowly been guiding us to the side of the crowd until the song ends, and his hand finds mine. “Ready?”
Swallowing hard, I nod, letting him lead me to his truck.
The town of Singing River passes in a silent blur of streetlights, and I can’t stop touching him.
I’ve scooted all the way across the bench seat to rest my hand on the top of his thigh, his forearm, anywhere my hands have access too, like if I stop, one of us will change our mind. I’m not about to let that happen.
“You better be buckled up,” Liam warns, eyes flicking quickly from the road.
Sighing heavily, I remove my hand from his thigh and quickly buckle.
Liam drives exactly the speed limit, but I can tell by the way he’s white-knuckling the steering wheel he’s just as eager to get to his house. He takes a turn into his driveway, tires crunching and finally, finally we’re parked in front of his house.
“Don’t you dare get out yet,” he commands, jumping from the truck, and in two seconds flat the passenger door opens and Liam’s carrying me, bridal style up his walkway and into his house.
I know we should probably pay attention to Mutt or let him out to pee or something a responsible pet owner would do, but my mind isn’t clear enough for all that.
Luckily Liam’s is. With me still in his arms, he jogs us to his back door and Mutt scampers out.
I slide down his body and his mouth is on mine before my heels hit the floor, forcing my lips apart.
His tongue slides against mine in a rough drag.
While our other kisses have been the best of my life, this is different.
The kiss is dirty. Raw. Mind numbing in its intensity, like he’s seeing if he can get me off with only a kiss.
I whimper into his mouth, my hands going to fist his hair, tugging harder than I ever would have dared before.
But he makes me bold. Makes me want to take as much as give.
My hands turn into greedy little things, moving to cup him through his dress pants. A tortured groan works its way up Liam’s throat as I begin to stroke the hard bulge through the fabric. He breaks away, breathless, lips swollen, hair standing on end from my hands.
“Angel, baby, I do not want a repeat performance of Valentine’s Day.”
“We have too many clothes on,” I pant out, sweeping my hands up and down. “Off.”
Liam complies, unbuttoning his shirt with nimble fingers.
I take a step back to admire the man in front of me.
His shoulders have broadened since the last time I saw him shirtless.
I know he’s been working out more, and it shows.
Standing before me is a masterpiece. There’s more definition to his abs that makes my mouth go dry.
An out-of-control feeling takes over and I lean in to run my tongue along his collarbones, nails raking over the hard ridges of his stomach.
His muscles shift under my touch and something primal lights up in me.
Like an ancient goddess who has complete control.
But with healthy boundaries and consent of course.
Liam’s hand moves to my back fumbling around for a second.
“Side—zipper’s on the side,” I rush out, while using my toes to kick out of my heels.
He gets it lowered quickly and drags the straps of my dress down until the fabric pools at my feet, leaving me in nothing but my red lace thong.
And he freezes, his body going preternaturally still.