Page 159 of Sour Notes

Two courses later, with our dinner plates cleared away, Swayze pulls me onto his lap, taking full advantage of our different dessert selections. I’d opted for rose ice cream, but let’s just say I regretted my life’s choices the second I spotted his chocolate lava cake. I actually gasped the second the waiter set it down, much to Swayze’s amusement.

With a chuckle he spoons some into my mouth and I’m not ashamed to say, I moan.

“Careful Angel, you keep making those sounds and we’ll be having a beach dare do over, right here,” he murmurs, his warm breath tickling my ear.

I gasp when he flexes his hips and I detect the hot, hard truth in his pants.

Would anyone notice if we snuck away after dinner for a little joy ride?

Swayze’s nostrils flare and he presses his hard cock up against me again, obviously reading my mind loud and clear.

Once the dinner service is finished, the staff move the tables away, leaving the wide expanse of the deck clear for dancing. Before we manage to sneak away, my cousin comes up to us.

“Mimi. You are a vision.” Mario wraps me in a one-armed hug, shaking Swayze’s hand with the other.

When they start talking about Sweet Haven PD paperwork my eyes glaze over. I love my cousin, but when he gets talking, he can talk forever.

I don’t really want to talk about home because all it’s doing is drawing attention to the ticking clock in the back of my mind.

To the fact that this wedding marks the beginning of the end of all this.

I shuffle uncomfortably, the balls of my feet throbbing in the Jimmy Choo wedges I’ve been wearing for too long. They’re so pretty, but they’re definitely made to be worn horizontally.

Scanning the space, I spot the DJ setting up in the corner. There’s no way in hell I’ll be able to dance in these shoes without breaking an ankle. Any chance of getting lucky is a bust, but I could quickly head back to the room to change out of my wedges. Unicorn slippers are probably out but I could wear my flip flops. It’s better to drag my dress along the floor than risk making a total idiot of myself and breaking an ankle.

Shrugging Mario’s arm off my shoulder, I lay a hand on Swayze’s chest to get his attention. “Just gonna run to our room to change my shoes Wolfie.” Pressing a kiss to his cheek, I turn to walk away.

He grabs my hand, tugging me back. “Wait, I’ll come with you.”

“No, you stay and talk to Mario. I’ll be back in a couple of minutes, don't worry.”

We won’t have time for any extracurricular activities now, but he’s reluctant to let me go, I can see it all over his face. I’m not sure I want to let his hand go either, but I’m being ridiculous. I can’t drag him everywhere with me. What am I gonna do when we’re back home if I can’t even walk to our hotel room alone for god's sake.

I brush my lips against his and walk away just as Mario’s pretty friend joins them.

Ughhh, now I wish I’d let him come with me.

Don’t be stupid Mia. You can’t keep him away from every woman you see. That shit’s not rational.

Ignoring the sound of her giggling with my cousin and boyfriend, I stride towards our room—the balls of my feet screaming in protest—determined to change and get back to him as fast as I can.

Just as I walk up to our bedroom door, a pair of arms wrap around my waist and for a split second my heart skips a beat thinking Swayze followed me here after all.

But no. The hold is all wrong.

Swayze holds me securely, reassuringly. His touch somehow makes me feel both owned and safe simultaneously—this hold is tight. Hostile even. Fingertips dig into my stomach, slowly drawing up the fabric of my dress.

I freeze, my heart thundering in my ears as sirens blare in my head.

Fighting every urge in me to panic, I close my eyes tight and grab the hands halting their progress, my floor length dress fluttering just below my knees now.

Stabbing my nails into the back of his hands, I yank them off and whip around to find Pete there.

He takes a step closer, crowding me against the bedroom door.

My vision gets spotty and my breaths quicken while I struggle to suck in any air at all.

No.