The ring was the biggest question in everyone’s minds. Why did he wear it still, yet not on his left hand, as he had before? Why did Sara Beth wear hers, even after her commitment ceremony two weeks ago with Sam? For Alex, it was simple. Their friendship had endured time and turmoil and come out the other end stronger than ever. Sara Beth was the reason they’d moved to Atlanta, the reason he’d found Cailin. He wore his old ring proudly. Watching Cailin describe Ian’s latest crazy antics, Alex knew he also wanted her to wear his ring, and soon.
Cade exchanged more pleasantries, a bit of shoptalk about the planned production phase for their AR research, then moved on. His spot was quickly filled with a succession of employees, investors, friends, until Alex thought if one more person wanted to talk to him, he just might scream. When a brief lull finally arrived, he decided to take advantage of it.
Leaning into Cailin’s space, he asked, “Wanna dance with me?”
“With you?” Cailin raised an eyebrow, which he promptly kissed. She swatted him away and stood. “Oh, okay, if I have to.”
“Sweetheart, you’re asking for it, you know that, don’t you?” He started a slow stalk toward her.
Cailin threw a mischievous peek over her shoulder. “I thought you’d never notice.”
CAILIN SASHAYED HER way toward the dance floor. Alex followed close behind, so downright gorgeous in his black tux with his dark hair trimmed and a new goatee gracing his firm chin. The skin along the sides of her neck tingled at the remembered feel of that soft, scruffy facial hair. She loved the easy scrape of it along her neck, her breasts, her thighs…
Her mouth went dry. She turned her head, chin tilted over her shoulder, and licked her lips.
Alex groaned.
Reaching a clear spot on the dance floor, she relaxed as Alex’s arms circled her waist and his chest met her back.
“Cailin.” Her name was a soft moan in her ear as she nestled her butt against his hips. “Sweetheart, this might be a really short dance if you keep that up.”
“That’s the idea.”
He rubbed the soft bristles of his new goatee against her neck as he chuckled. “Brat.”
He made her feel that way: daring and powerful, safe to do and say and be anything she wanted. Alex’s boldness fed hers. Like now.
With Alex’s palms flat against her abdomen, Cailin noticed a whisper of sensation as his thumbs brushed the undersides of her breasts—her fairly bare breasts. All that separated their skin was a thin film of silk. As she swayed, her breasts moved, her nipples rasping against the material, adding to the need building in her core. Alex’s hips nudged hers, making it clear he was equally hungry. The knowledge that his touch was hers anytime she needed it settled the long-held doubts in her soul, healed the scars given to her in another life, one that was fortunately only a faraway memory now. Here, with Alex, there was only love, desire. Heat.
As that heat curled higher and higher, she began to wonder exactly how long she was expected to last. When one of Alex’s hands slid down to press below her belly button, her core spasmed and she shivered, squirmed. No, it wouldn’t be long.
Desperation had her turning around to press fully against his chest, trying to ease the ache in her breasts. She and Alex began a slow give-and-take, moving to the music, hands and bodies—and, occasionally, surreptitious lips and tongues—touching, sliding, gripping. Cailin could feel tension building in Alex’s frame, his need obvious though he fought to keep them circumspect on the dance floor occupied by so many of his employees and their families. When her fingers inched to the buttons on his shirt of their own accord, he laid his hand over hers, stopping her, his wicked grin generating tingles in her lips as he brushed it against them.
“Are you trying to tell me something, sweetheart?” he asked.
“Yes.” Her answer was low, hoarse.
“Hmm.” Alex stroked two lazy fingers down her spine, tantalizingly close to her tailbone, then up, around, exactly the way he often stroked her slit when they made love. Her knees wobbled, and Alex chuckled even as he held her up. “Maybe we should go somewhere more private. What do you think?”
“Parking?” Attempting to wait the half hour it took to get home could be dangerous; she might jump him on the interstate.
Alex gave a slow, sexy shake of his head. He grasped her hand in his, intertwined their fingers, and led her nonchalantly from the dance floor.
As they climbed the stairs, Cailin saw Sara Beth and Sam standing near the bar. The soft glow of love lit their faces openly now, squeezing her heart. When Sara Beth caught her eye, she lifted her hand in a wave, winked at Alex, and went back to her conversation with Ian and Damien.