Assured (Soul Serenade #2) (3 page)

The room erupts in cheers, but by the looks of the happy couple you would never know it. Kacen has Logan pulled close with his forehead resting against hers. They are both wearing blinding smiles.

The crowd starts to dwindle as they head to the reception. The wedding party is still standing at the front of the room with the newlyweds. It’s not at all how we practiced in the wedding rehearsal last night. This is so much better.

The reception is in full swing and, just like I suspected, me being paired with Stacy is in my favor. I need to remember to thank Logan and Kacen. Currently, we are sitting at a long table, the six of us paired off and waiting for Mr. and Mrs. Kacen Warren to make their appearance. If I know my boy, he’s celebrating the fact that Logan is finally his, name changed and all that shit he was spouting off about earlier.

I sit back in my seat and rest my arm on the back of Stacy’s chair. She’s talking to Lauren, who is sitting beside her, and she doesn’t miss a beat in her conversation. Her words don’t falter; she doesn’t move an inch or even turn to look at me. I need to step up my game.

I lean toward her and begin to run my finger over her bare shoulder. Goose bumps break out against her skin.

Jackpot!

I trace her soft skin and sip my beer, acting as though it’s the most normal thing in the world. In my mind it is. Only I imagine tracing said skin with my tongue.

Tristan, who is on the other side of Lauren, asks her a question, which steals her attention from Stacy. Feeling brave, I lean in close and whisper, “Your skin is so soft.”

Again the goose bumps, only this time I can see a slight tremor in her shoulders.

Perfect.

“It’s not going to work, Hampton.” She laughs. It’s not her normal, “I’m cutting up with you, that’s funny” laugh. No, this laugh is . . . nervous. I’m making her nervous. Score, Hampton!

“What’s not going to work?” I feign innocence.

She glances over at me and smiles softly, shaking her head. I’m bringing my A game tonight. I want this girl, have for months. She’s not going to know what hit her.

“Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention.” The wedding planner’s voice rings through the reception hall. “I would like to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Kacen Warren.” The room breaks out in applause. “The bride and groom will take their first dance as man and wife. The wedding party will then join for the second dance,” she announces.

In any other situation, I would be irritated with this shit. But this is for my boy and Logan. Not to mention I get to hold Stacy’s tight little body next to mine, just like I told her I would.

Fucking finally!

Stacy reaches for her wine glass and slowly drains it. Liquid courage, I’m sure. I know my words from earlier are bouncing around in that little head of hers.

Kacen and Logan’s dance is over and guests break out in a chant of “Kiss, kiss, kiss.” Not having to be told, but willing to go with it, Kacen dips Logan over his arm and lays a smoking-hot kiss on her.

The wedding planner motions for us, and I stand and reach for Stacy’s hand. “That’s our cue, sweets.” I watch as she stares longingly at her empty champagne glass before relenting and placing her hand in mine. Gripping it tightly, I place my other hand on the small of her back. I’m taking every excuse I can think of to touch her.

As Steven Tyler’s voice comes through the sound system, I pull Stacy in to my chest and clasp my hands on the small of her back. I feel her try to take a step back, but I just tighten my hold on her.
Not happening, sweetheart.

“Is it as good as you thought it would be?” I ask her.

She raises her head in confusion, those green eyes taking me in. “What?” she asks hesitantly.

Leaning close—one, so I can breathe her in and two, because I know the effect it has on her—I whisper in her ear. “This. Being in my arms.”

A smile lights up her face as she throws her head back in laughter. “You’re too much.”

You have no idea, baby.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

I have to keep reminding myself. Cole is the definition of sexy. He’s tall, lean—and that hair. I hate to admit that I’m envious of his brown locks. My hands are resting on his shoulder, itching to pull that elastic band holding his bun at the top of his head, letting it fall around his shoulders. I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ve spent many nights fantasizing about running my fingers through his hair, holding on tight when he . . . Focus, Stacy.

I laugh nervously at his comment and focus on the other couples around us. Logan and Kacen are blissfully happy, doing their thing, and from the looks of it, Lauren and Tristan are as well. Gavin and Cassidy are in deep conversation. None of them are aware of my inner turmoil.

Soft yet firm lips press against my neck, capturing my attention.

Cole.

Sexy.

Relentless.

Trouble.

“You are so fucking sexy,” he growls. Yes, he growls in my ear, his lips trailing up my neck. He’s pulling out all the stops tonight. This is new for us.

Shit.

I need a drink.

