Chapter 38
Daniela
One thing about me is that I can get down at a party. I take a couple of shots, avoiding Dex, and I’m feeling good. Sort of. I still feel like shit on the inside, but for tonight, I’m free. I’m not going to worry about it right now.
Jackson has turned out to be an excellent dance partner, and I plan to monopolize him for as long as I can. Kylie and I take a couple turns together as well. Later, I spot her dancing with both Ethan and then Jameson. Good for her.
It’s kind of amazing what we pulled off out here.
After the ceremony, we had a whole switch-up planned.
A crew moved in tables, shifted chairs, and set up for dinner.
The dance floor had to be set up earlier on the far side of the yard, across from where the ceremony took place, but now it seems like the center of the party, complete with a DJ booth next to it.
The sun just set, and with the string lights twinkling above us and flowers exploding in every direction, it feels like a little fairytale escape hidden in the woods.
I’m in line at the mobile bar cart with Britney when I hear giggling behind.
“Oh my gosh, Ethan did get so hot, didn’t he?” one girl says.
“Dex though…” the other girl sighs. “If I’d known what a beautiful man he’d turn into, maybe I never would’ve left. Who knows. Then again, I wouldn’t have gotten to see, like, the world, you know? Maybe I should have tried harder to make him come with me.”
“Totally,” the first girl replies. “But he’s here now, so it’s a win-win.”
Britney looks at me, and I roll my eyes, remaining faced forward.
“Oh, Danielle, hi!”
We both turn to find a beaming Marny behind us, along with a girl I don’t recognize. Liam did invite a few old school acquaintances—it’s probably one of their wives who went to school with them or something.
“Hi, Manny .” I smile sweetly .
Her smile falters, but she quickly tries to recover. “I didn’t see you standing there.”
“Oh, yeah? Heard you talking about your world travels. Have you been to many countries?” I ask.
Her expression immediately shifts, showing her true colors. “No.”
“What was your favorite one?”
“The United States, of course.”
“Have you been to any other countries?”
“Not yet…but I have a trip planned for Paris next year.”
“Right. Well, good luck with that! Sounds fabulous.” I overdo the enthusiasm just a tad.
She narrows her eyes at me.
“Well, I hope you girls have a fun night!”
“Oh, we will. I’m going to dance with Dex after this!” She’s trying to sound innocent, but I can see the smugness in her smile.
“That’s great. Hope you guys have a great time.”
“I’m Britney,” Britney finally cuts in. “Nice to meet you guys. School friends, I’m guessing?”
“Yeah. Nice to meet you. I’m Sarah,” the other girl responds with a wave.
Marny only offers a fake smile in response.
Finally, it’s our turn to order. I don’t bother saying anything else. I grab my drink and bolt .
I’m about to take a seat, but then I realize I don’t want to sit around watching Dex dance with Marny, so I go for a walk around the house.
As I make my way around the side of their massive log cabin-style home, the music and voices begin to fade behind me, replaced by the calming sound of rustling trees up ahead. That direction calls to me, for some reason.
The front yard and road are packed with a maze of parked cars, so I navigate to a small cluster of trees right next to the front porch and lean against one, sipping on my whiskey on ice.
It’s peaceful out here. The sounds of the wedding echo faintly from the backyard, but it feels quiet still.
I close my eyes, breathing in the scent of evergreens and feeling the cold wind on my face.
It’s not long at all before a dark form emerges from the same direction I came. I recognize the walk instantly.
I sigh to myself.
“What are you doing?” I ask him.
“Came to ask you the same thing.”
“Getting some peace and quiet.”
“I thought you were usually the life of the party…” He slowly steps closer, now only a few feet away.
“I can’t turn it on all the time.” I take another burning sip of whiskey. “How was your dance with Marny? ”
He lets out a breathy laugh, shaking his head. “If I had even the slightest bit of interest in that girl, do you think I’d be following you out here?”
“What do you want from me?” My voice comes out weak. Damn.
“I want you to trust me.” He takes another step closer. “And I want you to let me in.”
“I’m not good at that.”
“Bullshit.”
He takes the glass from my hand and sips my whiskey. My chest rises with a deep inhale.
Another step closer, and he’s leaning his arm against the tree. Boxing me in.
“What are you doing?”
“Say you trust me.” His voice is low, his lids heavy.
We stare at each other in a standoff. He waits patiently while I take a long breath. The world is quiet around us.
“I do.”
“Say it.”
“I trust you, Dex.” He smirks and lets out a soft laugh, leaning in.
“Good,” he whispers into my ear, then he begins kissing along my neck—slow and gentle. The bumps on my arms aren’t from the chilly breeze.
I let out a small gasp as his lips trail down the v-neckline of my dress, taking his time .
“Dex,” I whisper, tilting my head back against the tree.
“Can I keep going?” he asks, looking up at me.
I nod a little too eagerly. I’m suddenly aching with need.
He steps back for a moment, looking me up and down with hungry eyes. Then he takes another drink, sets the glass down on the ground, and drops to his knees.
His steady hands part my dress at the high slit, kissing and caressing my leg with his calloused palms. By the time he reaches the inside of my lower thigh, I’m throbbing. I want him. Bad.
He grabs the glass again, takes a sip, and this time I notice that he keeps a chunk of ice in his mouth.
Then he sets the glass down and lifts my leg, resting it on his strong shoulder. My dress hikes up to my hips and a cool breeze hits my exposed skin.
His eyes travel between my legs, and his lids grow heavier. He trails a gentle finger along my black lace thong, but he won’t pull it aside.
“Stop teasing me, Dex.” I plead.
A deep chuckle rumbles out of him, then, finally, he pulls the lace to the side and makes contact.
A sharp gasp escapes me as I feel the icy coldness from the chunk of ice still in his mouth.
It’s a shocking mix of sensations—his warm tongue and the frigid ice—and it’s almost too much.
Just as I think I can’t take any more of the cold, he pulls it in and replaces it with the warmth of his tongue .
His strong hands hold my legs as he works mercilessly with his mouth, and my muscles begin to tighten. I let out a soft cry into the cold night air.
“Holy shit,” I pant, my body jolting with every flick and swirl. The tension coils low in my stomach, and I grip his hair, bracing myself as I try to keep quiet. Anyone could walk around that corner at any time and hear us. But I can’t help it. This man has me coming undone.
The pressure snaps, and I’m trying to hold back my cries. The ache from the ice makes my release feel so intense it borders on painful—but it isn’t. My body trembles as wave after wave rolls through me.
Dex keeps his hands firm on my thighs, grounding me as my breathing slowly steadies. Then he slides my thong back into place, pressing soft kisses to my inner thigh. He gently smooths my dress back down and stands, brushing off his knees.
He towers over me again, and I look up at him, still catching my breath.
Then he crunches the remaining ice between his teeth and swallows it, and I watch the subtle bob of his throat. Somehow, it’s the hottest fucking thing I’ve ever seen.
“Not every man takes only for himself, Dani.” He says, then turns and walks away, hands in his pockets.
What the hell.