Lost in You (Flirting with Forever Book 1)

by Amanda Bailey

  Oh, hell.

  Chase strides toward us at a fast clip, his expression turbulent. I take two steps back, right into Shawn, who catches me as I stumble. He holds me against him with an arm looped around me, my back to his front. I moan and say through my teeth, “I forgot he used to be friends with my cousin. I didn’t know they were still close.” My stomach churns with sickness, bile rising until it hits the back of my throat. This is one thing I wasn’t anticipating, a wallop out of left field.

  Shawn is strong and steady behind me, his arm a band of protection against whatever bullshit Chase is about to spew.

  Before Chase can get close enough to hear, Shawn leans down and whispers in my ear, “Just stay calm. We’ll get through this. You still want to keep up with our charade?”

  Well, what else am I supposed to do at this point? I jerk my head in affirmation because no way will everything Shawn has done for me this weekend go to waste. I really don’t give two shits if Chase is upset by seeing us together. We’re doing nothing wrong.

  I can’t keep the grimace off my face as Chase stops in front of us, my mood immediately souring further when I realize he’s tanked. Well, that will definitely help matters.

  Shawn’s deep voice cuts through the air. “Chase. Good to see you, man. Enjoying the wedding?”

  “I just got here. I wasn’t going to come, but then a few people messaged me asking about the two of you and I figured I’d come see what they were talking about for myself.”

  I take a deep breath, studying him carefully. I’m confused why he’d care enough to show up. “What I do is none of your concern, Chase. I could have been here with anyone, and you’d still have no say in it. I’m not your girlfriend—I’m none of your business anymore.”

  He throws his head back, manic laughter spilling out. “The two of you together, though. That’s something.” He levels his stare on Shawn. “I assume you’ve told her?”

  Shawn’s hold on me tightens imperceptibly. “Actually, Chase, no, I haven’t.”

  “Told me what?” My brows pinch together.

  “I haven’t told her, but I do think it’s about time she knew.” His fingers press into my stomach, and I feel his body curl around me in protection. “Why don’t you tell her? It might clear up some of her confusion.”

  I glance up, craning my neck to look back at Shawn, and I’m sure my face looks just miserable. Oh my God, what are they talking about? I’m terrified to know, but I’m also eager to find out. Especially if— Wait. Shawn knows I’m confused about something? Um. I bite my lip and square my shoulders. “Tell me. Tell me whatever it is. It couldn’t possibly be worse than what you’ve already done.”

  Chase shakes his head, laughing again. “That damn bracelet you found in my truck that one time? It belonged to a girl named Laurie.”

  My body stiffens, and I shrug out of Shawn’s arms so I can turn around and look directly into his eyes. My tongue darts out to wet my lips. “The girl you cheated on Dana with?” My head spins. I can’t see where this is going at all.

  His face a mask, Shawn slowly shakes his head no. “I’m no cheater, Madison.”

  It must be fairly comical to Chase when the light bulb finally flashes on above my head. I turn shakily toward him. “You-you were already cheating on me? Before the girl next door?” My breath heaves out of me as I struggle to maintain my composure.

  People walk in and out of the reception hall on their way to the bathroom or back to their rooms, not realizing the chaos raging through my mind.

  “I think you should leave now, Chase.” Shawn’s voice sounds gritty and dangerous, definitely the hint of a threat behind his words.

  “Fuck that. I’ve checked in for the night. I guess I’ll see your act around.”

  I stiffen at his choice of words. If only he knew how close to the truth he is. “I hope I never see you again. You’re the worst, Chase. I hate you.” It sounded so much stronger in my head, but my voice shakes as I say the words.

  With that, Chase takes off down a hallway, presumably to his room. Hopefully, he’ll stay there the rest of the night.

  “Madison.” Shawn murmurs into my hair. “Can I take you back to our room?”

  I shake my head. “No.”

  “What do you want to do? Help me out here, Madi. I want to make sure you’re okay.”

  “Dance. I want to dance with you. Take me away from all of this.” I swallow past the huge lump of tears clogged in my throat. “I want to go back to earlier when we were having fun.”

