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  “Is this the humping you spoke of?” he asked when he parted from her mouth.

  Audrey smiled, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck before she started to rock against him, fast and frantically. Tate moved against the wall, pushing her back against it as he took control. Slamming into her, she started bucking and arching against him, until they were colliding in a perfect rhythm. It was fantastic, and when he pulled the top of her dress down, taking her nipple in his mouth, she came. Harder than ever. Screaming, she dug her nails into his shoulder as the end of her heels dug into his butt and her body squeezed his.

  Audrey let her head fall back as Tate feasted on her breast. He had snaked his arms up her back to hold her shoulders while continuing to pound into her as little gusts of air left her lips. When he came, he bit down on her breast, and for once the pain was actually pleasing, causing Audrey to let out a hiss. Taking a gust of breath, Tate leaned his head against her neck. Audrey had her eyes closed as her body shook in the aftershocks.

  Tate pulled back and grinned at her, “So are you reassured that you are the hottest woman ever to me? I can’t even control myself around you.”

  As she giggled, her cheeks warmed and so did her heart. Didn’t he realize that to her he was the hottest man ever, and that she was probably going to love him for the rest of her life? “Yeah, but now I gotta change.”

  “So my plan of not being late backfired.”

  “Yup, ‘cause we are so going to be late now.”

  Audrey held onto Tate’s arm tightly as they walked into the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. The Assassins’ Christmas party was being held in the atrium and when they entered, Audrey was breathless. The whole place was filled with white lights; they dropped from the ceiling, all around the foliage, and covered the huge white gazebo in the middle of the room. There were huge Christmas trees everywhere trimmed with white lights. The cool thing about the trees was that each player’s number hung from purple and black ribbon. It was really neat, and Audrey couldn’t wait for the night to unfold.

  Tate placed a kiss on her temple and she grinned up at him as her nervousness coursed through her body. “You look stunning, love,” he said softly.

  Audrey face broke in a wide grin as she held his arm tightly, “Thank you.”

  “I was hoping you would disagree with me.”

  Her brows gathered together in confusion, “Why’s that?”

  “I wanted to have my way with you again, to prove my point.”

  Audrey giggled, rolling her eyes. “We’ve already ruined one dress.”

  And she wasn’t ruining this one. The long silk champagne colored strapless dress was to die for. It was plain, but stunning, bringing out every one of Audrey’s curves. Pairing it with a pair of champagne lace heels that she had worn to Fallon’s wedding, she felt confident and ready to meet Tate’s friends. Tate had to change his pants and he had even changed his tie to match her dress. They looked amazing together, but when she glanced up and saw Tate’s lazy grin along with his lusty blue eyes pinned on her, she knew she was in trouble.

  “And I plan on ruining a million more,” he said with a wink that went straight to her throbbing girly parts.

  “You’re so bad,” she muttered as he chuckled.

  They moved towards the party, looking for their table. They had missed the hors d'oeuvre , but thankfully not the dinner. Finding their table, which was with Lucas and Fallon, Tate pulled the chair out and Audrey sat down grinning over at Fallon. Of course, her sister was gorgeous in a short lace dress that hugged every curve Fallon had. The lace came around her neck, and only covered some of her shoulders. She couldn’t see Fallon’s shoes, but she bet they were pumps, something sexy, to match the dress.

  “Hey you,” Fallon said, smiling as she held her glass of wine in her hand.

  “Hey, where’s Aiden?” Audrey asked since she was the one who usually kept Aiden when Fallon went out.

  “With mom and dad.”

  Audrey nodded and then Tate called for her attention, “Audrey, this is Matthew Parra and his wife, Roxy, and then Bryan Rochester along with his wife, Ellen. This is my girlfriend, Audrey Parker,” he said, wrapping an arm around Audrey’s shoulders.

  Audrey smiled, “Nice to meet y’all.” Matthew and Bryan both returned the smile, while the two women did a once over of Audrey before sharing a look.

  What the hell was that about? Audrey thought as she looked over at her sister. Fallon was shaking her head, holding Lucas’ hand in her lap. Lucas shot her a wicked grin and said, “You look good kid.”

  Audrey giggled, “Why thank you very much.”

  Audrey glanced back over the table to see Ellen and Roxy still watching her and Tate. She didn’t know what their deal was, but it was unsettlingly to be under their scrutinizing gaze.

  Finally, Roxy said, “What’s the age difference between you guys?”

  Tate glanced up and then back at Audrey, “Excuse me?”

  “It’s obvious you’re younger than her, I just can’t pin point the age gap,” Roxy explained with a condescending smile on her face.

  Audrey blinked a few times, taken aback by Roxy’s rudeness. What the hell did it matter how far apart they were? It was their business, not hers. But before she could say anything, Tate said, “I don’t think there is an age gap between us. I don’t look at age. I look at the fact that she makes me happy,” he said, his eyes locked with Audrey. She smiled, squeezing his hand as he turned to look back at Roxy, “Plus, it is none of your business.”

  That seem to shut them up, and Audrey was beyond proud of be on Tate’s arm. Before dinner was served, Tate decided to introduce her to most of the team. Audrey had to admit, her favorite person was Mary Ann Welch. She was married to Alex Welch, who was the co-captain of the Assassins and also a really nice guy. Mary Ann was a hoot though, she reminded Audrey so much of Piper with her bright sunny outlook on everything. She was beautiful too. Stunning blue eyes, long blond hair, and a skinny little body that at the moment was very pregnant with their 6 child. Another girl.

  “We can’t get a break!” she gushed in her thick country accent, moving her hands with every word. Audrey used to think Elli was bad, but she had nothing on Mary Ann Welch. “Alex wants a baby boy so bad, but for some reason, he’s only shooting girls!”

  Audrey giggled as Tate smiled beside her, “Well you look stunning, I don’t believe for a second you had all 5 of those babies.”

  Mary Ann laughed as Alex smiled proudly beside her, “Girl, I got the stretch marks to prove it!”

  Mary Ann and Alex were simply a delight to meet. Unfortunately, they had to go back to their table to eat. Audrey and Tate were making their way back to their table when they ran into two of Audrey’s favorite people. Elli was gorgeous in a long purple chiffon dress; the bust was covered in sparkling jewels. Her long dark hair was up in a bun and her makeup was done beautifully. She looked like a million bucks and with Shea Adler beside her, looking just as gorgeous, Audrey couldn’t help but think they were the most beautiful couple there. Elli was glowing, her bump noticeable under the purple chiffon.

  Wrapping her arms around Elli, she said, “You look beautiful, babe.”

  Audrey gave Shea a sideways hug as Elli said, “I have to agree with you tonight. Shea picked out the prefect dress.”

  Audrey smiled up at a proud Shea, and nodded her head, “He sure did. How are you feeling?”

  Elli nodded, “Pregnant. This pregnancy is a doozy. It has to be a boy; I’ve never felt so sick in my life.”

  “Eek, that sucks. I hope you start feeling better.”

  “Me too, I have an appointment at the end of the week. Hopefully the doctors can give me something for this.”

  “Hopefully,” Audrey agreed.

  “Yeah, because I want my happy wife back,” Shea agreed with a grin.

  Elli looked up at him and smiled, “Me and you both.”

  “Baby, they are serving dinner,” Tate said beside her.

  “Befor