"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.
"I need you inside, right now," I growl against her lips.
"Take me inside, Nate," she whispers just before taking another kiss for herself.
I growl, again, and lift her up. Thank fuck for that slit in the dress. It's the only thing that saves the material from being ripped apart when she wraps her legs around me. My legs take big strides to get to the house. I'm up the porch, unlocking the door, and slamming the door closed behind me within seconds.
I press Lia against the back of the front door. She grinds her sweet wetness against my painful erection as we continue to make love with our mouths. My hands are everywhere. Her hair. Her neck. Her breasts. I need this damn dress gone. Stat.
I spin around and practically sprint to my bedroom. Once inside, I don't lay her down on the bed; no, not yet. First, I want to slowly remove that tease of a dress from her delicious body.
Lia stands before me and my eyes don't know what to feast on first. Her hair frames her beautifully flushed face. Her breasts are practically spilling out of the top of that amazing dress. Her leg is exposed just enough through that slit. I want it all.
I find the zipper at her side and slowly - painfully slowly - tug it down her body. The dress begins to part and the top starts to fall away. What I find underneath steals my breath away. There is no air in this damn room anymore. My eyes practically bug out of my skull as I take in the goddess in front of me. Lia shimmies until the dress falls loosely around her hips then pooling into a pile of red material at her feet. She is wearing a red lace corset, red lace panties, and garter belts. Fucking garter belts. I almost come in my pants like a teenager and probably would if she were to moan right now.
"Damn, you take my breath away," I finally say, not taking my eyes off of her for one second.
Lia tugs on my shirt, pulling it out of my pants. Her fingers fumble with the small buttons and the cuff links. I try to help, but end up ripping a few buttons off in the process. "Fuck it. I'll buy a new one," I say, as I rip the shirt off me, the rest of the way.
Her hands send lightening through my veins as she touches my bare chest. I release the button on my pants and let them fall to the floor before I pull her flush against me. Her body is hot and soft. The red lace scratches against me in the most delicious way. My lips find her neck; the long, slender column is so enticing.
Lia pulls away and sets herself back on my bed. Our eyes are glued to each others as she lies back on my covers. She looks like a beautiful goddess in red lace lying there. I want to - no, I need to - worship her body. Right. Now.
I make quick work of removing my shoes and socks and releasing my pants from around my ankles. I reach for my nightstand and pull out a condom from the drawer, setting it down on the pillow next to her head.
Lia pulls me down for another earth-shattering kiss. Her lips are urgent and intense and match my own. I run my hand down her torso, feeling the stiffness of the corset. She is a vision in red.
I reach the junction of her legs and find the lace material already wet. Soaking wet, clear through. I suck in a deep breath and remind myself to take it slow. Lia doesn't need me losing my shit and taking her urgently. She needs me to worship her for the beautiful woman she is.
I push aside the material and stoke her wetness. Her body shakes under my touch and her eyes flutter shut. Her nub is already swollen and practically pulsing against my finger. I know that a few more seconds of concentrating on that part of her body and it'll be over for her.
Well, for the first one of the night.
I rub my thumb around and run my tongue down her neck. Her thighs quiver against my legs and it takes all I have not to thrust myself deep inside of her right here and now. She's so damn close.