I pull her panties to the side and I admire her perfection in the dim lighting before parting her with my tongue. As soon as my tongue touches her hot flesh, she inhales sharply, her hips flexing into my mouth and forcing my tongue harder against her clit. I swirl my tongue, slowly at first, and her back begins to arch as her breathing becomes heavy enough for me to hear. The sound spurs me on and I lick faster and harder, until she’s moaning and gripping the sheets. Heat, white-hot heat tears through my veins and I want to fuck her sweet pussy—but I can’t. This is about making it up to her and I’ll gladly give myself a severe case of blue balls if it means making her happy.

I stop swirling my tongue against her delicious bundle of nerves and trace my tongue down her center and across her hole. Olivia shivers as my tongue sends feelings through her sleeping body. I hear the sheet strain under the pull of her hands as she tugs at it and I switch back to massaging her clit. An unintentional groan releases itself from my throat as I rub the back of my hand along her inner thigh before slipping the tip of my finger inside her. Olivia releases the sheets and I look up to see her lift her shirt and expose her breasts as she gropes herself, pinching and rolling her nipples between her fingers.

Fucking.

Hell.

I move my finger in and out, slowly at first, until her hands fall from her tits and rake through my hair, urging my lips harder against her body as her legs hook over my shoulders. I glance up at her and see her still in a dreaming state. I drop my attention back to what I’m doing, focusing on getting her exactly where I want her to be.

“Mmmm…”

My eyes flick back to Olivia’s face and lock onto her wide green eyes. Even in the dim lighting, I can see her cheeks flushed with her arousal. Her body shakes under the thrust of my finger and the quick, rough lashing of my tongue. I know she loves my fingers, so I add another and the effect of it has her rocking her hips into me.

“Yes,” she pants, closing her eyes. “Oh, fuck yes.”

I feel her walls begin to tighten as she nears orgasm. The feel of it has me finger fucking her harder and faster. If she gets any tighter, I won’t be able to move my fingers at all. I curl my fingers up and Olivia’s legs draw nearer, threatening to crush my head between her thighs. I almost smile at the thought of making her come and catch her clit between my teeth, biting down on it ever so softly.

“Seth!” she groans, her chest rising and falling quickly. “Don’t stop—”

I’m not going to. As I slip in a third finger, Olivia’s hips jerk upwards as loud moans tear from her lips. “Oh! Oh, God, fuck!”

Her thighs crush my head, but it’s not enough to keep me from pounding her with my fingers.

“Yes! Ohhh! Seth!” Her walls spasm around my fingers and her pussy makes a slushing sound as they slide in and out. Sweet juices trickle from her, coating my finger and my tongue. Her body twitches as the effects of her orgasm wear off, leaving everything in a hypersensitive daze. I remove my fingers and run my tongue over her sweet spot one last time, making her body quiver and her chest heave with a satisfied giggle.

I slide my body up hers, pressing my hardness into her soft core and she squeezes my hips between her thighs. Excitement flares in the depths of her eyes as I kiss the very tip of her nose and roll off her. I close my eyes briefly, hoping the pulsating tightness in my pants wears off. Olivia sighs, slowly rolling her body my way and tucking herself into my side. Her fingers trail down my chest along my stomach before dancing along the hemline. I’m still hard, still wanting to bury myself inside her, but I won’t. Not tonight.

I want to be inside her, but I think being selfless and giving her something without receiving anything in return is the best move I can make tonight, in terms of our relationship. She needs to know it’s not all about sex with me. I love her more than sex, and not having sex with her tonight will (hopefully) show her that I’m capable of giving without taking back. I pull her right into me, nestling my chin on top of her damp, strawberry scented hair.

As her hand curls underneath the band of my pants and swipes the tip of my cock, I snatch her wrist and pull it back. I feel her smile against my skin and I picture her perfect lips curl vividly in my head. So beautiful.

“You don’t want to?”

“Oh, I want to.” I press the palm of her hand against the hard bulge in my pants and grit my teeth against the urge to make her stroke it. “But I’m not going to. Not tonight.”