  His lips land on my jaw. And I feel his answer there before he even speaks. “Yes. Of course I can.”

  Shawn keeps a protective arm around me and leads me back into the reception. No one is the wiser about the shit show that just went down outside.

  “Hey. Let up on your lip.”

  “Hm?” I glance up at Shawn, not understanding.

  He takes my chin firmly in his hand, swiping his thumb over my bottom lip, gently loosening the hold that my teeth have on it. It throbs where I’d been biting down, and I shut my eyes, embarrassed.

  “It’s okay, Butterfly. I’ve got you.” He leads me to the dance floor, just as I’d requested. The DJ has joined the party, but since most people are still enjoying their cake, he’s been playing a few slow songs.

  There’s no better feeling than Shawn’s powerful arms around me, I feel safe in his embrace. As soon as we begin to dance, I relax, the anger cooling in my blood from the confrontation with Chase.

  Shawn drags in a deep breath. “Are you okay?” His hands slide up and down my back, and I bury my face against his chest.

  “I don’t want to talk about it right now.”

  “Okay.”

  I tilt my head back, gathering up my courage. “Why’d you stop yourself from kissing me earlier, Shawn?”

  He lowers his face close to mine. “I thought it would complicate things.”

  “It might.” I pause, shutting my eyes for a moment. “But what if I want you to?”

  When my eyes flicker open, he nudges my nose with his. “That depends.” He dusts his lips past mine, sending sparks shooting through my veins. Oh my God, if he doesn’t kiss me, I’m going to die.

  “On what?” I swallow and wait again.

  “I don’t want to kiss you unless we really mean it. I don’t want to kiss you and call it fake. I haven’t been pretending for a while, and it would kill me to find out it wasn’t real for you.”

  Shock floods my system. He … he doesn’t want to fake it anymore? I search his eyes for the truth.

  The explanation I find there is this—he wants me as much as I want him.

  “Kiss me, Shawn. Kiss me and decide if I mean it. I promise you’ll find out how I really feel if you do. Just kiss me.”

  He stares into my eyes, intensity the likes of which I’ve never experienced before burning there. And just when I think it’s never going to happen, his mouth covers mine. Softly at first, then more firmly, his lips begin to move. He slides his tongue across my lips, parting them, and soon our tongues dance together to a rhythm all their own right there on the dance floor. He takes me to new heights with his passionate kisses as my body melts against his. Each stroke of his tongue is wicked and wonderful, a possession of not just my mouth, but my mind and soul. We’re still in the middle of this wedding, but in my mind, we are up on a cloud, floating somewhere, and I never want this moment to end.

  When we finally come up for air, I become aware of many pairs of eyes looking in our direction, as we’ve continued to cling together, even though the Chicken Dance has started around us.

  I cover my mouth and laugh. Shawn grabs my hand. “Time for our planned escape, girlfriend.”

  Chapter 18

  Shawn

  We stumble at the door to our room, lips all over each other, hands groping. I’ve been dying to taste her luscious mouth, and now that I have, I don’t think I can slow down, and I’ll be fucked if she’s going to let me, anyway. A wave of lust slams into me
as she lifts up on her toes again and wraps her hands around the back of my neck, dragging me down for another kiss. She’s insatiable. And I’m one lucky fucker. I’d meant what I said—if she didn’t mean it, I didn’t want to kiss her. I’d been trying to protect myself and her. But holy hell, it may not have been necessary at all. I think we may have been on the same wavelength this whole time, neither wanting to step over the line or admit to our growing attraction for each other. And now? We’re like a powder keg ready to blow.

  “Ah. Damn old key.”

  “Let me try.” Madison takes it from me, and I take a deep breath, trying to stop my heart from beating so hard behind my rib cage. “There.” The key clicks into the lock and turns, and she pushes the door open, drawing me in behind her.

