She didn’t know what she was going to say until the word slipped from her lips.
“Stay.”
His eyes widened, and she couldn’t blame him. She was just as surprised herself. “What?”
“Stay with me tonight. Just for one night.” She hastily added the last part, calling herself a fool for even suggesting it. “I…I want you. And I think you want me, too.”
“You know I do, Ari.” Harper let out a rough chuckle. “You have to know that by now.”
She licked her lips. “Then…then come inside and make love to me. Just for the night because I can’t think of more, Harper. Not now. Not with everything going on. I know that’s selfish. If you think so, you can leave and forget what I said.”
Harper cupped her face, a small smile on his lips even though it didn’t reach his eyes. “I want you, Ari. If that’s what you want, if just one night is what you need, then…then it’s what I need, too.” He kissed her softly, then pulled back, leaving her wanting. “Tonight. That I can do. That’s all I want. Just like you.”
She met his gaze and thought she saw the lie in his eyes because she was sure as hell lying to him—and herself. With an inward sigh, she pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind and took his hand.
“Then come on inside.”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
Nervous, she let them both in the house and tried to think of what to do next. Should she get him a drink? Change into something more comfortable? What did one do when they were planning to have a one-night stand with their best friend?
“Harper—”
She wasn’t sure what she would have said next, and it wasn’t as if he’d given her an option anyway. One moment, she was fretting about what to do, the next, Harper was on her, his mouth on her neck, her jaw, her lips, his hands on her sides, her back, her thighs.
She buried her hands in his hair, her shoes long gone.
Harper licked and nibbled up her neck before walking her backward to the kitchen. Wait, the kitchen?”
“The bedroom is the other way,” she gasped, tugging at his shirt.
Harper moved back, stripping off his shirt and undershirt. She blinked, her gaze transfixed by the long lines of muscles on his arms, stomach, and those really sexy lines that went to his hips…Adonis lines or something.
Whatever the hell they were called, she wanted her tongue on them.
Now.
Not to mention the ink on his arms, sides, and hips. Dear Lord, she knew he had ink, had seen him shirtless countless times over the summers, but here in her kitchen? Holy hell, he looked sexier than ever.
“I’ll take you to the bedroom in a moment,” Harper said, his voice low, promising. “First, I want to get you out of that dress and then have my feast.”
She blinked, her gaze meeting his then blushed. “Feast?”
“Feast.”
He slowly, methodically, stripped her out of her dress. She hadn’t worn a bra with it since the dress had a built-in one, and that left her bare in her kitchen in nothing but her panties.
Harper groaned, his hand cupping a breast. She shivered as his thumb brushed along her nipple. “I knew you’d be beautiful, but right now? Holy shit, Ari. You’re magnificent.”
She lowered her head, blushing. “You’re not too bad yourself.”
Harper gave a rough chuckle, then kissed her again. Her nipples were hard little points against his chest, and she rubbed herself against him, wanting more.
She liked sex. Loved it. Sex with Harper? Oh, yeah, she had a feeling she would never get enough. And therein lie the problem, not that she was going to think about that at all. Not when Harper had his mouth on her breasts, biting and sucking on her nipple.
Her fingers tangled in his hair as he licked and teased, his other hand on her free breast, plucking, and molding. He lifted his head and then walked her backwards to the table. Before she could ask him what he was going to do, he had his hand on her ass and then her back was on the table.
“Harper!”
“I said I was going to feast, didn’t I?”
He hooked her panties around his thumbs and slid them down her legs. Her legs opened automatically, baring herself to him. Harper sucked in a breath, then went to his knees, tugging her to the edge of the table.
He traced her outer lips with his fingers, then blew cold air on her pussy. “So pink, so pretty.” Then he licked her up to her clit, grazing the hard nub with his teeth before sucking on her more, spearing her with his fingers.
She couldn’t feel self-conscious, not with Harper. Her hips lifted of their own accord, and she pressed herself against his face, wanting more. He growled, the sound vibrating against her clit. The sensation was too much for her and she came, her body warming, her nipples aching.
Her head felt like she’d had too much to drink, her body still coming down from her orgasm, as Harper lifted her up and carried her to her bedroom. He laid her on the bed and then stood back, stripping off his pants.
Ari leaned up on her forearms, swallowing hard. She’d never seen Harper naked before, and it was safe to say they’d officially moved out of the friend zone. With warmth tingling and shocking through her body, and the side of Harper’s cock bouncing off his belly, leaving a line of pre-cum in its wake, she didn’t care about the change.
They’d worry about that in the morning and deal.
Right then, she wanted Harper inside her. Now.
“Shit, I need a condom,” Harper said as he went to his pants.
“I have some in the nightstand,” she said back. She was attentive enough to know that even though she hadn’t used them in ages, they weren’t expired. Yet.
Harper quirked a grin, went to her nightstand, then donned the condom, sliding it over his length. Her gaze followed the movement, and she bit down on her lip. They wouldn’t have time for her to have a taste this first time, but maybe later that night…
He slid between her legs, his gaze on hers. “Ready?”
