Tangled Beauty (16 page)

Noticing this, h
e let out a strangled groan and pushed them over to the side, exposing my most intimate spot.

“Oh
…” I shuddered, as he cupped my mound and slid one of his fingers inside of me. I closed my eyes and spread my legs wider as his hand began to move, creating a familiar pressure inside of my pelvis that needed to be released.

“Sinclair
,” he whispered into my neck, as he made circular motions with the pad of his thumb on my sweet spot. “I need you…”

I closed my eyes.
“Yes,” I whimpered as his fingers moved faster, making my legs shake.

“Hold on,” he said, removing his hand.
Before I knew what was happening, his jacket was off, he was on his knees, and his tongue was making a hot, wet trail up my inner thigh.

Ohmygod
…

My legs felt like
jelly and my stomach muscles clenched up as his tongue continued its torment, moving closer and closer to its destination.

“
Reed,” I whispered, holding on to the back of the wall as he kissed and flicked his tongue along my inner thigh. I wanted to grab him by the hair and pull him into my heat- he was moving much too slow and I was aching for his tongue. “Please,” I begged again.

O
ur eyes met and he grinned wickedly. He knew
exactly
what he was doing to me.

Reed positioned my legs even farther apart
and then his tongue moved to the edge of my panties, still taunting me. He pulled them over to the side with his finger again and I knew it would only take one or two slow, steady strokes in the center and I’d be pulling his hair and screaming out his name. As I waited for the firm, wet pressure from that glorious tongue of his, the echo of voices drew near, startling us both.

“Shit,” he growled, shooting up.

Trying to compose myself, I released a ragged breath and pulled my dress down.

“Bathroom,” he ordered, pushing me towards it.
“Hurry.”

I
shut the door behind me just as I heard Mimi addressing her oldest son.

Reed

“What are you doing back here?” asked my mother. “We’ve been looking all over for you.”

I cleared my throat.
“What’s going on?” I asked, moving towards her, holding my jacket in front of me.

“
Sela is getting out of control,” she said. “And Pastor Richie is about to start the ceremony. Come on.”

I frowned.
“Sela is out of control?”

She sighed. “Yes. I’m not sure what’s going on with that girl but she’
s acting rather strange.”

I nodded. “Okay,
I’ll be right there.”

“She’s in the great-
room. Please do something about her.” Then she turned and walked back towards the kitchen.

Sinclair pushed the door open
, quietly. “Is everything okay?” she asked.

I smiled. “Oh, just the same old shit,” I said.
“Sela, acting out.”

She
looked away, avoiding my eyes. “We’d better get back.”

I went to
her. “I want you to know something,” I said, raising her chin up to meet my gaze. “I’m not marrying Sela. There’s no way.”

She bit her lower lip. “I’m sorry.”

My eyes widened. “You have nothing to be sorry about. Meeting you has opened my eyes and turned me back in the right direction. Jesus, I’m grateful.”

“But-“

I put a finger to her lips, to quiet her. “I’m not ready for marriage, especially with Sela. To be truthful, I’m not even sure why either of us wanted it to begin with. She’s not in love with me and I’m definitely not in love with her.”

She gave me a s
tunned look. “You don’t love each other?”

I chuckled and pulled her against my chest.
“Not at all. Jesus, I’ve felt more in the last few hours with you then I’ve felt the past few months with Sela.”

She released a long sigh. “So
, it’s not my fault.”

“
Well, it’s your fault I’m harder than a rock, but I won’t hold it against you.”

“I’ll gladly take responsibility for that,” she whispered.

I kissed her lips and sighed. “I’d love to continue this, but if we don’t get back,
Sela AND my mother are going to raise the roof.”

“We should find Jesse, too,” she said.

I smiled. “Of course. We don’t want your boyfriend getting jealous.”

“Come on, you’ve already figured that out.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Figured what out?”

She licked her lips. “That-“

“That he’s been gay his entire life and you two are trying to pull the wool over my parent’s eyes. Why, is the real question?”

“He doesn’t want your parents to know.”

“That’s what I figured. Why in the hell not?”

“He’s afraid they’ll cut out his trust fund money.”

“That won’t happen,” I said. “They have no control over that money. It was left for us by our grandparents.”

“Doesn’t he understand that?” she asked.

“I thought he did. I guess I was wrong.”

“Well, you’d better let him know.”

“No,” I said, smiling. “It’s more entertaining watching you two.”

“That’s cruel.”

“Not giving me another kiss, before we go back, is what’s cruel,” I said, pulling her into my arms.

Fortunately, Sinclair isn’t cruel

Sinclair

Reed and I returned to the party, which had moved outside for Mimi and Jack’s ceremony.

“Where have you been?” asked Jesse, standing next to the sauna, drinking a wine-cooler. He didn’t appear upset in the least that I’d been gone for so long. When I noticed the cute group of young men he was standing with, I understood why.

“
Sorry. Had to use the bathroom,” I said.

“Princess
Puddles, should have known,” he teased. “I drank your wine-cooler by the way. It was getting warm. Sorry, sweetie.”

“No problem,” I answered. I was finished drinking for the rest of the night.

“I suppose I’d better go find Sela,” muttered Reed, his eyes scouring the crowd of people. Most were either standing around the pool or sitting at the tables, drinking and socializing. Others were playing dice or cards.