  I kick the door shut, whip my suit coat off at the same time she kicks out of her heels, and I haul her to me. Our hands are immediately everywhere again. Her breasts, my cock, asses, just everywhere. My fingers hook through the straps of her dress and tug them down. The top of her dress comes down far enough—even with all those buttons still done up at the back—to reveal perfect breasts in a lacy strapless bra. My mouth waters at the sight of her, and blood rushes from everywhere in my body straight down to my dick. I can’t figure out for a moment how this could possibly be happening, how we have gone from zero to sixty in two-point-two seconds … except this is Madison, a girl I’ve known for years and have always liked and admired. And just maybe, this is happening because we are finally waking up to what we could have if we give us a chance.

  She reaches for me, eager for my touch. I gather her to me, pull one bra cup down, and claim her nipple with my mouth. My tongue laves the already taut and needy bud, and Madison makes little sounds in the back of her throat that drive me crazy as her feverish hands clutch at my dress shirt. I suck hard, the taste of her skin so sweet, and her reaction spurs me on. I cup her other breast in my palm before freeing it from her bra as well. An animalistic sound reverberates through my chest as I swoop in for the second nipple, wanting to ensure she’s taken care of in every way. I lick, suck, and adore her breasts until she’s writhing in my arms, begging me for more.

  “Please, Shawn.” She hesitates, her eyes moving over what I know must be a storm of desire on my face.

  I yank my tie loose and pull it over my head, quickly unbutton my shirt, and discard it. My undershirt goes flying as I whip it off. Shoes and socks? Off. I stand there, panting in front of her, hands on my hips. She’s the most beautiful vision, this woman, breasts jutting out from her bra, dress half off, barefoot, and I can’t stand it anymore. “Please, what, Madi?”

  I reach behind her, unhooking her bra and letting it fall to the floor. “What do you want?”

  “You.”

  I smile, lust swirling in my eyes. “I want you, too, but be more specific for me.”

  “I-I want your hands on me.”

  I step forward, my chest rising and falling visibly with each breath. “Where?”

  She groans. “You’re going to make me say it?”

  I nod. “Where?”

  “Everywhere, Shawn. I want you to touch me everywhere.”

  “Turn around, then. You’re still half-trapped in this dress.”

  She spins so her back is facing me, and I slowly begin to undo all of those little fuckers that I’d just done up a few hours ago. Finally. We’re finally moving in the right direction. With each one I undo, I kiss her somewhere different—her shoulder, the nape of her neck, her spine, the outer curve of her breast, the top of her ass cheek.

  When I finally free her of the dress, she spins around again, right back into my arms. Her fingers roam over every inch of my bare skin that she can find, skimming over ridges of ab muscle, brushing over my pecs, then coming back to flick her thumbs over my nipples. A deep growl sounds in my chest when she presses her naked torso to mine, and she feels so damn good I could come in my pants.

  But I won’t. I want this to be everything it should be for her. I back her up to our tiny bed and encourage her to scoot backward onto it. I watch her turn and crawl to the head of the bed, and I just about have a seizure. She’s wearing these cheeky little lace panties, and when I say cheeky, I mean most of her ass cheeks are not inside of them. They are hands down the hottest thing I’ve ever seen. I quickly free myself from my dress pants, the buckle clanking to the floor, which draws her attention.

  She studies me with a pair of eyes that are so full of want and need that I wonder how long she’s had these feelings for me. Has it been hours? A day? More? Her face flushes pink when my eyes meet hers; she’s so pretty I could cry. The mattress dips as I scramble onto it after her, unable to wait a second longer before I touch her again. I kneel over her, shift her so she’s lying flat on her back, and cage her on the bed with my body. I kiss her soft stomach and she squirms. I suck her nipples again and she writhes. And when I shift backward, my lips ghosting over her hips, she throws her head back. With a kiss stamped right at the juncture of her thighs, she moans long and low. My vision tunnels until all that exists is me and her. I slide the panties over her ass and drag them down her creamy, pale legs. I want my mouth on her. Right. Fucking. Now.

  Between her legs, her pink flesh glistens, bare except for a thin landing strip of curls. My hands each palm an ass cheek as I lift her to me, dipping my tongue straight into her core. She’s aroused, absolutely drenched. I lick, suck, and swirl my tongue, savoring every last bit of her.

