Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
ALISON
I know I’m getting tipsy. It could have something to do with the two glasses of bubbles I tipped down my neck earlier.
There’s also a strong possibility I should have kept the Jellyfish Julie comment to myself, but here we are.
And to add to the drama, Tristan Lucas is looking dashing in his tux, his hair gelled back, and that sexy, spicy cologne that lingers all over me after our embrace.
I never thought he could be a person I’d feel comfortable with, or that he’d swoop in like that. But I’ve gotta hand it to him, it was well played.
Okay, I probably shouldn’t have just kissed him like that, but getting under Gareth’s skin was a small victory I’ll cherish for years to come.
“What made you decide to come?” he asks. His voice is low, soft and velvety, and not for the first time tonight, it has a calming effect.
I purse my lips, thinking for a second before I answer.
“A few factors. For one, Gareth said he wasn’t coming.
And an old friend of mine, Amanda — she’s not someone we went to school with — needs some advice on selling her house.
I’m meeting up with her tomorrow. And Lexi thought it would be a good idea to get out of town for the weekend while Clementine spends some time with her grandparents. ”
“All good reasons. I know you’re a workaholic like me. My kids are always telling me to get out more.”
“Do you ever listen to them?”
He cocks his head and laughs quietly to himself. “I’m here, aren’t I?”
“I guess so.” I take another sip of bubbles, knowing I need to slow down, or perhaps eat something soon to soak up all the alcohol. “And it’s just as well you were here.”
“Do you see me complaining?”
“Well one thing’s for sure, Gareth didn’t know where to look.”
“The guy is a douchebag through and through.” He takes another sip of his drink, my eyes dipping to his throat.
“You look insane tonight,” I blurt out. “You weren’t kidding about the tux.”
He almost chokes on his drink to give me a side eye. “I scrub up alright, so I’ve been told.”
I laugh a little. Tristan always looks immaculate, but tonight is off the charts. “More than alright, if I’m being honest.”
He leans in, and his sexy scent is heady, just like the rest of him. “And you’re a hot mama in that dress, Alison Archer. I think I like seeing you in a hot little number at my mercy. By the way, that slit up your thigh should be illegal.”
A shiver runs up my spine with his breath so close to my neck. “I’m sure you say that to all the girls.”
A light chuckle leaves his throat. “Women, Ali. And actually, I haven’t said it to anyone in a long time.”
“I’ll consider myself lucky then.”
He shrugs indifferently. “I didn’t like seeing you looking upset, and when I saw your ex, I made a beeline for you. I wanted to punch that asshole. It was clear what his intentions were.”
“He makes me sick.” I pull a face like I tasted something bad.
“To fall out of love with someone is one thing, but to lie and cheat behind their backs is quite another.” I would never normally say this out loud, but the bubbles are definitely going to my head and I’m not thinking straight.
It’s like my filter has taken a leave of absence.
“That’s not a real man,” he says. “Simple as that.” He reaches out and brushes my shoulder with his hand, and I don’t know if it’s for show anymore or if he actually means to do it on his own merits.
But it makes me feel good. Safe even. Like someone has my back, and I never expected that someone to be him.
“I wish I’d been smarter back then.”
“We all live and learn,” he sighs. “But just think, you wouldn’t have Clementine.”
The sound of her name brings a little spark to my chest, and makes my eyes glisten.
She’s my little miracle. “That’s so true.
” I look behind me for a moment to see the gathering is growing in numbers, but I don’t feel like mingling with any of them now.
“You know, I might head out,” I say. “I think this has already been a night to remember, and if I drink any more champagne, I might say something I’ll really regret. ”
“Are you staying here at the hotel?”
“Yes.” I nod. “I just don’t think I’m in the partying mood.” But at the same point, I don’t want to leave Tristan, and that’s an odd feeling in itself.
“Understandable. I can walk you back. Make sure you don’t get accosted by any more jellyfishes in disguise.”
Always the gentleman.
A laugh bubbles from my throat and I shake my head. “I forgot how silly I get when I don’t eat anything before I drink.”
“I think I like you a little silly.”
“That’s because you haven’t seen me have fun in a while.”
He laughs and strokes his freshly shaven chin. “What say we sneak out while the going is good?”
I chug down the last of my champagne and place the glass down triumphantly. Though what I’m feeling triumphant about, I don’t know. “Why don’t we have a shot first?” I suggest.
His sexy smile sends another little shiver through me, and I’m far from cold. “A shot?”
“For old times’ sake?”
“What’s your poison?” he asks, leaning on the bar with his elbow, his head propped in his hand.
“I don’t usually do hard liquor,” I confess. “You choose?”
The side of his mouth pulls up as he stares at me for a moment, contemplating. “Tequila?”
I shrug, seemingly my inhibitions have gone sailing out the window. And I’m no expert, but it sounds kinda lethal. “Sure.”
The bartender is on point, I have to give him that, serving up two shot glasses in a matter of seconds. I’m eagerly about to tip mine back when Tristan’s warm hand encapsulates my wrist, stopping me in my tracks.