“Check the house,”
said Jesse, a strange smile on his face. “She was in there with Barry Goldberg, talking about her up and coming ‘acting career’.”

Reed rolled his eyes. “Okay, thanks,”

“See you later,” I said.

He turned to me and
his lips curled into a secretive grin. “I’d like to continue that discussion we had earlier.”

“I’d like that,
too,” I said, my cheeks turning warm.

“Good. I’
m sure we can get a little more in-depth this time.”

I didn’
t trust myself to answer, so I just nodded and then watched as he retreated back to house, already missing him.

“Sin, I have someon
e I’d like you to meet,” said Jesse, turning to a tall, handsome guy who looked familiar. “This is that actor I was telling you about.”

Ah…t
he actor who’d taken his virginity.

“Oh, obviously I recognize you
,” I said, shaking his hand. “I loved your last movie, when you were that double-agent.”

The actor smiled
and his teeth were so white, they glowed. “Thank you. Are you an actress?”

I shook my head. “No.”

“She’s my date,” said Jesse, putting an arm around my waist.

The actor stared at me, appraisingly. “Now that’s interesting. Maybe the both of you would like to join me for a drink on my yacht, later?”

The look in his eyes told me he wanted us to join him for more than just a drink.

“
I don’t think…” I stammered.

“She won’t be able to,” interrupted Jesse. “But I’m game.”

“Excellent,” he said, finishing his drink. “We’ll talk more about it after this so-called wedding.”

After he walked away
, Jesse pulled me in closer, to whisper into my ear. “Did see how hot he looked? Oh my God, I want to jump his freaken’ bones.”

I giggled. “You’ll probably get the chance
, on his
yacht
.”

He sighed.
“Maybe. It kind of made me feel ookie that he wanted both of us, though. Obviously, it was for more than a measly drink.”

“I know what you mean.”

“Oh, fuck-it,” chuckled Jesse. “I’ll do him. I’ve been fantasizing about a reunion with that guy for years.”

I clear
ed my throat. “Speaking of that, Jesse, we really need to talk.” I wanted to tell him about the trust fund, so he could relax about it.

His eyes widened. “Oh, my, my, my, sounds serious, Sin
, but it will have to wait. I see two of mother’s old crony friends coming our way.” He turned towards them as they approached. “Betty and Charlotte! So glad you could make it.”

Jesse stuck with
me and we mingled with some of the other guests. As the crowd became more boisterous and rowdy, I started wondering what was taking so long for the ceremony. It was getting late and I hadn’t seen Mimi or Jack around, lately.

“I thought your parents were getting re-married soon,” I said to Jesse.

He looked at his watch and frowned. “Hmm…it’s getting late. Let’s go find out what’s happening with the two little lovebirds.”

I followed him through the yard and back into the house.

“George, have you seen my parents?” asked Jesse, as the butler walked out of the kitchen.

He wiped his forehead with a handkerchief. “
No, sorry, sir, I’ve been in the kitchen trying to figure out what’s wrong with the water pipes, some of them are leaking.”

“Oh. Well, I’ll let mother know if we find her. Have you called a professional?” asked Jesse.

George sighed. “It’s late. We’re just going to have to live with it until the morning.”

“Oh, that sucks. Maybe you should have a drink or something George,” said Jesse. “Relax for a few minutes.”

“If only it were only that easy,” said George, with a pained expression as he walked away.

“Should we check to see if Mimi is getting ready?” I said. I knew if it was m
e, I’d be probably be primping before the event.

“Good idea
,” he said.

We walked up the stairs to his parent’s
bedroom and knocked on the door, but it was quiet and nobody responded. Jesse pushed the door open and glanced inside. “Hello! Anyone alive in here?” When Mimi didn’t answer, he turned to me. “They could be in Jack’s office. It’s also through here.”

I followed him inside and stared in appreciation at Jack and Mimi’s
spacious bedroom. It appeared larger than my apartment, with its built-in fireplace, large walk-in closet, and reading nook overlooking the ocean. When we reached a doorway on the other side of the bedroom, he stopped, abruptly. “Do you hear that?” he whispered.

From the grunts and moans on the other side of the door, it sounded like someone was having sex.

“Let’s get out of here,” he whispered, pulling my arm.

“Wow, I thought the honeymoon happene
d after the wedding,” laughed Jesse.

“I guess not on
the second time around,” I said, surprised that his parents were even having sex.

“Dammit
,” he said, looking down at his shirt. “I must have spilled some wine on it, earlier. Why didn’t you tell me?” he pouted.

I stared at the small light-red speckles. “
Sorry, I didn’t even notice it myself.”

“I’m going
to my room and change, quickly. Why don’t you wait for me downstairs?”

I nodded.

“Better yet,” he said. “The library. Wait for me in there and we’ll mix ourselves a couple of cocktails. My dad keeps his expensive stash in there.”

“Sure
,” I said.

He grinned.
“Just stay away from the north side of the library. He keeps his smut on that side.”

I shuddered.
“Good to know.”

“
Seriously, he gets into some really raunchy stuff,” he said, walking back upstairs
.

That doesn’t surprise me
, I thought, as I walked downstairs to the library. I opened the door and stepped inside.