Always.
Not that she said that aloud. Instead, she nodded, spreading her legs wider. He rested on his forearms and slid inside, inch by agonizing inch.
They both groaned when he finally shoved to the hilt and then froze.
“Good?” he asked, his voice barely restrained.
He stretched her so fucking good, but it didn’t hurt. Far from it. “Hell, yes. Move. Please.”
He grinned down at her, then captured her lips in a heated kiss, pulling out then thrusting back in as he did so. As she raked her nails down his back, gripping his hips, his ass, anything she could get a hold of, he kissed her neck, her jaw, her breasts.
Sweat slicked both of them as he fucked her, their bodies heaving as they made love. His hand slid down her belly and flicked her clit, his gaze on hers. Her mouth parted, and she strained to keep her eyes open as she came. He groaned, whispering her name as he flexed his hips once more, coming deep inside her within the condom.
Harper rested his head against hers, both of them trying to catch their breaths. He met her gaze, and she knew they’d made a mistake. There would be no going back from this, no one night and wishing for the best.
Arianna had slept with her best friend, and though she should have been running for the door, she wasn’t. No, all she wanted to do was relish it and then do it again.
What the heck was she going to do?
Chapter Six
Weddings were aplenty during this season, but considering it had only been two weeks since the first one, Arianna felt like they were picking up steam. In fact, she was already well on her way to completing the second wedding, considering the vows were to be taken in less than four hours. As it was, she was already on her fourth list of things that she needed to do, which needed to be checked off accordingly. Soon, she’d slip into her dress—this one a long, flowing, silver number with thin, gauzy leaves, and a princess-cut bust—and really kick things into gear.
She couldn’t wait to see what happened a
fter this one. Since her first wedding in the old winery, she’d picked up numerous contacts who had either never heard of her or had found out that she’d left her family’s company. They’d wanted to work with her—not with merely her last name.
People were finding out what she was capable of on her own without the fancy wedding business looming over her. Not that she’d ever thought of it as looming before, but now that she’d seen her way out of it all, well, now, things were different.
Considering everything that had gone on in the past two weeks…things were really different.
Arianna licked her lips, trying to push all thoughts of what exactly had gone on far back in her head, but she couldn’t. Not really. Not when all she could think about was the way the scruff of Harper’s beard felt on the sensitive skin of her inner thighs or the way his throat worked when he took a drink to rehydrate after making love.
With a sigh, she closed her eyes, willing herself to put those naughty thoughts on the back burner for the moment. Though once she did, it only left the way open for more damaging and stressful thoughts such as what the heck she was doing.
She’d slept with her best friend.
And liked it.
Okay, that last part was a given considering it was Harper, and he was great at every freaking thing he did. Plus, he could move like no other, it was a no-brainer that he’d be fantastic in bed. It just surprised her how…hot they were together.
Their chemistry was off the charts, and yet she couldn’t quite believe it was still happening.
He’d been sleeping in her bed with those strong arms wrapped around her every night except for the nights she slept over at his place. What was supposed to be a one-night affair where they got everything out of their systems turned into a…a….
Relationship.
She was dating Harper Rosso.
Arianna took a deep breath, letting that sink in.
It wasn’t just something that happened at night in the privacy of their bedrooms—or kitchens, she thought with a blush. No, other people had noticed the shift in their actions, as well. Harper no longer seemed to hold himself back from her, and constantly touched her in small caresses and brushes of lips.
Other than that, though, they hadn’t really changed.
That, above all else, scared her.
They still ate out together, still worked together, still went grocery shopping together because it was easier to fit everything in his truck than her car when she had wedding equipment inside.
It was as if they’d been a couple all along and she’d never realized it.
She would have realized it, though, right?
Arianna shook her head again and officially pushed Harper, sex, and relationships beyond the current B&G out of her mind. Nope, she wasn’t going to think about that. Instead, she’d worry about the thousand white roses and azaleas for the outdoor ceremony.
Outdoors. In winter. In Colorado. Right before Valentine’s Day.
The bride wanted no color.
None.
None but the green of the stems that couldn’t be ignored.
There were white draperies, off-white bridesmaid dresses, three white cakes, including a white groom’s cake, and white tea lights on the tables for the reception afterward. All of the linens were white, and the china was white edged with silver.
Silver being the grace color considering the bride needed an accent of some sort.
Hence why Arianna was currently pulling on her dress to ensure that she wouldn’t have to run to do it later.
“You look good enough to eat. Or at least nibble and lick up.”
Arianna turned on her heel, not quite fully in her dress yet, and flailed her arms. Harper’s eyes widened, and he reached out, grabbing her around the waist so she wouldn’t fall.
Smooth, Arianna, smooth.
“Didn’t mean to startle you,” he said, his voice low, his breath tickling the side of her neck.
She shivered then pulled back, determined to be the ever-professional Arianna she needed to be.
