I stopped outside to tell her I was finished. I stuck around for her to check it out, but she said it was perfect, so I was free to go.
“Thank you so much. I love it!” She hugged me, much to my surprise. She just didn’t seem like much of a hugger.
“No problem.”
Her mother thanked me too and I took my leave. I hadn’t noticed Tristan had left until I saw him leaning by my truck. My heart leapt towards him, quickening in pace. My fingers twitched as I approached him, looking like a god under the lowering sun light.
“Hey.” I said.
He nodded at me. “Hey.”
“You’re still here.” I stated.
He nodded at me again. I could see it behind his eyes, there was so much he wanted to say. “You have a minute to talk?” He asked. I fiddled my keys in my hand, nodding once.
He stared back at me, stepping closer. He was about to speak, his lips parting but he stopped when we heard voices. The guests were arriving now, a bunch of women who made no secret of stopping and starring.
“In here.” He took me to the back of the truck. I unlocked the door and we climbed in.
The space was tight, but without the flower plenty of space for the two of us. He sat on the bench across from me, hunched over in the small space that didn’t fit his tall frame. I set my purse aside and crossed my legs nervously.
“I should apologize.” He said. My brows furrowed. I hadn’t expected him to say that at all.
His eyes stayed on mine before fleeting elsewhere, his jaw tightened. I cocked my head to the side, studying him. He was so handsome, even in the dim lighting that I was sure didn’t flatter my porcelain skin.
“You want to apologize? Why?”
I thought I should be the one apologizing.
“I should have respected your wishes. I shouldn’t have been flirting with you and teasing you. It isn’t your fault, what happened last week. And I made it seem like it was.”
I took in his words. Really thinking them over. I still felt guilty. If I were stronger, we wouldn’t have been in that situation.
“It’s no one’s fault. It isn’t like I minded you flirting with me, even though I said I did. I do want to focus on work but… I want you too and I don’t know what to do.”
His eyes found mine. He seemed so sad and…dejected. “You said you don’t do casual sex. I’m not sure I ever want to be in a relationship again.” He said honestly. I nodded in understanding.
“Maybe…maybe that’s better in our situation.” I whispered.
The air grew hotter. I was suffocating, and the only thing that could give me air was him. I crossed the space and he didn’t miss a beat, grabbing my hips and pulling me onto his lap. I felt him against my thigh, not hard, but obviously there. He peered at me, like he was studying me.
I knew a relationship would distract me. But just sex would be completely different. I did like him, and my feelings were real for him. But I knew it was worse if I couldn’t have him. Couldn’t be around him. Maybe a casual sex relationship wasn’t super appropriate, but it seemed best.
“I just think you deserve more than that.” His voice was husky, hooded with desire already.
I ground myself against him, pressing my chest to his as I linked my arms around his neck.
“This feels right. I only want things to feel right.”
He gazed at me, studying my expression. Like he wanted to be sure. He cared about me. I cared about him. We could figure the rest out later. Right now, I needed him. For the first time I initiated a kiss, but he quickly took over.
My lips parted, allowing his tongue to lap over mine. My breasts pillowed against him, the thin fabric of my chest did little to keep the warmth of our bodies from meeting. I felt my nipples harden from the desire coursing through me. My fingers seared through his luscious tuft of hair, latching him to me.
His hands gripped my fleshy thighs, moving to my ass to ground me against his length. I was pretty much dry humping him for minutes, building up the sensation. He took my dress off at once, revealing my bare chest. I wished I hadn’t worn such a boring pair of green cotton panties. But he still feasted on me like I was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He trailed his lips down my neck, sucking the hollow of my clavicle before moving farther down to my breasts, kissing everywhere but my aching nipples.
“Please…please.” I whimpered. He growled, finally suckling on my nipple until I feared it could fall off. He released the hardened bud and did the same to the other. I was writhing against him, wiggling around until I felt his hardened cock against my thigh.
