It takes every ounce of restraint in me to keep my hands from fisting her hair and my lips from tasting her sweet-smelling neck. She’s Damon’s future sister-in-law, for fuck’s sake. I’m already in too deep, which shocks the hell out of me. And I’m sure she has a father somewhere around here who’d love nothing more than to kick my ass for even letting these thoughts linger. She could be my kid. I throw back the rest of my scotch before I say some shit I’m going to regret.
“Ari!” A tall woman with a waif-like body wrapped like a mummy and a nasally voice swoops in from out of nowhere. “We need you for pictures, darling.” She turns toward me with an inquisitive stare, a carbon copy of Eva. The mother of the bride. Fabulous. This can’t get any better. “I’m Angeline, Ariana’s mother. And you are?”
“Jeff, Damon’s father.” I take her hand and brush it against my lips. I can be a motherfucker, but I know my place as a gentleman. And it’s not lost on Angeline. I swear I can see her nipples pebble under that flimsy dress when I release her hand. Either the tits are fake or it’s been awhile since she’s had any part of her body against a man’s mouth. I’m thinking it’s the latter.
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet the elusive private investigator.” She flashes what I suppose is meant to be a seductive smile, but I kind of read it as a take-me-into-a-coat-closet-right-now-and-fuck-me-senseless smile.
This whole private investigator thing seems to be the story of the night. I can deal with that, since it’s almost true. Shades of the truth are what landed me in prison in the first place, and now that I’m finally out, those same shades are going to set me free.
“Mom, didn’t you say we needed to take some pictures?” Ariana hops off the barstool and grips her mother’s arm.
“Well, yes, but I’d feel terrible leaving Jeff here by himself. He doesn’t know anybody.” Angeline’s eyes are glued to me, almost begging me to agree. In another life, her plump lips might have fit nicely around my cock. She’d have given a good show. That much I can tell from the way she’s managed to press herself against me, in a space that doesn’t really warrant actual touching. The woman clearly needs to be fucked against a wall and then bent over a couch. Sorry, Mom. I’m gonna have to pass because I want your daughter.
“I’ll be fine.” I return her smile as Kate sidles up to us.
“Angeline, it’s so nice to see you again.” Air kisses all around. What the fuck is that all about? I’ve never understood the purpose.
“Kate! You look gorgeous!” Angeline exclaims. “I love your dress.”
“Thank you.” Kate nods at me. “I see you’ve been well-taken care of, not that I doubted you’d be on your own too long.”
“I’m a good mingler.” I wink at her. Angeline looks about ready to pounce on me, and Ariana pushes past her, stumbling into a chair in her haste to get her mother away from me. Nice. She’s jealous.
Angeline waves as Ariana drags her by the arm. “We’ll be back!”
Kate waves and lets out a little laugh before turning back to me with a roll of her eyes. “That woman is as fake as her tits and hair.”
“What’s your beef with her?”
“I just don’t care much for people who aren’t genuine. People who think they’re better than everyone else. People like that always have something to hide. I don’t trust her as far as I can throw her. And that daughter of hers—“
My skin prickles at the mention of Ariana. “You’ve got an issue with her, too?”
“She was hanging all over you, Jeff. Guzzling champagne like an alcoholic. I thought she was supposed to be some PR powerhouse. Or maybe that’s just how they do business.”
“What difference does it make? I thought you’d be happy we’re all getting along.” I nudge her. “You’re wound pretty tight. I think you can use a drink, too.”
“I’m fine,” she huffs. “I just don’t think it’s appropriate for them to be fawning all over you like that.”
“Relax. We’re just getting to know each other. You wanted me here, remember?”
She rubs the back of her neck. “I know. I guess I’m just a little stressed. I don’t want anyone to find out the truth about you being in prison, and I feel like the more they dig around, the more of a risk it becomes. And we can’t do that to Damon. Our dirty laundry is ours, not his.”
The goddamned noose around my neck gets tighter and tighter every day. Damon’s career, his whole future, would be in jeopardy if anyone knew the truth. Any association to my work would crush him, and I’ll do everything in my power to keep him away from my dealings. I grab a champagne flute from a nearby waiter’s tray. “Drink this and stop worrying. It’s our secret. Nobody will ever find out.”