“You scared the crap out of me,” she said as she turned in his arms. He immediately zipped her up, and she held back another sigh. Great, the man knew exactly what to do without being asked. It was as if he knew all her secrets already.
She still wasn’t sure how she’d ended up here.
“I just pulled up, and Colleen said you were in here getting ready. Thought I’d see if you needed me.”
She’d always need him.
Damn it. No. She didn’t need anybody. Least of all a man. As long as she kept telling herself that, then maybe she’d start to believe it.
“Well, I’m all dressed and ready to head back into the fray. You didn’t need to take the day off, Harper. We would have handled it without you.”
He tilted his head at her over-sharp tone, and she rubbed her temple.
“Sorry. I’m just stressing since the caterer isn’t here yet, and she’s not answering her phone according to Colleen. I need to go handle that.”
“Then do so. You’ve got this, Ari.”
She licked her lips, then put her hand on his chest and kissed him softly. “Thank you for taking time out of your day to help me. I know you’re busy with your own life, and I do appreciate all you do. Don’t think I don’t just because I’m acting like the crazy wedding planner.”
Harper grinned, then tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “I happen to like the crazy wedding planner so keep on doing what needs to be done. I’ll walk with you to Colleen, that way, we can figure out what last-minute things you need me for.”
“Thank you, Harper.”
“Like I said, Ari, anything.”
She nodded, starting to believe that there was more to that word than she thought before.
Despite the fact that she knew she needed to keep some distance between her and Harper to ensure that whenever this…thing…ended—and it would end because it always did—they would remain friends, she let him put his hand on the small of her back as she led them to Colleen.
As soon as she got to Colleen, Arianna knew something was wrong. The woman might have kept a smile on her face to appease others around her, but there was no mistaking the tension bracketing her mouth and eyes.
“Tell me,” Arianna said, not waiting for the other woman to try and find the best way to break the news.
“The caterer isn’t coming.” Colleen pressed her lips together, anger radiating off her in a way Arianna had never seen before.
She blinked, her mind going to her contingencies in her head, only to find she didn’t have a full contingency for this. She had the wedding cake and desserts covered with her sweet caterer, but that was it.
There wasn’t a backup plan for the occasion when her highly recommended, long-time caterer flaked out at the last moment. Arianna had worked with the man for years with King’s Weddings and knew the man had numerous people to help him if he couldn’t personally make it to a wedding.
To not show up at all…oh, fuck.
Pushing away the fear, anger, and cascading temptation to slide into a meltdown, she raised her chin. “What did they say was the issue? Their excuse? Not that an excuse means much right now.”
Colleen bit into her lip then sighed. “They told us they had double booked, and would be taking the other account as it held more…promise.”
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Harper mumbled beside her.
Arianna gripped his arm and shook her head. It wouldn’t do to start screaming—while that was all she wanted to do—and alert the family.
“The other account…it was King’s wasn’t it?”
Colleen nodded; the anger in her eyes as fierce as any dragon’s. “What are we going to do?”
“First, I’m going to call Pierre and tell him that his name doesn’t mean much anymore and that whoever will listen will now know that,” she bit out. “Then, we need to find someone to help with the food. The B&G wanted small hors d'oeuvres, so it’s somet
hing that can be done within the next four hours before the reception, if we find someone with time right away. I think. Jesus.”
Harper ran his hand up her back and gripped her neck, squeezing lightly. The action forced her shoulders to relax, and she turned to him.
“I might have someone who can help, depending on what the B&G wanted.”
“Nothing too fancy because, despite the setting, they wanted food that everyone would like to munch on before dancing.” Relief and a little apprehension filled her at the look on his face. “Who do you have in mind?”
“Aubrey.”
Of course. Harper’s ex-girlfriend. In fact, the only serious girlfriend Harper ever had in Arianna’s memory.
If she hadn’t been thinking of a hundred things at once, she’d have thought of Aubrey herself. Of course, now this might be awkward since she had to call her current…boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend and beg for help.
Damn it. This was why she didn’t want a man right now. Well, not that she’d ever envisioned something quite like this, but the cloying feeling in her stomach was part of it. It had to be jealousy. Jealousy over a woman she hadn’t seen in at least four years, and who, apparently, had kept in contact enough with Harper that he thought the other woman could handle the wedding this afternoon.
None of that was important at the moment, though. Just for Them was the important thing. The B&G were what mattered. Not her potential feelings—okay, not so potential but full-blown at this point—toward the man who had been her best friend for so long that she knew his ex would work for this.
Damn it.
“She’d be able to help?” she asked, surprised her voice was so calm, so rational.
Harper met her gaze, worry heavy in it, but she didn’t say anything. It wouldn’t be appropriate. Plus, she hated to act the jealous woman. Harper and she hadn’t made any promises to each other, and Aubrey had been out of the picture for years.
Or so Arianna had thought.
“We need to ask, but you know she’s good at her job, and she doesn’t have an account this weekend.”
Love, Honor, and Ink: (A Montgomery Ink Novella) Page 6
