Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 65944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 330(@200wpm)___ 264(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 330(@200wpm)___ 264(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
“But I could do with eating a salad, so if they don’t have one on the menu, we
can choose somewhere else.” Honestly, since Tide showed up in my life, the constant worry about how I look and what I eat has disappeared. I don’t even remember the last time I got on the scale. That’s not to say that I don’t still think about my weight sometimes.
“Tonight, all bets are off. Once that dress is zipped, I plan on eating everything in sight and drinking until Colton has to carry me around.” She grins, getting out of her chair, her legs seeming to take just as long to hold her up as mine did. “Do you think our nails are dry?”
I bend and check hers then mine and nod. “Yeah but we should keep on our flip-flops just in case.” I grab my shoes and socks, and she does the same before we head for the door. With a quick goodbye to Maria in the front of the spa, we head outside to Gia’s oversized Suburban and place an order for two Greek salads from the spot down the road. After we pick them up, we drive to her house, where we spend the rest of the day entertaining Gino before we have to get ready.
________________
“Fuck me.”
At that comment, I spin around to face Tide standing just inside Gia and Colton’s guest bathroom, and the look in his eyes makes my pulse race. I normally follow the rule of dark lip, light eye or vice versa, but tonight I decided to go all out with a smoky eye and deep burgundy lipstick that makes me look and feel sexy and judging by the look in Tide’s eyes he likes the way I look too. When Gia picked this dress out and insisted it was for me, I was skeptical. I had never worn something so form-fitting in my life, but just like the first time I saw myself in it at the boutique, I swear it was made for me. The velvet, dusty rose, V-cut sleeveless top shows just enough of my chest to be classy, and the empire waist is flattering, especially with the way it flows into the multicolored sequined mermaid skirt that ends at my ankle so that my heel’s can be shown off.
As his gaze licks over me from my hair that I decided to wear half down, to the nude heels on my feet, I take him in, feeling lightheaded. I thought he was beautiful before, but seeing him with his hair tied back in a tight man-bun away from his handsome face, his jaw more angular without the scruff normally covering it, and his muscular body incased in a black tux that looks like it was made for him, I know I was wrong. He’s not beautiful. He’s… he’s…. I have no word to describe what he is. I just know that it’s everything.
“I thought.” His hand rubs down his mouth as he steps toward me. “I thought I knew you’d look beautiful tonight. I obviously had no fucking idea. Jesus, Aria, what the fuck?”
“You like my dress?” I ask stupidly, and his hand curves around my hip so that he can bring our bodies together.
“You could say that.” His eyes lock on mine, and my breath catches in my throat as he continues. “You could also say that I’m one lucky motherfucker. Not only do I get to look at you in this dress, but I’m the only one who will be taking it off you tonight so I can fuck you senseless.”
“Tide.” I grasp the lapels of his jacket, needing to hold myself up, and he leans into me, placing his lips against mine.
“No matter what happens at this party, Aria, I’m bending you over and fucking you in that dress and those shoes as soon as we get home.”
“Okay,” I agree immediately, and I catch his grin right before he covers my mouth with his and thrusts his tongue between my lips. The kiss is wet, long, and deep, and when he pulls his mouth away, I’m completely breathless. My lashes flutter open, and I find him watching me with a look in his eyes that makes my chest feel funny. Positive that now isn’t the time to talk about the fact that I’m in love with him, I lift my hand and rub my thumb against his bottom lip. “You got my lipstick all over you.”
“I don’t give a fuck,” he rumbles, and I smile as I force him to let me go so I can clean him up. As I lean over the sink to fix my lipstick, his arms wrap around my waist, his big body cocooning me, making me feel safe and small. “I’m gonna warn you now, Aria, that I will lose my shit if your ex or anyone else comes at you tonight.”