Chapter Nineteen
ARIANA
This night can’t end fast enough.
Snip, snip, snip. That’s all that came out of my mother’s mouth every time my ear was close enough for her to hiss into it. Yapping about the food, how the lettuce in our salads was tinged with brown, how the pasta was undercooked, how the porterhouse was horribly overdone and resembled Payless shoe leather - which, how would she even know - how the hotel was stingy with the hors d’oeuvres and the champagne…a fact which I personally cannot vouch for, as I’m pleasantly blitzed off of said champagne.
Blah, blah, blah.
The only time she had something nice to say was when she was fawning all over Jeff. I had to keep my distance because her blatant flirting was nauseating and borderline inappropriate; especially if you count the thousand times she rubbed her ass against his cock. It didn’t seem to bother him, though.
He never fucking walked away. In fact, he pretty much stayed in that same spot for the entire party. I know Damon’s family is pretty much nonexistent, but—
Wait. I run a hand through my hair. Let’s back up for a minute here. Jeff is Damon’s dad. That sexy as fuck Greek god of a man is Eva’s future father-in-law. I chomp on my lower lip, watching some blonde bimbo, who's drunk off her ass, practically yank off his belt. I give her five seconds before she falls to her knees and begs to suck his dick, right there at the bar.
Mmm. I’d happily tear out her extensions to take that spot right about now. A tiny smile tugs at my lips, and in my daze, I forget to avert my eyes. I’m caught.
Dammit, dammit, dammit!
His head twists in my direction, his eyes paralyzing me, rendering my quivering legs immobile. A seductive grin lights up his dark features, his gaze is so inviting…inviting me where? To do what? Oh God, tell me please. Tell me everything I need to know! Tell me how you want—
“Ari!” Perfect timing, Damon. I’m about to undress your dad and suck his hard cock in my sick, alcohol-induced fantasy. He and Eva walk over, all smiles, all wrapped up in each other, PDA central. I almost throw up in my mouth a little, but in all fairness, I think it’s the shoe leather coming up on me.
“Is Mom gone yet?” Eva looks around the room, but Angeline is nowhere to be seen. “I’d say she probably made a play for your dad, but he’s still at the bar. Alone. Aside from the many attempts by my friend Jesi from work.” She giggles and shakes her head.
“Are you saying there’s something wrong with a guy who doesn’t want to tap her skanky ass?” I shake my hair over my shoulders, catching a concerned glance from Damon.
“She’s not all that skanky. But I think my dad just wants to lay low right now. You know, his business has been really busy recently. Getting involved with anyone probably isn’t a great move, not when he’s got so many clients to handle.” He looks away, twisting in Jeff’s direction.
“Well, if he’s interested, Mom certainly is the smitten kitten. And now that she’s got that tight new ass, you know she’s looking for any excuse to strip out of her clothes.” I let out a snort. Why the hell am I being so territorial? I don’t have any claims to him, except for the ones in my twisted mind. But, oh God, do I want to see him naked, to feel those lips singe every inch of my body, to writhe under his muscular body.
“Come on, E! It’s your night. Go with Damon and have lots of dirty, nasty sex.” I hiccup and clap a hand over my mouth. “Excuse me,” I mumble. “I’m good on my own. Promise.”
With a lift of her eyebrow, Eva gives me a good hard stare. “You’re drunk. You shouldn’t be wandering around here by yourself.”
I wave my hand around. “Look at all the people still here. Nobody will come near me, okay? I promise. I’m going to say my goodbyes and then head upstairs.”
They exchange a look. It’s a long one. Or maybe it just feels long because I’m so anxious to get out of here.
“Guys, I’m not a baby. I handle pretty serious shit on a daily basis. I’m capable of getting on an elevator.” In my periphery, I catch Jeff excusing himself from the whore plastered against him. My heart thuds, the force shuddering inside my body. He’s leaving? He’s leaving!
Eva tosses a glance over her shoulder. “Sweetie, we should say goodnight to your dad before we head up.”
He slings an arm over her shoulder. “Sure. Let’s go. Night, Ari.”