“You heard of the lip, sip and suck method, sweetheart ?”
I giggle, slapping a hand over my mouth. “Should you really say those things out loud?”
He can’t hide his smile either, but nods toward two wedges of lime and some salt which have just been placed down in front of our drinks.
“Ooh, I’ve seen this in movies,” I say eagerly.
“You’ve never had a shot of tequila?”
“I’m a more Prosecco kinda girl.” I shrug, causing him to shake his head lightly like I have no idea, and at this point, I clearly don't.
He reaches for the salt and tips some onto the back of his hand. “You lick the salt first, take the shot down in one gulp, and suck on the lime.” I can’t not notice the way his voice seems to grow even darker while explaining this. Lip, sip, suck method?
It sounds like something I’d like to do to him right now.
I follow suit and tip some salt onto my hand, gearing myself up.
I feel like a naughty schoolgirl, which is kind of appropriate given where we are.
My eyes don’t leave his as he swipes his tongue over the salt granules waiting on the back of his hand.
I throb between my legs as I imagine what that tongue would be like swiping through my most delicate areas. Holy crap, yes.
We both simultaneously bring the little shot glass to our mouths and throw the liquid down…
I nearly gag and garble the liquor everywhere, but Tristan reaches for the lime, and instead of sucking on it himself, he reaches it out to me.
It takes me a split second to reach forward and wrap my mouth around the lime, sucking its flesh into my mouth as the citrus hits my tongue and explodes.
In the same beat, I hold the lime up to his mouth and he does the same.
Wrapping those sexy lips around the wedge and sucking.
Sexy, sexy Tristan Lucas that I hate.
Shit . I must really be smashed. It doesn’t stop my eyes being glued to his mouth, where I can only imagine a whole new world awaits there. The things he could do with those lips and that tongue…
“How was it?”
It’s only then I realize I’m pulling a face, and it’s because of my slightly delayed reaction to the awful shot I just consumed. “Umm?—”
He laughs as I watch his eyes dip to my lips while I lick them clean. I still shudder from the taste which seems to amuse him even more. “The look on your face tells a story.”
“Let’s go another!” I announce with unadulterated enthusiasm. Clearly I’ve lost any kind of plot I may have been holding onto.
“I think we better pace ourselves, Ali Archer .”
“A night cap then?” I suggest with a waggle of my eyebrows. “Do you think you can drink me under the table, Tristan Lucas ?”
His lips twitch again in that cheeky smile he’s been sporting for most of the evening. “Oh honey, if you knew what I could do under the table, you wouldn’t be still sitting here with me.”
My head whips around to stare at his profile. His deep blue eyes dance with amusement. I think he enjoys teasing me. My kryptonite? Him throwing in some unexpected innuendo just to shock me.
“Ooh, where would I be?” I prod him in the chest. His eyes trail down to my finger, still pressing into him. Is it just me, or is he scorching hot wearing that tux? Though, he’d look good wearing a paper bag.
Then those sapphire blue eyes shift… to that slit in my dress? It’s an inch of a second, but if I’m not mistaken, he’s checking me out. Big time.
“If you were anyone else, you’d be in bed wrapped around me.”
I gasp at his words and surety. “If I was anyone else?”
“Someone who didn’t hate me,” he teases.
“Nonsense! I don’t hate you. Okay, we’ve had our differences, and you can be annoying — especially when you think you have the upper hand.
I’m sure it’s a tradeoff. You can’t be perfect at everything and still look good in a three-piece suit?
” I can’t seem to stop my overflowing blabbermouth.
Okay, I’m one tequila away from completely losing my mind.
If that happens, all filters, inhibitions, and anything else this respectable mother, champion PTA coordinator and successful realtor will go by the wayside, at least for tonight.
And in any case, why can’t I have a good time just because I am all those things? Is there some law against single moms with a career who’ve been cheated on saying we have to wallow in self-pity forever?
“I bet your tongue works just as good as your negotiating skills,” I throw in, just in case he missed the flirt.
He chuckles darkly, and it ignites every sense in my body. The fact that he denies nothing makes me ache in places I thought were closed for business. “You’re a pistol.” He leans closer to my ear. “And I like that mouth.”
I roll my lips, but he says nothing more. I swear I can hear the beating of both our hearts as I try to control my ragged breathing.
“Don’t get all shy on me now, Lucas.” I walk my fingers up his arm toward his tie again, and give it a tug. Leaning into him, on the edge of my seat, I let my hand skate around his neck, my lips seeking more of his warmth. He turns his head at just the right time to catch my lips.
It’s only to show my ex, I keep telling myself. And I’m a little drunk.
The salt, the lime and the tequila still lingers on his mouth as he presses the kiss into me. It’s long, drawn out, sexy and just a little dark. It’s like there is no one else in the room, but in reality, it’s full of our old classmates staring.
“Is this still for show?” he mutters against my mouth without breaking our contact.
I can’t tell anymore myself. All I know is that I can’t seem to get close enough to him, and his kiss is illicit. It’s so good, it should be illegal.
“What do you want it to be, Lucas ?”