Her fingers twitch against me and I close my eyes, swallowing the mass of saliva that floods my mouth as the taste of Olivia lingers.

“Not tonight,” I say again, more as a reminder to myself than Olivia.

She yawns, pulling her hand back and slinging it around my waist. “Who knows, maybe I’ll wake you up with a nice surprise.”

I laugh once. “Don’t. When you do it, I want to be wide awake from start to finish with the lights as bright as they can be. I don’t want to miss a second of it.”

She chuckles sleepily, snuggling closer. “Do you want to film it, too?”

“Can I?” I ask, a little too excited than I should have been.

Olivia swats my chest. “I was being sarcastic. No, you can’t film it.”

“We’ll see.”

I can picture her rolling her eyes and I squeeze her a little tighter. “Goodnight.”

“It is now.”

I fall asleep soon after with the love of my life in my arms and the sweetest taste in the world on my tongue.

Chapter Fourteen

Olivia

(T-minus one day until Las Vegas)

I was alone on the way back to Portland—or at least I might have well as been. Seth slept the whole way after taking a sleeping pill or two because he was feeling particularly anxious about the plane ride with all of the dark clouds hanging around.

I had to drive us to the airport and try and keep him awake until we got on the plane. It’s not easy bearing the weight of his large frame, I’ll tell you that. In the end, I had him leaning against a pole as I read stupid, unfunny jokes and articles from a Male’s Humor magazine I found on a table nearby. The amount of strange glances we received was ridiculous and Seth—I laugh once under my breath as Seth’s sleepy smile fills my mind—he’s such a goofball sometimes. It was funny trying to watch him string together complete sentences. He zoned out that many times and ignored that many people I was worried they weren’t going to let us on the plane. Eventually, they did and Seth was down for the count before the pilot had addressed the passengers. I had to clip his seatbelt on and make up a story about him being unwell to the concerned stewardess, who I think wanted Seth to wake up just so she could talk to him. It was all…amusing, to say the least. On the plus side, a sleeping Seth meant I could have my blind up and watch as we soared through the clouds.

Thankfully, Seth’s car was still there when we got back into Portland, and I was the lucky designated driver again.

“What’s the plan for the rest of the day?” Seth yawns, still tired.

I glance sideways at him as he tugs his black hoodie up over his head and rests against the window. I don’t know why he’s wearing a hoodie. The weather in Portland is warm and sticky—it’s anti-hoodie weather, really.

“We don’t have any plans.”

“Good. I think I might sleep this off.”

I glance at him again. “It’s only nine a.m. and you want to spend the whole day in bed? I’m assuming it’s not the fun kind of ‘all day in bed,’ either?”

“I can make it fun.” I swear I hear him smile. “After a few hours’ rest.”

I pout. Maybe I can read while Seth sleeps, that might be fun. I haven’t read in a while and I’ve been dying to finish my latest historical romance novel, Love’s Curse.

I pull into Seth’s driveway and slip from the driver’s seat. I love driving Seth’s car—on the rare occasion that I’m allowed to drive it, that is. It’s big compared to my blue Mazda 6 sitting outside Seth’s house, but I love it so much more.

I lock the car and hand him his keys when he steps around to meet me on the other side. I glance down the quiet street, thankfully, Jackson isn’t here and Seth and I might just have some absolute peace and quiet to wind down after our trip. Before we walk towards his house, Seth checks his mailbox and pulls out two white letters. One, he stuffs back in, but the other, he opens.

“Apparently, we have a dinner to go to in Vegas. Formal dress.” He looks up at me, pulling the hood off his head and exposing his messy dark hair. “I hate formal wear.”

“Formal dress?” I ask, ignoring his complaint. I wrack my brain, desperately trying to remember if I have a dress remotely nice enough for an event like that. Crap.

“We’re leaving for Vegas tomorrow,” I tell him. “I’m have to go dress shopping today.”

“Today? You can’t go tomorrow?”

