Marley and Austin were at the newlywed table, feeding each other cake. Grant was singing off-key to a giggling Chloe on the dance floor, and Chad was eating his boyfriend’s face in their seats about five feet away.
Ethan was alone, which was on purpose. He was happy that way. Until today, of course. Surrounded by love and family.
Earlier, he’d seen Lissa with another photographer, though that man had long since left. She was finished taking photos, her camera bag under guard by Owen as she pulled a laughing Chad onto the dance floor.
Her body moved like water, every movement fluid and purposeful and controlled. Her hips rolled against Chad’s, her long arms wrapped around his shoulders. He pressed a kiss to her neck and she laughed.
Grant had told Ethan earlier that Chad and Lissa were friends, and even though Chad was committed to Owen, Ethan couldn’t help the surge of jealousy that left a sour taste in his mouth.
As the song changed to something slower and more sultry, Ethan willed himself to stay in his seat, told himself to stay put, but his body wasn’t listening—and neither was his cock, for that matter. He strode onto the dance floor, his dress shoes clicking on the tile floor. Chad was whispering something in Lissa’s ear as Ethan approached.
“Excuse me,” he all but growled.
Chad’s head lifted and Lissa turned to stare at him in surprise. Ethan lifted her hand from Chad’s shoulder and tugged her to him, where she smashed against his chest with an oomph. Ethan gazed into those deep brown eyes. “I believe you owe me a dance.”
She blinked at him, those impossibly thick lashes fluttering. “Uh, I’m pretty sure we never talked about a dance. You must be mistaking me for someone else.”
He held firm as she tugged to get out of his grip. “I’d like to dance with you. Please.”
So he was a little rusty. A lot rusty. Chad looked at him like he was an alien before turning to Lissa. “You all right?”
She hesitated then nodded. “Sure. Watch my camera?”
“Of course.” With one last look over his shoulder, Chad left the dance floor.
Lissa peered up at him. “Are you asking me to dance with you?”
“Will you say yes?”
She smiled at that. “Ask me and find out.”
He licked his lips, wishing he could bend down and nibble on her plump ones. “Will you dance with me?”
She cocked her head, long gold earrings brushing her neck. “Yes.”
He wrapped both arms around her, resting his hands on her lower back. He didn’t go lower, no matter how much he wanted to grab a handful of her ass.
Tone it down, man, you’re acting crazy.
But her touch was only fueling this unusual surge of desperate want inside him. She rested one hand on his hip, the other clasped around his neck, long fingernails digging into his nape. He was hard, again, and there was no way she didn’t feel it. Her body was smooth and pliant under his hands. The low-cut neckline of her dress showed him the tops of her round, full breasts. He wanted to bury his face in her cleavage as he drove into her.
Oh fuck, he was getting harder.
He would have been embarrassed if it wasn’t for the way Lissa was responding.
Her hands tightened where she held him, and her lips were parted as their groins pressed together. She looked up at him, her cheeks flushed a deep red. She was affected, too—she had to be. He was surprised as hell this woman seemed to want his grumpy, deformed self, but he wasn’t sure he’d be able to think of anything else until he had her.
He’d been good at this once. Cocky and self-assured and confident, he’d been able to talk a woman into his bed and then keep her there with his skills. He used to be quite excellent with his mouth. In all things.
He leaned down and took a chance, figuring if she smacked him, he wouldn’t have lost anything. His hand drifted lower until his fingers skimmed the top of her ass. He squeezed, and her breath caught as she pressed closer. He welcomed the pain of her nails digging into his neck.
He leaned down until his lips were at her ear. “I want you.” She made a small sound in her throat, but she didn’t move away. That was encouraging. “I have since I saw you in my office. Do you want me, Lissa?”
She nodded so slightly he thought maybe he imagined it.
“I need you to say it out loud.”
She leaned back so she met his gaze and licked her lips. “Yes.”
He bent his head so all he saw were her eyes. “This isn’t a date,” he said firmly, knowing he was coming across harsh, but he was too old and too damaged to deal with bullshit. “I don’t want to chitchat and meet your parents. I want inside you.”
She wasn’t shocked by his words. The only indication she had heard him was a slight dilation of her pupils and her heart pounding against his.