I undid the buttons of his shirt, raking my nails down his chiseled muscles as his fingers traced my folds over my panties. I fiddled with the belt of his jeans, until I finally released him from his briefs. His cock was so fucking perfect, and pretty. It’s head an angry pink, throbbing for me as moisture formed and slipped down his length. I circled his base and brought my hand upward until the moisture pooled over my hand. I wanted to taste him.
I maneuvered myself down to a kneeling position. I kept my eyes on him as his eyes widened. He bit his lip softly as I brought my lips to him. I sucked just the head, tasting him, feeling him in my mouth before I moved farther down. Teasing him by not going all the way. He twirled his fingers in my hair, latching me to him by my bun. He bucked his hips toward me, fucking my mouth slowly. I wanted to keep going, but suddenly he pulled me up. I fondled his balls, a heavy sack of his desire and he growled like an animal.
“I want to come inside you.” He pulled me back up onto his lap.
He pushed my panties out of the way. His mouth went to mine, kissing me roughly, with so much passion I barely noticed when he entered me. I broke away, my breath catching. He felt so much fuller this way, hitting me right at my core. I thought I would come already. Everything was tight, full, and throbbing as he guided me over him.
I rested my head in the crook of his neck. He nibbled on my shoulder, and then my ear. Every open area of skin was at his mercy. His heavy hands, hot and calloused rubbed my bare ass and moved up my front to cup my breasts. He weighed them in his hand, making me feel perfect for him. We fit perfectly. This feels so right and is perfect. Grinding against him, him twitching inside of me as we found pleasure in each other. It was perfect.
Could I settle for this? I wasn’t sure I could let it go. Let him go. I needed this, this perfect pleasure clouding around us.
“I’m so close, Tristan.” I whispered in his ear, he moaned against me. Pulling me deeper. Pushing himself inside of me further.
I felt him hitting my core, until I thought I would soak us both with my desire. I moved faster against him, rattling the entire truck. Someone walking by would know exactly what was going on, so I quieted my moans and cries of pleasure as much as I could. His grunts were feral, uninhibited as he took control of my body, lifting me up as he thrust into me.
I was rolling off the edge of orgasm quickly. Stuck at the top of a high wave until I came crashing down around him. It had been too long. It was blinding, made my eyes water and my chest clench as I came hard. I went slack, allowing him to use my body for his pleasure.
He finally released his seed inside of me, filling me up until there was nothing left. He held me close to him, arms tight around me like a vice. My head fell against his chest, I traced the fine hairs of his chest as I caught my breath. When he slipped out of me I whimpered from the sudden emptiness.
I didn’t want to let him go. He was so warm. Smelled so good. Felt so right. He pressed his lips to my temple, a sweet kiss that means nothing other than he cares for me.
“I missed you.” He said. It made my heart swell and leap like a happy teenager.
“I missed you too. I felt so bad, I hadn’t realized what I was doing to you. I don’t ever want to treat you like your ex did.” I kept my head on his chest. His eyes are too unnerving for me to look at.
“You weren’t.”
“But I hurt you. Made you feel like
I was playing you.” I said. He sighed.
“Maybe. It doesn’t matter now.”
“What do you want to do?” I asked him.
“We can try this until after the wedding. I respect if you want to move on with your career. I won’t hold you back from your dream.”
His words seemed perfect. But there was so much I still wanted to say. I didn’t have energy to say anything else. I just wanted to enjoy his company. This little bubble of happiness we stuck ourselves in.
“You’re such a good man.”
He chuckled.
“I don’t know about that.”
I leaned back, looking into his eyes.
“You are. You don’t pressure me like others do or try to get me to do something I don’t want.”
He tucked my hair behind my ear and held me close.
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.” He noticed.
It was because I was scared.
Of so many things.
Of this being something more.
Something real.
“Because at some point I won’t want just half of you,” I admitted.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Tristan
“I can’t believe I have to wear this, man.”