  Madison’s head thrashes around on the pillow as she clutches the sheets below her. “Oh, God. Shawn. Oh, God. I can’t—”

  I groan, the desperation in her words driving me, and plunge my tongue inside her heat again. My voice is raspy when I say, “I want to goddamn devour you. Do you want me to stop?” I tilt my head to the side, waiting for her answer. Kissing her inner thigh, I scrape over it lightly with my stubble, and then lick the abraded skin.

  Her head shakes back and forth as I push one finger inside of her, hooking it upward, rubbing the front wall of ridged flesh. “No!” She draws in another quick breath, chest jerking with it. “No, don’t stop.”

  The feel of my hands and mouth on her—of our bodies giving in—it’s everything. My mouth descends on her again, flicking over her clit. I add a second finger, pumping slowly in and out, stoking the fire inside of her. She begins to tremble, her legs quaking on either side of my head.

  “Oh my God. Shawn. I’ve never—I’ve never—” I glance up to see her hair is a wild mess on the pillow circling her head like a halo. Angel.

  I smile against her pussy, knowing she’s about to tip right over the edge for me. “Come on my tongue, sweetheart. You taste so good. I knew you’d be amazing.”

  And with that, her muscles all tighten up and she cries out, her body completely out of her control as the waves of pleasure flow through her. Her inner muscles clamp down on my fingers over and over again. I’ve got to admit, it’s pretty damn sexy watching her go off the deep end like that, knowing I did that to her. She’s bathed in absolute bliss, her body languid and incapable of any significant movement.

  Madison blinks and looks down between her legs where I’m still lying.

  She covers her face with her hands for a count of three, then attempts to prop herself up on her elbows. I keep eye contact as I lean in and place my lips right over the hood of her sex, sucking and flicking at her clit with my tongue. She was already flushed from her orgasm, but a deep red stains her cheeks as she watches me. I slide my fingers through her folds, her arousal coating them.

  “Did you mean what you said?”

  I remove my mouth from her long enough to murmur, “I mean everything I say, but what are you referring to, Butterfly?” My tongue darts out to lick her again.

  Her head drops back. “I can’t think when you’re doing that.”

  I chuckle against her naked center and she twitches hard. “Was it maybe about the way you taste?” I bring my fingers to my mouth and suck them clean.

 
She presses her lips together and nods. Her eyes widen as I crawl between her legs, lower my body to hers, and cup the back of her head with my hand. My fingers thread through the mass of curls, and I lean in to brush a kiss over her lips. My intent was to slow us down and give us a breather, but at the first touch of her swollen lips, I can’t hold back, my mouth slanting over hers.

  Our tongues duel, and she gasps.

  “Do you taste yourself on my tongue? So sweet. So perfect.”

  She moans her answer and locks her legs around my waist, rubbing her wetness against my erection through my boxer briefs.

  We explore each other’s mouths, kiss after intoxicating kiss, all while my hard-on rages, ready to burst through the fabric encasing it. I’d been in complete control just a few minutes ago, so focused on giving her pleasure that I’d been able to ignore my insistent dick begging me to be inside of her. Then she started grinding against me. Game. Fucking. Over.

  My hands roam over her body, and I plant a kiss on her chin. “Give me just a second.” I push up and scramble for my duffel bag to retrieve the condoms that I’d packed.

  “Boy Scout.” She laughs. “Did you know something I didn’t about what would happen this weekend?”

  My lips tease into a smirk. “I always have some. It’s really just a habit to throw them in at this point. Those Boy Scouts are not stupid.” My eyes flick to hers. “For once, they’re actually going to get used.”

  “They?”

  I run the pad of my thumb over my lip as I look at her naked body spread out before me. “Definitely.”

  That pink steals over her cheeks again. I wonder if there will ever be a time when I don’t make her blush. Without waiting another second, I hook my fingers in the waistband of my boxer briefs, shove them down over my ass, and allow my cock to finally spring free. I glance up at Madison, who is no longer looking into my eyes, but straight at my groin.