Laughter filled the ballroom as Owen nudged me to stand. Somehow I managed to walk, legs shaking from the adrenaline rush. Shaking because everyone was watching me again, only this time no bumping into waiters had been involved. Shaking because soon I’d be in Trent’s arms—and I didn’t think I could wait another second for it to happen.
Before I got past our table, Alice gently grabbed my hand and smiled deviously. “Make sure you kiss that young man when you go onstage. That should infuse some more excitement into this show.” She winked at me.
Without glancing back, I made my way past the tables to the stage, silently thanking the fountain—you know, in case it had something to do with this.
At the bottom of the stairs, I lifted my skirt slightly, so not to risk the hem getting caught on my stilettos. With my legs still shaking, I carefully walked up the steps.
Trent was waiting for me at the top, a huge grin on his face. My heart stumbled over itself at the sight of him.
“Hi,” was all I managed to say.
His warm green eyes remained on me and my heart practically leapt out of my chest.
“Christ, you’re gorgeous, Kels. I’d forgotten just how beautiful you are.”
“So are you…I mean you look great.”
Trent stepped closer to me, our bodies almost touching. Nothing else but this moment existed. “I’m pretty sure your brother’s going to kill me when he returns home, but I love you, Kelsey.” His voice was low. The only person who could hear him was me—just the way it should be. “I love everything about you. Your love for your job and the kids you help. Your love of life. Your love of those funny little owls. Your amazing photographs. Your heart. I love it all.
“I know I’m a workaholic, but I promise that will change. I’m hoping you’ll give me a chance to prove to you how important you are to me. To prove to you how you mean everything to me.”
“I love you too—”
I didn’t get a chance to say anything else. Someone repeatedly tapped their wine glass with a fork. The sound of more and more clinking glasses joined the first one, until the room was filled with the musical symphony.
“I think they want us to kiss,” I said.
Trent’s grin was back. “We probably shouldn’t disappoint them.”
He cupped my cheek with his hand, his touch igniting a sweet warmth that spread through my body. Then his lips brushed against mine—and I could barely breathe.
My lips parted and I welcomed him in. Welcomed his minty taste. Welcomed his familiar scent.
Welcomed every part of him into my heart—without any reservations or fear.
The thunderous applause filled the room—along with a few whistles that I suspected came from my table.
“I guess I don’t need to introduce you two,” Jodi said into the mic.
40
Trent
After we paid the “cashier” for the winning bid, we left backstage to return to the ballroom. Although Kelsey had won, I insisted on paying. It was the least I could do.
Did you recognize the woman who had tried to outbid Kelsey? She was Beatrice Peterson, or Reese, as she preferred to go by.
And trust me when I say I owed Kelsey a lot more than a date to thank her—something I had every intention of doing once we could sneak away from the event.
Unable to wait that long, I glanced around the hallway. A few people were milling around, but they were mostly the staff waiting for the auction to finish so they could start serving the food. I grabbed Kelsey’s hand and led her in the opposite direction of the ballroom.
“Don’t we have to go the other way?” she asked.
“Not for what I have planned.”
“What exactly do you have planned?”
Nothing close to what I wanted to do to her once we were back at my apartment. Fortunately, I was very well acquainted with the hotel.
On the second floor, I pushed open the door to the women’s bathroom. Unless you knew where you were going, you could easily miss it. The room was small and elegant, and had a lock on the door.
Very convenient for moments like this.
As soon as the door was locked, my lips crashed against Kelsey’s and I kissed her the way I couldn’t onstage. There, it had been about making sure people knew she was mine. Now I wanted to prove it to her.
My tongue flicked against hers and every cell in my body hummed with electricity. It had been a very long two weeks without her.
And in case you were wondering, the dream date I’d described onstage hadn’t been the one I’d originally planned. The original date had been a five-star dinner cruise around the bay, but the moment I saw Kelsey—the moment I saw how she was looking at me—I knew I had to take a chance and tell her how I felt…in front of everyone.
I had to tell her that I trusted her with all my heart—something I had thought would never be possible after my past relationships.
What I had really wanted to do was tell her that I loved her, everyone be damned. But I couldn’t do that because of the charity, as much as I had wanted to. Luckily for me she figured it out on her own.
“The dream date,” she said, “you changed it, didn’t you? You changed it at the last minute because of me?”
“How did you know?”
She giggled. “Because, one, you threw Jodi for a loop. And two, everything you said and the places you planned to take the winner…well, it was like you had planned the date for me and only for me.”
I ran my lips against Kelsey’s soft, sweet-smelling jaw. “I wanted to add one more item, but I didn’t think the organizers would be too thrilled with what I have planned. Too scandalous.” And the last thing I had wanted was to give Beatrice the idea that sex with her was on the table in the event that she won the bidding.
“I’m going to make love to you,” I said, my breath against the shell of Kelsey’s ear. “That’s how our date will end.”
She shuddered in my arms. “I’m not sure I can wait that long,” she murmured.
“Hmm you might have a point.” I certainly couldn’t wait that long before tasting her.
Hell, I couldn’t even wait until later tonight to taste her.
