Velvet Kisses(44)

I spot Blake toward the back of the bar before he melts into the crowd again.

Izzy comes up, grinning like she’s up to something. “Blake and Annie are waiting for you in the back.”

“The back?”

“Pool room. I’ll show you the way.”

I follow Izzy through the bar and down a corridor, scouring the place for Marley all the way.

“If Marley comes in, you mind telling her where we’re at?” I’m getting anxious just thinking about what tonight holds. I don’t think I’ve been this hopped up for sex since prom.

Izzy turns to me before we hit the back room. “You really care about her, don’t you?”

“I do.” It’s true. I care about Marley. And I plan on showing her exactly how much I care for every inch of her body, tonight.

“Marley is a sweetheart.” The smile drips from Izzy. “Be careful with her, ‘kay?”

Second time hearing that in a week.

“I plan to.”

We step into the pool room just as the lights flick on and off.

“Surprise!” Dozens of voices roar at once.

And here we go. I try to hold back a laugh, but it rumbles out anyway.

Blake and Annie jump over as I try to assess the sea of bodies swarming the tiny room.

“Do I know any of these people?” I spot two familiar faces coming my way.

“Everyone’s here.” Blake socks me in the arm. “Happy birthday, big bro.”

A pair of cool hands close over my eyes from behind, and my grin expands twice as wide.

“Happy birthday, Professor James,” Marley whispers hot in my ear, and I know for a fact it will be a very happy birthday—in less than an hour if I can help it.

I spin into her and pull her tiny body to mine. A part of me instinctually wants to kiss her, but I hold back.

Marley outshines the entire bar, Hollow Brook, the universe.

“Damn, you’re beautiful.”

Her hair is wild, and my fingers don’t hesitate running through it. Her face is dusted with a touch more powder than I’m used to. Marley doesn’t need anything to enhance her beauty. She’s perfect as is, but, tonight, with her eyes glistening like jewels, she looks like she should be added as an honorary wonder of the world.

“Happy birthday, stranger.” A young girl’s voice emanates from behind as I’m pulled backwards by my shirt.

I turn to find a dark-haired beauty with eyes the exact color as mine.

“Piper?”

My sister beams her infectious grin back at me. She’s taller than the last time we saw each other. The heels might have something to do with that. She’s wearing a little black dress that is far more revealing than necessary, and she’s got lipstick on—red lipstick that screams I’m-not-a-little-girl anymore.

“Come here.” I pull her into a hug. “Don’t grow up so fast.”

“Are you kidding? I’m a senior. I’ll finally be graduating this year. And you’d better not miss the ceremony.” She jabs me hard in the chest.

“You bet I won’t. How is our boneheaded brother?”

“Cade?” She steps back and presents him like a prize. “Why don’t you ask him yourself?”

“Holy shit.” I slap my kid brother on the back. And yet, he’s grown too. Cade is older than Piper by two years, a college man himself just like Blake. It feels good to be surrounded by family. And it hurts like hell that Benji couldn’t be here to join us. I know Blake is feeling it too. “Dude.” I pull him in by the shoulder. “Did you do all this?”

“Annie insisted.” He holds up his hands. “And don’t worry, Piper and Cade are crashing with me tonight.”

Cade and Piper both have my coloring, dark hair, light eyes, same shit-eating grin—not to mention identical trust funds the size of Texas. It’s not a bad deal to be a member of the James clan. Too bad my father doesn’t give a rat’s ass about any of us outside of the tax write-offs we’ve provided.

Marley steps in and circles her arms around my waist. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me it was your birthday.”

Cade shoves a beer in my hand. “At his age you just sort of forget.” He winks.

“Watch it. I’m not old.”

“That’s right, you’re ancient!” A girl squeals from behind, and I turn to find Baya giggling into Marley.

I laugh with the crowd, but it echoes a little too close to the bone considering what Monica said, and, now, I’m wondering if there’s any weight to it.

“Pizza for everyone!” Blake shouts, and the room erupts in cheers.

The next hour and a half is spent trying to kick Bryson and Ryder’s ass in a game of pool, then chatting it up with my sister and brother while we watch Blake perform with the band. But it’s Marley in that glittering navy dress that my attention drifts to. Marley shines like a sea of stars, and my eyes keep flitting in her direction. No matter where she is in the room, my body demands to gravitate to her. We should be together always. No one makes me feel as relaxed, as happy, and as anxiously frustrated than that little girl right there.