I looked like a fucking monkey. Why would he choose a suit jacket with tails? Were we in Mary fucking Poppins?
“It’s classy. Gab insisted.”
Of course she did. The tailor only laughed. Levi couldn’t get away from work, so we met the tailor in his office. Levi had been on and off the phone the entire time.
The court date was today, and the rehearsal dinner was tonight. So, after today, he would be done with all of this.
“Of course, she did.” I looked at myself in the mirror. I didn’t even like suits, let alone three pieces with a tail jacket.
Groomsmen get the worst of it.
“How is shit with you? You haven’t said anything?” he asked.
The tailor pricked me a few times, but in his defense, I was moving around a lot.
“Fine. I guess. Who did you all invite?”
He shrugged. “No clue, her family of course. Sasha and Bryan are coming. The whole city might be coming since the reception is in that ballroom.”
He might be right. Gab had a lot of people she could invite at work too. I just wanted to do my duty and slip out the back. Maybe take Emilia with me.
“My parents are coming. You’re like their second son.” I joked, though I was mostly serious.
Levi didn’t have any family. His parents died before college. When I brought him home for the holidays, my parents took a liking to him immediately.
“Yeah, your mom calls me all the time.” He chuckled.
The tailor moved on to my sleeves, so I made sure I stayed extra still. I could at least be comfortable at this shindig.
“You still with the florist?” He asked.
“With her, I don’t really know. It’s casual.” I shrugged.
He shot me a look. “You don’t want anything serious.” He stated.
“Don’t think so. Not yet at least. But she wants to focus on her career. So, it works out.”
“But you like her?”
“Yeah.”
I answered shortly. I wasn’t really in the mood for it. If I kept thinking about my baby doll, I would get a hard on and the tailor wouldn’t like that very much.
“What time is the dinner again?” I asked him. He shot me a look. He didn’t even know.
“Fuck man, I have no clue. Let me call Gab.”
“No, don’t call her. She’ll be pissed. I’ll call her.” He thanked me with his eyes.
I didn’t blame him anyway. He had a lot on his plate, I don’t think I would remember when it was either. I rang her, and she answered on the last ring.
“What is it, Tristan?”
“Hello to you too. What time is the dinner tonight?” I rolled my eyes.
“Seven. But we will be there at six. I have to go.” She hung up.
“Be there at six,” I told Levi, “how the hell do you tolerate that woman anyway?” I asked him.
He laughed aloud. “I don’t know. I love her. I don’t notice much else.”
I thought about what he said.
“How do you know that, that you really love her?” I asked him.
He thought to himself, the frown lines on his face relaxing.
“Dude, I asked her to marry me eight years ago and I waited all this time for her to say yes. That’s how I know.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Tristan
When the tailor was done poking me I took myself to the café to grab lunch and got some cake pops for Emilia. I learned they were her favorite when I saw her yesterday at the floral shop. I was filling in for Levi again.
I made my way to her shop and let myself in. She was by the register, probably balancing it. She was so concentrated she didn’t even look up from what she was doing. I smiled softly and walked up, announcing my presence.
“Hey, baby doll.” She gasped, jumping a bit as she looked at me. Then she smiled brightly and relaxed.
“You scared me.” She eyed the bag. “Is that for me?” I nodded, and she beamed. She was so damn cute.
“Thank you.” She popped a vanilla cake pop in her mouth. She looked adorable in her pink graphic tee and holey jeans. Her hair pinned up loosely. I was staring shamelessly.
“No problem…what are you doing?” I asked her. She licked some icing from her lip and I followed her little tongue as she licked it away. It went right to my dick, always acting up around her.
“I’m trying to balance the register. But it isn’t coming up right.” She looked down at the number sheets, frustrated.
“I’ll help you.” I stepped around the counter and she unlocked it for me. I stepped up next to her, inhaling her fresh lilac scent.
“Really?” she looked at me like I didn’t know basic check book balancing.
