“You doing okay? You’re looking a little stressed,” he notes as he hands me my glass before taking a sip of his own.
“Just nervous.”
“There’s nothing to be nervous about. I know they all come on a little strong, but that kind of runs in the family if you haven’t noticed.”
“You don’t say?” I cock my brow in amusement as I tip a smidge of the fruity liquid down the back of my throat, savoring the burst of sweetness.
“Do we need to disappear to the restrooms for a moment so that I can figure out a way to relax you?” He bends and runs his nose along my shoulder, pressing a soft kiss on the exposed skin. Goosebumps erupt along my arms, and he hums, pressing his lips together as he eyes me like he’s thinking about throwing me over his shoulder to go do just that.
“No,” I answer a little more breathily than normal. I’m affected by this man so easily. “A reassuring kiss will suffice for now.”
His hand slides over my rear, and he tugs me closer for a kiss that is capable of melting my thong off. As if he just caught on to the fact that that’s exactly what I’m wearing, he growls against my lips.
“What color is it?”
“Hot pink,” I tease, biting my lower lip.
“This is going to be the longest dinner of my life.”
I toss my head back in laughter as he adjusts himself. Not a few seconds later, his sister walks in carrying a basket of breadsticks, followed by his mother and father with the food. I instantly see where Marcus,it’s so weird thinking of his full name like that, gets his good looks. While I do see bits of his mother’s features in him, like his hazel eyes, Mark is practically a younger, more handsome version of his father.
“Hi there. I’m Gianni. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Ava. You sure are a pretty one.”
I blush and reach out to accept his handshake.
“It’s nice to meet you too, Gianni. Thank you.”
“Are we all hungry, famiglia?”
22
Mark
My family sits around the big table, laughing and sharing stories with Ava on my behalf, yet I’m happier than I’ve ever been. Despite the embarrassing facts and moments being shared, Ava squeezes my hand under the table on top of her thigh in support. She knows how nervous I’ve been for my father to meet her. The minute he stepped into the room, I felt my lungs constrict, and I prayed for the first time in quite a while that God would grant me some mercy. I’m a believer, but I ashamedly admit that I don’t pray as often as I should.
Well, the Big Guy came through. My dad is taken with her. After asking what seemed like a hundred questions about her last name, her grandparents’ immigration, and basically how many pairs of underwear she owns, you could see a smile of contentment flitter at the corners of his mouth. He’s happy about this. He’s happy for me. I’ll be damned. It didn’t hurt when she shared about her partnership at the law firm.
I cannot wait to get back to her place so I can fuck my gratitude into her until she melts into the mattress. In fact, I’mgoing to leave work early tomorrow and cook her a nice dinner to surprise her. I let go of her hand and skim my fingers up the inside of her thigh, sliding down ever so slowly where her thighs meet her panty line.Hot pink thong. Mmmm.For some reason, it just makes me imagine her with hot pink lipstick sliding down that pole at Colin and Sydney’s party. That is something I will never fucking forget. Maybe she’ll put some on to match that thong and spin around a couple times on the pole installed in her room. I expect her to clamp her thighs together as my fingers play with the hemming, but she surprises me and shifts them apart.
Hot damn.
I slip my fingers across the front of her panties as Dad asks Bryn about work and life in general, turning the conversation away from us. Ava’s damp already, and my blood boils with lust. I lift my glass of wine and take a sip as I shift slightly forward in my chair toward her as if I’m going to discuss something with her. It gives me more maneuvering room and puts my hand at a less noticeable angle. She takes a sip of her wine, listening to Bryn speak, but flits her eyes to mine for a second as I stroke her gently with my thumb. She takes a deep breath before a slight pink tinges her cheeks.
I lean on my elbow, letting my gaze wander back and forth between my sister’s conversation and this gorgeous, adventurous creature spreading her legs for me at the table. She trembles slightly when I tease the edge of the panty and graze my middle finger underneath it. I won’t be mean enough to sit here and make her come, but I’m pretty sure that’d be one hell of a show if I did. I tease up and down her slick slit, biting back a groan from how wet she’s gotten in the last minute or so. I slide my finger down and slip straight in. She swallows hard, setting down her glass of wine so nobody can see it shake. I only see it because I know what’s happening under this table. I slip myfinger in and out of her slowly a few times before I pull out and circle her clit once, twice, and on the third time she quietly clears her throat and grabs my wrist. I ease out of her panties when she gives me a pleading look that almost has me combusting with laughter.
“Please excuse me. I’ll be right back. I need to use the ladies room.”
Yeah, I’ll bet.
As she pushes her chair back, my mother cuts in.
“Marcus, why don’t you show her where the family one is in the back? That way she doesn’t have to use the public one.”
BINGO.
“Sure thing, Mama. We’ll be back in a few.”
I make sure I’m properly situated before pushing my chair back. I allow Ava to rise before me and push her chair in. I lead her by the small of her back out of the room before snagging her hand in the hallway and pulling her to the back of the building where a bit of a living area is. Mom and Dad had an old apartment upstairs, but now it’s mostly used for storage. In the early days of the restaurant, we sometimes would spend the night here if Mom and Dad had a lot to do.