I give them both quick hugs and watch them walk toward the bar. I want so badly to go with them, to mentally telepathize my desire for Jeff…and my room number, of course.
Argh! He’s going to be family, for chrissakes! Not exactly mine, but still. And he’s a man, like a real man. Definitely not a boy. Maybe that’s my problem. Boys know what girls want, but men? They know what women want. And he’s fucking hot, too.
The alcohol is making me think things; devious and deviant things that make my knees quiver and my panties wet. And I have nobody to act them out with. Sonofabitch.
I fumble around in my clutch bag to make sure my key is still tucked into the center compartment. I knew I’d be too inebriated to drive myself home, and you know what? Fuck it, I need a change of scenery. And an empty bed. I’m used to that, anyway.
“Ariana.”
A smooth voice jolts me and I look up to find Kate’s smiling face in front of me.
“Oh, hi, Kate. Still partying?” I force a smile. Something about this woman irks the shit out of me, but I can’t put my finger on it.
She lets out a laugh that’s one hundred and fifty percent fake and shakes her head. “No, I’m on my way out, but I just wanted to say goodnight. It was so nice meeting you.”
“Likewise.” I flash a toothy grin and lean in for a double air kiss. Stupidest thing on the planet. I don’t know who came up with it. Probably some stuck-up bitch germaphobe. “I look forward to seeing you again soon.” Not really.
“Aren’t you sweet?” She grazes my arm with a smile and a look that in no way matches the sentiment. “Get home safe.”
I nod because she doesn’t really need to know I would most definitely not be safe if I were driving my drunk ass home. And even in my current state, I can tell there’s something up with her. Maybe it’s not personal. Maybe she’s just a bitch.
I pick up a near-empty champagne flute and drain it.
“Sweetie, have you seen Bobbie?”
Oh God, when will this end?
“Hey, Daddy. No, I haven’t seen her. I was just about to head upstairs.” Don’t worry, though, you just bought her new boobs. I’m sure she’ll stick around long enough to get a new ass, too.
“Your mother…” His voice trails off and he shakes his head.
“Did I miss something?”
“She was all over Damon’s father earlier. You must have seen it.”
Of course, I’d seen it. Everybody had seen it. Maybe that’s why Kate was so pissed off. Maybe she still has a thing for her ex. A tiny shiver runs through me. The guy is so far off-limits, but it only makes me want him more. “You know how she is. I’m sure it was just harmless flirting.” And that harmless flirting would be taken to a completely different level if her innocent propositions had been accepted. Clearly, they had not, since Jeff is still here and Mom is…hey, wait a minute. Did she even say goodbye?
“She made a complete fool of herself,” he snips.
“Did she?” The tone of my voice gets higher, as if I’m really contemplating this situation. I tap my mouth with one finger. “She’s a single woman, he’s a single man. I don’t know, I think that’s appropriate; definitely more than the husband who chooses his secretary over his wife and kids.” Uh oh. That champagne is definitely taking over my fogged up mind.
His eyes narrow at me, his lips twisting into a grimace. Screw it, I don’t care. He paraded that whore around for months and months until they finally broke up. Not that he came back to us. He just found some other tight piece of ass to fuck. And so the story continues with Boobie. Bobbie, damn it!
Alcohol is so much more effective than therapy. I struggled for so long to say these words to my dad, and tonight it only took me half a case of champagne to spew them. They just flew out of my mouth as easily as a “hello” or “goodbye.”
“I don’t appreciate the sarcasm, Ariana.”
I wink at him. “I know. That’s why I didn’t use any.”
And then the stars align because I’m rescued for the moment. Bobbie stumbles over and grabs my dad’s shoulders for balance, her overly made-up eyes bloodshot. Jesus, maybe the woman should eat a sandwich once in a while to bulk up, so the alcohol doesn’t go straight to her head. She’s a waif that drinks like she’s a line backer. “Is-s it time to go yet, s-sweetie?” she slurs.
I bite back a smile. If she doesn’t puke all over his new Cadillac, she’s definitely going to pass out as soon as her head hits the pillow. Sorry, Dad. No nookie tonight.