My mouth was on hers again, and I slowly backed her up until her calves hit the cushioned stool against the far wall. But before I took things further, I needed to know one thing. “Have you been with anyone else since I last saw you?” Her ex-fiancé came to mind.
She shook her head, but it was the truth in her eyes that told me everything I needed to know. “I’m only here with Owen as a favor. There’s nothing between him and me and never will be again.”
I brushed my lips against her jaw. “For the record, I haven’t been with anyone either.” I hadn’t even been tempted.
Kelsey was the only woman for me.
I ran my hands down her legs to the hem of her dress. Then I traced my fingertips back up, drawing the fabric with me. My cock perked up, eager to join the party.
Once the skirt was bunched around her hips, I told her to sit on the bench. A sexy, confident smile curved onto her lips and she did as I asked.
“You have my favorite thong on.” Hell, any pair of panties she owned were my favorites.
I was an equal opportunity type of guy.
It didn’t take long before I had them off her and tossed them aside. “Spread your legs.” The words rumbled deep in my chest. For two weeks, I’d dreamed about her pussy.
For two weeks, I’d dreamed about nothing but her.
But I guess that doesn’t surprise you by now.
“We should be getting back. Everyone’s probably wondering where we’ve disappeared to.” Kelsey might have said those words, but they lacked the conviction I needed to stop. I’d been craving this moment since spotting her in the audience.
The corner of my mouth tilted up to one side. “I’m sure they’ve assumed we’ve gone off to get reacquainted.” I knelt between her legs and pressed my lips to her inner thighs. They traveled along her sweet
skin with light kisses—the appetizer before the main course.
And then I found what I had been starving for during the past two weeks. And just like I remembered, she tasted like liquid gold.
I stroked my tongue against her clit, savoring her like fine wine. Once. Twice. A third time. It didn’t take long before she was writhing against my mouth and softly moaning.
My cock tried to break free of the restraints of my zipper, less than thrilled that its turn wouldn’t be until much later. I slipped a finger inside her…followed by the second one. She groaned the sound she always made when she was close to coming. Her fingers knotted in my hair.
I tormented her for a few more seconds with my fingers and my tongue, then switched things around. My thumb worshipped her clit and my tongue entered her.
It was more than she could take. Her head fell back against the wall as her muscle clenched around my tongue. She let out a soft erotic moan, doing her best to make sure the people in the ballroom on the floor beneath us didn’t hear her. The Kelsey I knew and loved was usually a lot less restrained when it came to noisy sex.
It took her a few moments to recover, and the sight of her with her orgasm-flushed cheeks and drowsy, satisfied eyes almost did me in. My mouth relished the opportunity for one final taste of her mouth before I helped her to her feet.
She reached for her thong but I was quicker. I shoved it in the pocket of my tux. “We should go back now before we’re missed.” I winked and walked to the door before she had a chance to steal the thong from me. If she really insisted, I’d give it back to her later, but for now it would help me get through the night until I had her in my bed again.
Our salads were waiting for us when we returned to the table. Kelsey introduced me to her ex-fiancé’s colleagues and his boss.
“Nice to meet you,” I said. And yes, I even meant it when I then told Owen that it was good to see him again. How could I not? If he had appreciated what was in front of him when he’d had the chance, I wouldn’t be the one sitting here with Kelsey’s thong in my tux pocket.
I’d be the poor sap—instead of December—sitting with Beatrice.
Dinner was enjoyable, with Kelsey sitting next to me and knowing that this time she was mine. I wasn’t crashing her date. I wasn’t hosting a dinner party for our friends while fantasizing that she was mine. And I wasn’t sitting on a bed while someone was taking photos of us, when all I wanted to do was make love to her.
She was mine, through and through—and I would happily spend the rest of my life reminding her of that. I would happily spend the rest of my life ensuring that she never had any doubts about how much she meant to me.
She came first.
Always would.
41
Kelsey
Quick. Name the best place in the world to be on a Sunday morning?
Wrong.
It was definitely in bed while snuggling up to Trent—but you’d have to take my word for it.
It was a week after the auction and the sun was streaming cheerfully through my bedroom window. Trent was catching up on the latest news on his iPhone. I was leafing through a photography magazine, a special edition focused solely on portraits. I had contacted Jennifer Ashton this past week, and we had gone out for lunch yesterday to discuss what she was looking for with the upcoming ad campaign she thought I would be perfect for as the photographer.
To say I was nervous was an understatement…but I was also excited for the chance to prove myself.
Without warning, Trent kissed my temple. I smiled sweetly at him. “What was that for?”
“ ’Cause you’re too sexy for words.” The lopsided grin on his face was enough to turn my panties damp, if I had been wearing any. “ ’Cause I love kissing you.” His mouth grazed against mine. “And ’cause I love how I can now do that whenever and wherever I want. I love how I no longer have to hide how I feel about you.”
This time the kiss wasn’t just a soft brush of lips. This time it was possessive, hungry.
Divine.
When he finally pulled back, my breath had long since been stolen away. But that was okay. It wasn’t like I needed oxygen anyway. The man I loved was next to me, the man who had already shown me that I was the center of his universe and always would be.
