“Pretend all you want. I know you’ve been imagining my body pressed against yours.”
My eyes went slightly wide just as the camera clicked, and I knew there was going to be a picture of me looking surprised.
“What do you mean?” I asked him.
“I mean, you’ve been dripping wet since the moment we met. I know you’re dying to let me peel that dress off your sexy fucking body.”
“Gates,” I said, turning toward him.
“Look at me,” the photographer said.
Lauren gave me a look. I obeyed, clenching my jaw.
“Go ahead,” Gates whispered in my ear. “Give in to it. Let me taste that nice, tight little pussy of yours. Let’s skip the reception.”
“No,” I hissed. “Cut it out.”
“You two,” the photographer said to Gates and me. “Get a little closer.”
“Can do,” Gates said, pulling me tightly against him. The camera clicked.
“I’m not going anywhere with you,” I said. “Pushy jerk.”
“Not being pushy. Just stating a fact. You want to taste my cock and let me fuck your little cunt until you scream. I can see it in your eyes.”
“You can’t see a thing,” I said whirling on him.
Gates grinned at me as the photographer, Lauren, and Greg all stared. There was an awkward moment as I realized that I was standing there, glaring at Gates like I wanted to tear him to pieces. I took a deep breath and smiled.
“Why don’t you two get some pictures?” I asked Lauren and Greg.
“Of course, you two, come here,” the photographer said, diving in.
Lauren and Greg were taken away by the pictures and I quickly walked away, cheeks burning. I could hear Gates laughing as I quickly headed up toward the hotel.
I couldn’t believe he’d talk to me that way. I knew he was a cocky asshole, but I had no idea how far that went. No man had ever spoken to me that way before, especially not one I barely knew.
And yet it seemed totally natural coming from Gates. He said these things like he knew they were the truth, like there could be no doubt in his mind. It was so crazy that I could barely stand it.
I couldn’t deny the truth, though. Every word Gates said was totally accurate.
I did want him to strip me down and take me. I wanted to feel his strong hands on my hips as he kissed me and pressed his thick cock between my legs. He was so crude and arrogant, and yet I wanted to see if he could back his words up with action.
I suspected he could. The man was a Navy SEAL, after all. He was trained to work bodies. Just looking at him, I could only imagine what he could do with mine.
I got into the hotel and walked into the reception, breathing deep. I went right up to the bar, grabbed a glass of champagne, and downed it.
I was going to have to get a hold of myself. This wasn’t about me. This was Lauren’s night, and I was her maid of honor. I had to get over this crap with Gates and put on a happy face for Lauren. I took a deep breath and nodded to myself.
No matter how I felt about Gates, it didn’t matter. I was going to be civil, even if he wasn’t. I was going to make this night work, if at least for Lauren’s sake.
Somehow, I was going to have to resist that cocky bastard.
Chapter 4
Gates
“To marriage!”
I toasted the other guys, scotch in my hand, and downed my drink. Greg was already shitfaced and grinning like an idiot. Dinner was over, toasts were done with, and the dancing portion of the night was going right along.
I caught sight of Piper out of the corner of my eyes. She was smiling and laughing with Lauren, the two of them on the dance floor. Piper was shaking her hips like she was born to twist along a thick cock, and I could feel myself getting hard just thinking about what she could do to a man.
“You are the best man,” Greg said, throwing his arm around me and pulling me back.
“Yes, I am,” I said, laughing. “And you’re drunk as fuck.”
“I am drunk as fuck,” he agreed. “It’s my wedding night.”
“Good point. But aren’t you going to find it hard to perform certain . . . duties?”
He stared at me. “Do you ever have trouble?”
I laughed. “No.”
“Well, then fuck you.”
“I’m just saying. You need to consummate this shit.”
“It’s not the Dark Ages, Gates.”
“Maybe not.”
“Plus, we’ve consummated enough already.”
“Can’t fuck too much, my friend.” I glanced back over to the dance floor. “Speaking of which, I have some work to do.”
He stared at me, then sighed. “Don’t fucking do anything stupid.”