“What was that?”
“You are the most beautiful woman here tonight,” I tell her confidently. She smiles that beautiful smile as she lays her head against my shoulder. We sway back and forth to whatever oldies ballad the band is playing. “You blow me away, Lia. When I’m with you, I want things I haven’t wanted in a very long time. I want to imagine the future and a life with you in it,” I confess. I’m nervous to say the words, and I tried to stop myself from saying them, but I just couldn’t. I’m spewing my guts in the middle of the damn dance floor like some love-sick sap.
Lia looks up with tears in her eyes. My lips descend on hers as if completely on their own. I love feeling her in my arms and I damn sure love the feel of her lips on mine. Mine. That’s what she is. I claim her as my own in a total caveman, barbaric way. The gentle touch of her tears between our cheeks is my undoing. I long to take every ounce of pain away from her in this moment. Everything. No horrible past. No fear for today. No worry about tomorrow.
“You’re in public,” Jake chastises from next to us. “Don’t give the old ladies something to gossip about tomorrow at the salon,” he adds with a smirk.
“What about you? You’ve had your hands all over your wife all night,” I say.
“Well, we’re still in the honeymoon phase. No one is going to be surprised when we sneak off to the storage room in about five minutes,” Jake says with that cocky smile of his. I know that smile. I have one that matches.
Erin laughs nervously from within his arms. “Behave yourself, cowboy. These people are paying for my new library project, and I don’t want them to put their wallets away just yet because you can’t keep it in your pants for one evening,” she says with a rueful smile.
Lia and I laugh at my brother and his new wife. It’s hard to picture Jake before Erin, and the fact that they’re having a baby just makes the picture that much more complete. He’s a lucky bastard.
The song is nearing its end when I see Vicki walking towards us in a long black gown. She looks good, but she’s nothing compared to the woman currently in my arms.
“May I cut in?” she asks from behind Lia. I feel Lia tense in my arms as she turns to look at the woman behind her. I’m just about ready to reply to Vicki when I feel Lia start to pull back.
“Actually,” I start, grabbing a hold of Lia and pulling her back in my embrace. “This dance is for Lia. Vicki, this is Lia. My girlfriend,” I say, slowly so that there’s no question as to who I’m holding in my arms.
“Nice to meet you, Lia,” Vicki says without extending her hand. “Girlfriend? Wow. I never thought I’d see the day.” Vicki seems to give Lia the once-over before turning her attention back to me. The smile she gives is pleasant but I can detect the hint of sadness. “I’m glad to see you happy, Nate. Enjoy your evening,” she adds before she turns and walks away.
That went well. Actually, that was better than I could have imagined. There was no scene. There was no drama. Nothing. Vicki walked away, even if she might have wanted more. She knew that what we had was temporary. Lia is permanent.
After several more dances and a walk-through of the silent auction tables, I gather Lia in my arms and prepare to make our escape. The party is winding down now, and I’m ready to take her back to my place and make slow, sweet love to her body. I’ve been hard since she pressed against me during that first dance.
I head over and kiss my mom on the cheek. “Good night, Mom.”
“Good night, Nate. Good night, Lia,” Mom says as she leans over and wraps Lia up in a motherly hug. The same hug I see her give my sister and sister-in-laws. I want that for Lia. Family. Something she’s never really had before. I’m all too ready to share mine with her.
“We’ll see you tomorrow night,” I say as we head out.
I place my hand on her lower back and guide her towards the exit. The dress dips dangerously low in the back; to feel bare skin along with the soft satin material is a big cock-tease. Her skin is warm and soft and I can’t wait to feel so much more of that bare skin shortly.
We’re inside the car and heading towards my house a few minutes later. I move our linked fingers up to my mouth, placing soft kisses along her knuckles. I hear her breathing hitch as I run my tongue along the soft bumps of her fingers. I slowly start the art of seducing her. I press down a little more firmly on the gas pedal - I can’t help it. I need to get her home. Now.
The car is barely in my driveway when I have the ignition shut down and the door open. I move with long strides towards her door and have her out a moment later. I pull her flush against me, leaning her back against the warm metal of the car. I close the door as I devour her mouth with my own, threading my hands in her long hair. God, she tastes so damn good.