“Cole. . . .”

“Stacy,” his deep voice rumbles in my ear.

“What are you doing?” I ask the question, but my sex-starved brain tilts my head to the side, giving him access. Those lips, though.

“Trying to seduce you.” At least he’s honest. “Is it working?”

Is it? Fuck me, but it could. It would be so easy to fall into a night of passion with him. Let him have his wicked way with me.

Yes, please!

“Cole, you know this can’t happen. We can’t happen,” I say instead.

“Oh, sweetheart, it can,” he replies, nipping at my earlobe.

Holy fucking shit! He’s lethal to my libido. Thankfully, the song changes, allowing me to gather my wits and pull away from him. “Thank you for the dance,” I say, before I turn and hightail it back to the table. I know that I’ll still have to sit next to him, but at least our bodies won’t be pressed together. His lips won’t be against my heated skin.

Distance. That’s what I need.

On my way back to the table, I grab a fresh glass of champagne from a passing waiter. It’s gone by the time I make it to my seat. Luckily, my bestie married a rich-as-hell rock star who hired more servers than needed. As soon as my ass hits the seat, a waitress appears beside me, offering another glass. This time, I take two.

My second glass is gone by the time Cole takes his seat beside me. He throws his arm over the back of my chair and resumes his previous torture of running his finger across my shoulders. I was able to ignore it before our dance, but now? Not only does a chill break out across my skin, but I feel it . . . everywhere. Not willing to look at him, I tip back my third glass of champagne in less than five minutes. I know I need to slow down, but I welcome the calm it brings me.

Cole has me on edge.

Tristan leans over in front of Lauren to ask Cole a question. This has Cole doing the same thing. He leans in to me, his chest against the bare skin of my arm. His arm, which used to be on the back of the chair, now rests on my shoulders, his scent once again surrounding me. Lauren is chatting with the guys, not a care in the world that Tristan is all up in her personal space. Normally, that would be me. That
should
be me, but Cole is . . . intense. He’s not a guy who is used to being told no. So really, I only have myself to blame.

He wants the chase.

Before I downed those three glasses of bubbly, I was sure that I didn’t want to be caught. Now . . . now I want another glass of champagne. Miraculously, the waitress once again appears and I grab two more glasses, making a mental note to tell Kacen he did good with the wait staff.

“Might want to slow down, babe,” Cole says, his hot breath against my cheek.

Nope. Definitely need more. “It’s a celebration,” I defend my sudden need for liquid courage.

I feel his eyes on me as I gulp yet another glass. He doesn’t try to stop me, but he does scoot a little closer.

I can’t help but thinking that I’m fucked. And soon will be literally, as I reach for yet another glass. The three of them continue to chat—about what, I’m not sure; I can’t pay attention with the heat from his body seeping into mine. His hand resting on my bare shoulder.

Movement draws my attention, and I see it’s Lauren and Tristan getting up from the table. I see that Gavin and Cassidy are following them. “Where are they going?” Even I can hear the panic in my voice. It’s not like Cole’s going to throw me on the table and have his wicked way with me right here in the middle of the reception hall or anything.

Great! Now that’s what I’m thinking about.

Cole is still leaning in to me, and he brings his lips close to mine. “Dancing. You want to join them?”

“N-no.”

“It’s a slow one. I could pull you close, align that tight little body with mine.” He kisses the corner of my mouth before he trails his lips across my jaw, working his way to my ear. “This is good too. I can sit here and get you ready for me. Make you want me so bad that you’re the one dragging me away from the eyes of all these people.”

It takes a minute for my brain to catch up to the fact that we are indeed sitting at the front of the room, giving everyone a show. “Fine, let’s dance.” At least on the dance floor, we can blend in with everyone else. Sitting here is too much like we’re together, and we are most definitely not.

Cole grins. “After you, sweets.” He stands, offering me his hand.

Trouble. I’m in big trouble.

As I lead Stacy out on the dance floor for the second time, I have to reach out and steady her. I’m not surprised after the amount of champagne she just consumed in such a short span of time. Hopefully, we can work some of it out of her system on the dance floor.

We reach the crowd of dancers and I pull her to me; this time, she doesn’t resist. She clasps her hands behind my neck and lets me hold her close. I’m hard as steel, and when she whips her head up to look at me, those green eyes wide, I know she can feel me. Hands on her hips, I pull her as close as I can get her. Bending down, I whisper in her ear, “That’s all you, Stacy. I ache to be inside you.”