“Emilia, I have a degree in electrical mathematics. I can balance a check book.”
She giggled and stepped aside. She watched me and ate her cake pops as I did it in about ten minutes. She was doing well, overhead was well below profits.
“There you go.” She looked at the numbers like it wasn’t real.
“Whoa, this is good.” She said to herself. I nodded in agreement.
“What time are you getting to the dinner?” I asked her.
“Around four. I’m leaving soon actually.”
“You’re staying at the hotel, right?” I asked her, hopeful.
“Yeah. It will make it easier tomorrow. “
Levi and Gab decided to book the hotel out for the night, so the guests invited to the rehearsal dinner could just stay the night. It made things easier, for sure. But I was going out on a limb here with Emilia.
“I was thinking…we could get a room together.”
Her eyes widened in shock, and she blinked rapidly
“I don’t know. I need to focus.” She replied. Her voice soft.
“Okay. Just thought I’d ask. But I’ll see you tonight, I just wanted to bring you something sweet.” I winked at her, and she smiled brightly. I love that smile.
“Thank you.” And I knew she wasn’t saying it just for the cake pops. I asked her something pretty big, and I stepped back when she wasn’t sure.
“See you later.”
I leaned in for a kiss and she met my lips. I deepened the kiss and pressed her against the desk, my tongue swirling with hers as I felt her up through her shirt, and her ass too. When I released her, her eyes were dreamy as she looked up at me. I smirked with a wink and left.
I went back home to have at least a few hours of sanity before I got dropped into a room of happy people. The only thing tiding me over was the thought of seeing Emilia. I wondered what dress she would wear. If it was anything like the ball, I was in trouble.
Usually my mom called me, but I wanted to touch base with her since I hadn’t talked to her in
a while.
“You’re calling me? Are you sick?” I chuckled.
“No mom, I’m not sick. I just wanted to talk to you. How are you doing?”
“I’m fine. I just picked up my dress for the dinner tonight. Aren’t you happy for your friend?”
“I am. He deserves it.”
“Yeah, he does. Gabriella is such a sweet girl.” I nearly choked.
“No, she isn’t. Do you have any idea how much she has driven me crazy? The girl is insane.” I shuddered at the thought.
“Honey, it’s her wedding…are you sure it wasn’t hard for you?” I sighed. Her and Natalie kept asking me that.
“No. I told you, Vivian hired someone to do all of this. I don’t even remember it.”
Not even the cake tasting. She outsourced that too. It was like one day I proposed, and the next thing I was getting married. There was no journey along with it, and there was no bridal shower. Maybe I should have noticed the signs when I found out she didn’t have any friends. That wasn’t normal.
“Okay, whatever you say. Are you staying at the hotel?” she asked me.
“Yeah, I am. You and dad are too?”
“Yeah, it can be in a mini vacation for us.”
“Right. I’ll see if our seating arrangement is together for tonight.”
“I hope it is, we can talk more. I have to run though, I’ll see you tonight. I love you.”
“Love you too.”
As I was getting ready, I thought of mom meeting Emilia. I don’t know why. I knew mom would like her. Emilia was perfect. And I knew deep down it was never casual. When I’m with her…it was anything but casual.
It was everything.
It is what I have been afraid of since I found out what Vivian did. It’s what I always wanted out of a marriage. I want it with her, I knew that now. But I won’t make her regret loving me if her career doesn’t work out because she was too busy in a relationship.
So, I couldn’t introduce her to my mother as my casual sex fling. And if I did, mom would see right through it. She always had a way of doing that.
I made sure I wasn’t supposed to bring anything with me and then finished getting ready. I actually put product in my hair for a change and slicked it down. I slung my jacket over my shoulder and headed out. I took the Tesla and drove the twenty minutes to the hotel downtown. There were cars lining the valet, but I wasn’t sure if it was for the dinner. There should only be about twenty guests.
Mr. Beast_An Enemies to Lovers Romance Page 30