I shake my head. “I need as much time as I can get. It has to be perfect.”

I’m already backing away from Seth towards to my car and dialing Selena’s number in my head.

“Wait, at least take my card.” He reaches for his back pocket and I feel my eyes go wide.

I’m appalled that he’d reach into his wallet for me. He’s spent enough money this weekend—plane rides, hotels, meals, cars—I can’t fathom him spending another cent on me. I stuff my hands into the pocket of my jeans as he pulls the black and gold card from his wallet, extending it to me.

“I’m not taking that.”

He shakes his head, like I’m being stupid. “Why? I don’t want you spending your money on a dress you’re only going to wear once.”

“I’m not taking your card. I’m a big girl, I can take care of myself.”

He steps forward. I step back and he exhales. “Not this again, Olivia. Take the card.”

I whirl around on my heel and unlock my car with my spare key. Thank God I put it in my back pocket before we left California. “I’ll see you later.”

I duck down as I open the door. As quickly as I ducked, I pop back up, meeting Seth’s disapproval head on. “Thanks for California. Love you.”

I dive into my car, start it up for the first time in a few days, and drive towards Annie’s Formal Wear. It’s the only dress shop I know that will definitely have something breathtaking for me. I see the gowns in the window every time I drive past on my way to work in the morning. I dial Selena’s number and bring the phone to my ear.

“Hey you! Are you back?” she answers.

“Yep, meet me at Annie’s Formal Wear in fifteen. We need dresses for a formal dinner in Vegas.”

“Jackson and I are already sorted for that, but I’ll meet you there, anyway. I don’t want you picking a dress I’d approve of in the nineties.”

I roll my eyes. “Fifteen minutes or I’m shopping without you.”

I drop my phone into a cup holder and speed towards the dress shop. I can’t contain my excitement. It bubbles in my chest and I clench my hands tighter around the steering wheel. Forget clubs and tight small dresses. Elegant gowns and formal dinners are what I’m all about. Those are worth wasting a night for and I need to find the perfect dress—the kind of dress that will knock Seth’s socks off and have everyone at the dinner eating out of the palm of his hand.

***

I meet Selena in the convenience store across the road from the dress shop. I take one look at her tight black dress and tall, gold heels and glance down at my jeans and tee. At least I don’t look like a hooker.

“How much?” I ask, approaching her with a wide smile.

She smiles back and her bright green eyes flare at me. “Free for you, baby.”

I wrap my arms around her slim frame, pulling her tightly against me. It’s been so long since I’ve hung out with her, just the two of us. “It doesn’t mean anything when you’re giving it out to everyone for free, anyway.”

She squeezes me and the sweet smell of her candy perfume engulfs me. “Hey, I’m just trying to make you feel better about yourself.”

I swat her away and she giggles, exposing her perfect teeth. “Before we go across, I want to get some snacks.”

“Snacks? We’re going dress shopping, not seeing a movie.”

“Hey, if I’m going to be sitting around for a while watching you try on dresses I probably won’t approve of, I’m going to need all of the sustenance I can get.”

With a heavy exhale, I follow her into the convenience store. We walk around the shop and every now and then, I catch Selena glancing at me like she really wants to tell me something.

“Do I have something on my face?” I ask her, rubbing my cheeks.

“No.,”

“Then why are you staring at me? It’s awkward.”

She stops walking while I look at little packets of Tylenol. There’s a small throb at the back of my skull and I know it’s going to expand into a full blown headache within the next hour or two.

“I can’t tell you.” She complains, frustrated with herself.

I drag my eyes from the box of Tylenol to her face. “Why can’t you—”

“Okay, fine!” She sighs. “I let Jackson do something to me.”

I tuck the Tylenol under my arm as I choke on a laugh. “Geez, I didn’t even finish my question and you’re ready to spill everything. Remind me not to tell you anymore of my secrets. You suck at this interrogation thing.”

She slaps my arm and folds her arms over her chest. “I’d never repeat your secrets.”