“Handsome,” I whisper into his ear as I squeeze him tightly, no intention of letting go any time soon. “I thought you’d never get here.”

“I came as soon as I could, love.” He inhales me deeply, holding my body against his as I keep a solid grip around his neck. Shifting me against his body, he turns and lowers himself onto a stool, pulling me into his lap. I lean back and study him. Green eyes blazing, parted full lips, and smile lines. Man he is lethal. He opens his mouth to speak when his eyes trail down my body and stop on my thighs.

“Fuck, Dylan.” I glance down quickly at what’s possibly caused his outburst and curse loudly at the sight of my exposed garter. Shit. This dress was not meant to be sat down in. “What are you wearing?” I’m quickly placed on my feet in front of him as he begins tugging at the material, frantically attempting to bring it down to a more appropriate length. The giggling from me comes naturally at his flustered state.

“Are you trying to give me a heart attack? What the hell is with the dress?” he asks through clenched teeth as I quickly scan the red faces of Ian and Juls who are watching in amusement. Joey squeals on the dance floor as Billy dips him and kisses him deeply in front of everyone. The relentless tugging of my dress brings my eyes back down in front of me.

“You don’t like it? I thought you liked me in dresses,” I tease.

“This shouldn’t be allowed in public. Seriously what the fuck? You’ve been here for how long in this shit?” He glowers at me and runs his hands down his face, bringing my attention to his right hand that looks like he’s spent the night dragging it against bricks. His knuckles are cut up and slightly swollen and dried blood stains his skin.

“Jesus Christ. What the hell happened to your hand?” I reach for it to examine it more closely when he quickly pulls away from me.

“Don’t worry about it. The dress, Dylan. Why are you wearing that?”

Oh no fucking way is he going to react like this and not give me any answers. I grab my clutch off the table and make to turn away from him. “Fuck you. I wore this for you, you stupid asshole.” His hand grabs my elbow but I somehow manage to snatch it out of his grip. “Let go of me. How dare you come in here with your hand looking like you beat the shit out of somebody and give me a hard time about my outfit. You have no fucking right to act like that.” What the hell? This is not the reaction I was hoping to get out of him for wearing this. I push through the crowd of people and see the exit but feel his hands on my waist before I can get very far. Figures. Engage barbarian mode. I am turned sharply and pulled against his chest, his mouth pressing firmly to my temple.

“I have every fucking right to act like this,” he growls.

“No you don’t. What the fuck happened to your hand?” I push away from him and take a step back, sternly staring him down for an explanation.

He steps closer to me, eliminating the gap I just created. “Your ex is what happened to my hand. I told you that I’d make sure he never touched you again and I fucking did. Now explain to me why the fuck you’re wearing that? You knew I wouldn’t be here until later so don’t fucking say it was for me.”

I move quickly, there is no thought behind it just pure shock and slap him hard across his face. The sound of the crack echoes through the bar but no one seems to pay us any mind, except for Juls and Ian. Apparently, lovers quarrels are common in establishments like this.

“Are you actually trying to insinuate that I’m wearing this for somebody else? Fuck you. You drive me fucking crazy.” I bring my hand back again but Reese reaches out and stops it, bringing it down to my side and pulling me against him. His chest is heaving rapidly and when I press my lower body against his, I feel his need for me digging into my hip. Fuck, he’s turned on by this?

“You drive me fucking crazy. Now, say your goodbyes so I can take you home and fuck some sense into you.” I catch my breath at his words but know right then, even before he said it that I want it just as much as he does. He knows how and when to push my buttons and he does it better than anyone.

“Juls, I’m leaving. Love you,” I yell but keep my eyes on Reese.

“Holy hell. That was crazy hot. Bye, sweets,” she yells back and before I can object, I am being dragged out of the bar by a very hot and bothered CPA. But who am I kidding here? Like I’d ever object.

Fourteen

“I hope you realize just how pissed off I am at you right now,” I say as I sit in the passenger seat of his Range Rover, watching him weave easily in and out of traffic. We’ve been driving in silence for eight long-ass minutes and my annoyance level is through the roof.

He turns the radio down and clears his throat before glancing over at me. “Why, because I don’t want other men looking at you? Tough shit. That dress should be illegal.” His hand grips the center consul and I stare at his red cut up knuckles.

Crossing my legs and letting my dress ride up on purpose, I cross my arms over my chest and stare him down. “What happened? You didn’t kill him, did you? I’d prefer it if I didn’t have to visit you in prison.” Although, a conjugal visit with Reese might be worth Justin’s demise. Mmmm, he could rock the hell out of some jail attire.

Stopping at a red light, he flexes his injured hand before he reaches over and slips his finger under my garter, snapping it against my skin and making me yelp. “No, I didn’t kill him but he probably wishes he was dead right now. He won’t bother you again.” I bat his hand away to keep him from pulling at it as the red light turns to green. “Did you have fun tonight?”

Forcing out a laugh, I turn to him and see a hint of teasing in his set profile, his lip twitching slightly. “Oh yeah, I was having a blast until this crazy man showed up and freaked out over my wardrobe selection. Which, by the way, was for your eyes only. You owe me multiple orgasms for that little tirade.”

He lets out a laugh as he pulls into the parking garage of his building. “Oh, I think I’m the one who is in need of multiple orgasms. It is my birthday after all.” Wait, what?

“It’s your birthday? Today?” He nods with a smile and parks the car, stepping out as I stay frozen in my seat. Why didn’t he tell me? My door is opened for me and his hand grabs mine, pulling me quickly out of the vehicle. “Is it really?” The man could be lying just to get his multiple orgasms.

He reaches in his back pocket, pulls out his wallet and hands it to me. I flip it open and stare at his license, which of course contains a picture of him looking annoyingly good. Who the hell takes a good driver’s license photo? Focusing on his birthday, I confirm what he has just revealed to me.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I ask, handing him back his wallet as we walk into his building. His hand rests on my lower back as he walks me towards the elevators, nodding politely at the people we pass.

“I just did,” he replies, pulling me into the elevators and pressing the tenth floor button. I wrap my arms around his neck and press my body against his as we ride up to his floor. His scent fills my lungs and I swoon.

“But you should have told me sooner. I would have made you a cake. It’s what I do you know.”

His hands grip my waist as he presses quick kisses into my hair. “Well you can make me a cake now.” The doors open and he quickly pulls me with him down the hallway and into his condo. Jeez is he in a rush?