“You ever going to answer me on the date question?”
Jordan’s eyes are focused over my shoulder, deep in her own thoughts. A smile starts to take shape as she refocuses on me. “Well, I suppose there are different kinds of dates. The good ones always have a kiss in them.”
Ah, I see where she’s going with this. With a smirk, I nod my head slowly in understanding.
“So I guess this would be more like a friend outing. I mean,” she pauses, her eyelashes fluttering in my direction as her teeth catch her bottom lip for the briefest of seconds. “Unless you kissed me. Then I think it might feel like a date.”
“Interesting.”
Pretending to be modest, I angle my head upwards like I’m thinking about the idea, pursing my lips in thought for good measure. When I hear a little huff of indignation I can’t help but laugh.
Slipping my arm all the way around her waist, I pull her bodytight to mine. Reaching up with my other hand, I cup her face with soft fingertips. Tilting my head, my lips gently brush across hers to savor this moment. As her body melts into mine, she whimpers into the kiss, the sound feeding the beast inside of me. I know I can’t get carried away here, but my mouth becomes firmer, moving against hers in a slow, delicious dance.
Before either of us gets too out of control, I break the kiss, though I keep close enough that I can feel her breath against my skin.
“Guess it’s a date then,” I whisper to her.
The smile she answers with makes that same indescribable feeling twist my stomach again. Whatever it is, I think I like it. It’s pleasant and warm.
“Does this make me your first real date ever?” Jordan asks, leaning away from me a little, eyes widening. It’s as though the idea has only just dawned on her.
“That would be affirmative, Fireball.” It’s only taken thirty years to get to this point.
Her lips mash together in a firm, thin line to keep her from breaking into a grin. There’s a giggle in her throat she’s trying to hold back, though she’s not doing a very good job at it. It bursts free and she slaps a hand over her mouth.
“I know I shouldn’t be that excited over this, but it really is exciting,” she tells me, stepping on her tip toes to plant her lips against mine. “Ladies’ man extraordinaire goes on his first real date with little ole me.”
Giving her ass a more or less PG swat, I nip at her bottom lip. “Yeah, yeah. Celebrate it up. But maybe let’s celebrate and walk at the same time. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover and not a lot of time to do it.”
“Sir, yes, sir!”
If she keeps talking like that, I don’t know how I’ll ever give her up come Sunday. If only fairy godmothers actually existed because Jordan is the dream. Jordan is the type of woman I never wanted to find. Not when I know how things can end.
Fairytales don’t fucking exist. Only reality does. I’d be smart to remember that.
Chapter 9
Jordan
Thisthingneedstogo faster. And by faster, I mean it needs to move at the speed of light. The elevator is not moving quick enough given I’m running ten minutes late to meet everyone. We’re headed to an evening show filled with acrobats, performers, and I can only imagine what else. I’ve been looking forward to this evening—like every other evening—since we booked it.
It won’t top today, though. I’m convinced nothing will top today.
I still can’t believe Liam rented a car, drove us four and a half hours away just so I could see the Grand Canyon, and then drove us all the way back. He even did all the driving. My only job, as per him, was to enjoy, and I did it to epic proportions.
There’s a downside to it, I realized on the way back to Vegas. Today was as perfect as he claims I am. What the hell am I going to do when Sunday comes, and I have to leave this all behind? How the hell are we supposed to go back to normal?
Not we. Me. Liam will be able to do it. Liam’s the King—pun intended—at that kind of shit. Leaving it in the past. I’m not sure I want to leave it in the past, even though I know I’m going to need to.
Shaking my head, my brunette waves bounce against my shoulders and down my back. “Stop thinking about it, Jor. Stay in the moment. In the present.”
It’s what I have to do to keep enjoying this. I’ll worry about leaving it all behind when Sunday comes. What I actually need to focus on is tonight. The here and now.
Knocking Liam’s socks so far off he’s going to have a hell of a time keeping his paws to himself all night. But he’ll have to. He’ll need to be on his best behavior. It’s something I’m counting on. If he has to stay on his best behavior then I’m hoping he’ll be on his worst behavior later when it’s just the two of us. I think it’s a pretty good plan of attack.
It’s why I’m running late. When we got back from our day trip we only had an hour and a bit, and I needed a shower plus fresh hair. I made it in record time and I couldn’t be prouder of myself.
Even if I am late.