“Yes,” my father says, still glowering at me. Tomorrow, I may remember and have to make an apology. If I remember. And if I care enough. Both are doubtful at this point.
“Night, Daddy. Night, Bobbie,” I say in a sing-song voice. God, I can’t wait to fall into the plush bed upstairs that I won’t have to make in the morning. My head starts to spin, and it’s definitely time to go. I wave as Dad leads Bobbie out the door, not that he looks back to see it. Whatever. He destroyed our family. He doesn’t deserve respect for that.
I smooth back my hair and head toward the ballroom door. Kate is still standing next to Jeff. I wonder if they’ll leave together. She seems to be trying to cozy up to him, but he’s keeping his distance. I scurry past to avoid anyone else who might want to stop for a quick chat. I’ve done enough of that tonight, and if it’s one thing I hate, its making small talk. Every conversation I have has a purpose, so this kind of thing makes me crazy. I always feel like I have something more important to do. Maybe that makes me a bitch.
Not maybe, definitely.
My heels click on the marble tiled floor of the lobby. The crowds have dispersed, and the sound echoes throughout the room. There isn’t anyone standing behind the reception desk. Good thing I don’t need a room right now. Sometimes it pays to plan.
I round the corner to the elevator bank and stab the Up button, my thoughts returning to Jeff as I step inside. Dammit, why do I have to be so stuck on him and the way his eyes crinkle at the corners when he smiles in that deliciously deviant way? Everything about him exudes confidence and control. He’s smooth, seductive as all hell.
But lusting after him needs to stop. Forget that he’s got to be about thirty years older than me and as old as my dad…ewww, I don’t want to think about my dad right now…
Ding!
My shoulders sag and I slink toward my room, grateful to be away from the circus that is my family. I pull out my key and swipe it over the lock. The light flashes red. I press it to the lock. Red again…and again…and again. Motherfucker. I pound my fist on the door and let out a growl.
“That lock giving you trouble?”
My spine stiffens, the low gruff voice behind me sending tingles over my bare skin. I turn slowly, so as not to appear too eager, and so I don’t topple out of my very high heels. I’m still pretty boozed up, though some parts of me ar
e extremely alert at this very second. “My key isn’t working.”
He puts out his hand. “May I?”
I nod and hand him the credit card shaped piece of plastic.
He swipes. Nothing. He presses. Again, same result.
I’m a tiny bit glad, since I would’ve felt like a complete moron if it’d worked for him. Although then, I’d have had the excuse to invite him inside.
Gah! Enough!
His lips curl upward. “You’re welcome to call the front desk from my room. I’m sure they can bring up a spare.”
I tug at a strand of hair. “It’s kind of late. Are you sure?” Please say yes! Please say yes!
“Definitely. I can’t leave you stranded out here by yourself.” He points to a room three doors down. “Come on.”
He swipes his key and in we go. I follow him into the massive space, deeply entranced by the heady scent surrounding him. I inhale his musky cologne, and the clouds in my mind separate for a brief moment. He shrugs out of his jacket and tosses it onto a chair as he walks over to the phone. I wait for him to move out of the way so I can call, but he turns suddenly, his eyes fixed on mine. I swallow hard past the lump lodged in my throat. His gaze heats every inch of my body from the inside out. A tiny spark in my belly ignites and I lunge for him, pressing my lips to his scotch-tinged ones.
He pulls me close, wrapping his strong arms around me. His fingertips press into the small of my back, and my legs weaken as his cock hardens against me. Good God, I need this. I drink him in, our tongues coiling with need – hot, hungry, and desperate.
Wait! This is crazy!
My body melts into him, hands tangling in his hair as his tongue plunders my needy mouth.
No. Stop thinking, just kiss him. Mm, let him make you feel like you’ve never ever felt before…
Those hands, oh God, they’re so devilish, roaming over my ass and down to my thighs.
He’s going to be family in a few weeks. He’s as old as Dad.
Oh shit. Guess I’m going to hell.
I pull away, gasping for air. “Stop, I can’t…we shouldn’t…
Dirty, Dark, & Dangerous: A Contemporary Romance Boxset Page 40