Guess he likes the dress.
Bracing my palm on his forehead, I wag my index finger at him. “Down boy. We don’t have time, and I’m not having you mess up my hair before we even get to the venue.”
He steps back, as always, respecting my “not now,” and beams back at me. “That means I can find a dark corner at the fundraiser and have my way with you.” He directs his attention to his crotch. “We can wait an hour.”
“No. I take it back. After the fundraiser you can ruin me. Not before, or during. After.”
His expression shifts, threatening to fall, but his smile holds. “No take-backsies.” He’s so fucking pleased with himself. It’s something we’ve been teaching Wyatt lately. Once you say something or give something to someone, you can’t take it back.
“When it involves five hundred of the country’s most prominent rich people in the sportsverse, I’m definitely holding this boundary.”
His eyes roam the emerald satin fabric of my dress. “How did you find time to go shopping for this? It’s absolutely fucking stunning.” He trails his hand around the thick straps that cross around my waist and follow them around the back to where they tie. “Oh, my, Jesus Christ. There’s no way.Nope. I’m not agreeing to keep my hands off you when you’re in a backless dress, Victoria.”
Men. I roll my eyes. “It’s not backless, Raffi. It’s got straps, see?” I gesture at the thick satin straps crisscrossing over my back. “It crosses back over at the front and ties in a pretty bow.”
The cogs in his brain turn as he follows the path of the fabric. “So, if I untie this bow, it’ll make your whole dress fall down in front.”
“Raffi Shaw, I will beat you to death with your old hockey stick.”
He chuckles, the sound vibrating in my core. “Might be worth it. Just figuring out how it all works, you know, forafterthe fundraiser.”
Crossing the room, I shake my head at him with a “tsk.” I pull open the top drawer of the dresser.
“You should leave the underwear where it is, Firecracker. We don’t need it.” There’s a smile lacing his words, and if I turn around, he’ll be licking his lips, or have that wolfish grin on his face that usually has me bent over and screaming his name in ten seconds.
We don’t have ten seconds, though. Our friends will be here any moment, and I’d rather not put on a show for them.
Pulling out what I was looking for, I spin to face him. “I had this made for you to match my dress. It’s already tied, but if you’re insisting you’re good with the self-tie…” I shrug.
“Gimme the friggin’ tie, woman.”
“Say I was right first, man.”
He sighs. “You know you were right. Why do I have to say it?” He’s whining like a child, and not even the ding of the doorbell is getting him out of admitting it.
“Because if you don’t, you’re not getting laid tonight.” I don’t give a fuck about the bowtie, or that he was wrong, orwhether or not he admits he was wrong, I just live for the playful banter between us.
“I love you.” He steps toward me, and I step back.
“I love you, too.” I even add the sign for “I love you.”
“You were right. I was wrong. Will you fuck me later?”
“And they say romance is dead, Raffi.”
He’s licking his lips. “Just a taste?”
“You two better not be doing dirty things in there.” Apollo’s voice echoes down the hall.
“Yeah, I have a sensitive disposition. My ears couldn’t handle such noises.” Ares is most definitely not a sensitive soul, but the thought makes me giggle.
“Ignore them, take your time.” Eloise, always the voice of reason and patience.
“Raffi, you told us not to let you be late.” Artemis’s voice carries a note of caution.
I’m definitely not performing in front of anyone, so I turn and head out to our waiting friends. The guys decided we needed Escalades—plural—to come and pick us up. Apollo, Artemis, Ares, and Tate are all waiting in my living room, looking dapper in their tuxes.
The girls and I coordinated the colored bow ties to match our dresses. Eloise has freshly dyed bright pink hair, and she’s in a cotton candy colored, knee-length tulle skirt, with the most delicate, intricate, lace bodice. It has a plunging neckline, leaving a triangle of skin to show down to her belly button. She looks incredible.