“We’re not completely there yet,” I said. “Erin might be okay about us”—which only came about after Trent promised he would never do anything to hurt me, and she was welcome to cut off his balls if he did. And I had promised never to be a reincarnate of She-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named—“but I still have to tell Liam.”
You know how you’re not supposed to break up with someone via text? Well, it’s also not recommended you tell your brother that you’re sleeping with his best friend the same way. I mean, sure for Trent’s own safety it would probably be better if I told Liam the truth via text. It would be a lot harder to physically hurt his best friend that way, unless he called in favors from his SEAL brothers. Some were reported to be the best snipers around—unfortunately for Trent.
“When are you planning to do that?” he asked.
“As soon as he returns home.” And by “home” I meant when he came back to San Francisco to visit us. As it was, I still had no idea when he was returning to the US. I hadn’t heard from him in the past twenty-four hours, and before that he’d promised me it wouldn’t be much longer.
“He’s going to kill me, isn’t he?” Trent said, only half joking.
“He’ll be fine once he realizes how much I love you.” I tossed the photography magazine over the side of the bed and grabbed the back of his neck. I pulled his head closer to mine, and reminded him once again with actions and not just words how much I loved him.
Vaguely, in the back of my head, I heard the bedroom door click open. But kissing Trent and feeling his hardening length against my stomach took precedence over paying attention to the sound.
“What the fuck, Salway?”
At the sound of one very pissed off brother, I squeaked like a mouse who had been caught in the expensive cheese. Trent muttered a curse and jerked back. But to my immediate relief, he didn’t move completely away, his naked body shielding mine from my brother. The sheet had pulled away, revealing my breasts, when Trent had moved to kiss me. Despite the tense situation, I imagined Liam was also thankful that Trent’s body was shielding mine—the only thing he was thankful for.
Although I was positive he would’ve been happier if Trent’s sexy ass wasn’t mooning him.
I yanked the sheet up, covering Trent’s assets and myself. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming home?” I asked, my voice little more than a whisper. Under normal circumstances I would’ve rushed over to hug my brother because he was safe and back in the States. Under normal circumstances I wouldn’t have been naked and in bed with his best friend.
Oops.
Instead of answering me, Liam glared at Trent, who had carefully shifted away from me, his back no longer to my brother. Smart move.
“What the fuck, Salway?” Liam repeated. “I asked you to keep an eye on Kelsey. I didn’t ask you to fuck her.”
I flinched at the anger in his tone. And I was positive the hard-of-hearing eighty-five-year-old woman down the street also flinched at it.
“I wasn’t fucking her, as you so crudely put it,” Trent said, his voice holding the same sharp edge as Liam’s, but with the volume at a more reasonable level.
“That’s because I interrupted you before you could. Now get out of my sister’s bed.” Liam didn’t even glance in my direction.
“It’s not what you think, Liam…” I hurriedly pointed out, and his gaze finally swung to me.
“Does your best friend know you’re sleeping with her brother?” he asked before I could tell him exactly what was going on between Trent and me.
I nodded. “She also knows I’m in love with him,” I said in what I hoped was a calming voice.
Shock flashed on Liam’s face, quickly replaced by a scowl. He turned that sco
wl on Trent.
“And I’m in love with your sister,” Trent said and gazed down at me, his gorgeous green eyes full of love and warmth. “Have been for a while now.”
I smiled at him, my brother momentarily forgotten, and cupped my hand against his cheek, his weekend scruff rough against my fingers. As if pulled together by an unknown force, we started leaning toward each other.
“Why is this the first I’m hearing that?” Liam grumbled.
Trent turned his head to my brother. “Because I didn’t know Kelsey felt the same way. Because I knew you would pulverize me for feeling that way.” Trent’s body shifted, the tension in his muscles still there. “Look, I know you’re pissed off and you have every right to be. But can we continue this discussion downstairs, once Kelsey and I are dressed?”
Liam looked like he was about to argue, his mouth open.
“Please, Liam,” I said, softly.
What was the best way to approach an angry beast? Correct. Cautiously. Never move too quickly and always speak in a soothing tone.
Hopefully that also worked with an angry Navy SEAL.
“Wait, how did you get in?” I asked. “I thought you gave Trent your key.” Or did I forget to lock the door last night?
“I did. But I had a duplicate made just in case. I’ll wait for you downstairs.” The don’t-even-think-of-fucking-my-sister-once-I’ve-left-this-room look he threw Trent said it all. With that, he stalked out, not bothering to shut the door behind him.
Well, that didn’t go down the way I had hoped.
“Maybe I should work on the eulogy I want you to read at my funeral on my behalf,” Trent said, his warm breath stroking my ear. Even when faced with certain death, he still sounded sexy, he still turned me on.
So I did the only thing I could do—I elbowed him in the gut.
“Oof!”
“Sorry,” I said. “Didn’t mean to do that so hard.” Which was the truth at least. “What are we gonna do?”
He chuckled. “Guess it’s too late for me to climb out of the window, huh?”
Decidedly Off Limits Page 23
