The guests start to arrive around three in the afternoon. Fred points out the large banner hanging across the garage to every guest who walks up. Despite Mary repeatedly telling him tostop and Bailey’s constant daggers, he continues to show off his hilarious creation. I must admit, I think it’s clever, and Luca thinks it’s funny, too, which is the best part.
A few of Luca’s classmates from school start to show up. Bailey’s friends Lina, Piper, and Avery also are able to make it. She mostly hangs out with them but also makes an effort to chat a bit with the moms of Luca’s friends while Harry and I make small talk with the dads. I can’t say that I’m not happy to see that there’s no sign of Mr. Perfect-Dad-of-the-Year Jeff today.
As the day goes on, Bailey and I exchange discreet looks here and there. I find myself constantly searching for a good time to be alone with her—but it hasn’t happened yet.
The kids play on the slip-and-slide and swim in the small lagoon pool. After a while, the kids take a quick break from swimming, and we move on to presents and cupcakes.
When it’s time to sing, Luca stands on a chair behind the table with a toothy grin on his face, showing off his missing two bottom teeth. Bailey has her arm hooked around him as he blows out his candles while the rest of us gather around.
A few minutes later, I notice Bailey slip through the sliding glass door and back into the house. This is the perfect time for me to get her alone since everyone is occupied outside in the backyard.
Naturally, I follow her. Because that is what I do now.
I’m on her heels, taking the stairs two at a time. Before entering the first door on the left, she looks over her shoulder at me, fully aware that I’m coming after her. The corner of her mouth quirks up. I’m only a few steps behind by the time I palm the bathroom door, keeping it from latching. I quickly squeeze myself inside, then shut and lock it behind me.
Bailey spins on her heels, facing me fully, letting her hand rest on the counter next to us. I watch a smile inch across her face as she begins to speak. “What if I really had to use the bathroom?”
I rub my chin, taking a few slow steps toward her. “You don’t.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I know you wanted me to follow you up here,” I quip, stepping into her.
She licks her lips. “Well, you have been stalking me with your fuck-me eyes all afternoon. What else was I supposed to do?”
I bury my nose in her neck, nuzzling into the scent of her skin. “That doesn’t sound like me.”
“Oh yes, it does.”
“Do you have any idea how hard it is to see you walking around all day in another one of these little dresses and not be able to kiss you . . . or stick my tongue inside you?”
Her arms swing up and around my neck. “Tell me more about how you like my dress.”
“I fucking love this dress, but I would like it even more if it were on the floor.” I drag my palms up her inner thighs and under her dress, pressing her into the sunflower wallpaper. I continue to dot her neck and chest with wet kisses before raising a hand to pop out one of her breasts. Taking her soft, creamy skin into my mouth, I suck it in, swirling my tongue around.
She moans, running her hands through my hair.
I need to be closer. Keeping my mouth locked onto the sweetness of her chest, I slide my hands back under her dress, stopping to grab her ass, lifting her so she can wrap her legs around my waist. Bailey braces herself by grabbing the towel rack that’s hanging on the wall next to us, but the pressure from our weight causes the rack to break free from the wall and come crashing down to the floor with a loud bang. Her body stiffens, but she doesn’t pull away.
I couldn’t care less about breaking her parents’ towel rack hooks. Hell, I’ll even buy them new ones and install them myself.
“Oh, Mason, I’ve missed you. It’s so hard to see you without touching you.” I feel her soft hands come down to cup my face.“Or kissing you,” she says, bringing my lips up to hers.Goddamn cherry ChapStick.I groan into her mouth, loving the way it tastes.
Raising my arms, I bring both of my hands up to her cheeks and lace them through her silky hair. A group of strands that were gently pulled back, loosened from the grip of the small clip and falls to the front of her face.
“Tell me about it. The minute I saw you, it took every inch of self-control not to pick you up into my arms,” I reply, covering her mouth with mine. I breathe her in and devour her lips because it’s been too long since I’ve had her.
“I would love to stay in this bathroom with you for the rest of the day, but we have to go back out. People are going to wonder where we are,” she says, moving her head to the side in a desperate attempt to gulp precious air. But I don’t let her, as my tongue is back down her throat, tasting every inch of her mouth. “Mason.” Her voice slightly firmer this time, moving her head to the other side.
I lower my forehead to her cheek, squeezing my eyes shut. Frustrated that this moment has to end. Frustrated that I have to go back out there with her family and friends, pretending not to care for her, burn for her, and love her.
“You’re right,” I whisper, freeing her from inside my locked arms.
Bailey looks up at me like she always does from underneath her beautiful full eyelashes and straightens her dress. She smiles, then raises onto her tiptoes to kiss me one more time before slowly pulling away.
“I’ll see you out there.” She smirks, maneuvering around me.
I’m still facing the sunflower wallpaper and the empty space she occupied less than one second ago when I hear the bathroom door quietly close behind me. I catch a glimpse in the mirror of my enormous erection straining against the back of my pantsand that I won’t be joining the party anytime soon. It’s going to take me a few minutes to calm down.
