Page 47 of Always a Bridesmaid

Sarah threw herself into Elle’s arms and squeezed her hard. “Thank you, thank you, thank you. You really are the best bridesmaid a girl could hope for.”

13

Time couldn’t fly by fast enough. Henry’s mental countdown clock activated the second Elle agreed to meet him in one hour at the freight elevator in the hotel’s garage.

He knew she still had a few minutes before it was time—she had a morning breakfast with the girls—so to ensure he got the entire afternoon with her, he’d offered up his credit card to his mum to take Sarah shopping for any last-minute things she might need for her honeymoon. They’d snapped up the offer.

Chuffed about the day, he’d arrived about ten minutes early because he wanted to see her. He wanted to kiss her too—and do a lot more, but today was about proving to her that he was in this for more than the sex … as fuck-tacular as it was.

While they’d seen each other twice since their agreement, it had been in public and at wedding events, so they’d had to pretend to be indifferent toward each other. Well, she’d been indifferent toward him; he’d used every opportunity to send her secret looks and touches. Today, he needed a moment alone with Elle to check in with her.

So, after his workout, he’d called her room and asked her to meet him. She immediately replied with a yes, then hung up on him as if someone were listening on the line. Which made him smile.

Finding himself uncharacteristically nervous, he cupped the bill of his ball cap, then asked himself what the hell he was doing. Henry didn’t do nervous—ever. Around his opponents, the press, and especially not around women.

Giving himself a mental check, he started to pace when the elevator door opened.

Elle.

She was in a pair of hip-hugging jeans, a fitted green top, and her hair was pulled up in a ponytail. She looked beautiful.

“Come here,” he said. She slid her small hand into his and he tugged her around the corner and into the stairwell. Pushing her up against the wall, he stepped into her, loving the way her breath caught.

Before he could make his move, she fisted her hands into his shirt and dragged him against her. And then?—

Then . . .

Holy Christ, then.

The spiciest woman he’d ever met was kissing him in a way that had his blood catching fire. Her hands slid up his chest as her tongue boldly explored his mouth. It took him a moment to catch up, but when he did, she made this mewling sound in the back of her throat that was pure sex.

He ran his hands down her spine and into her back pockets, cupping her bum and bending her backward. He plundered her mouth. Her hands, which were tangled in his hair, tightened to the point of pain and he loved it.

And just about when his dick was ready to burst through his zipper, he pulled back. Her mouth chased his as if eating theair between them before they finally broke apart, both breathing heavy.

“What was that?” he asked.

“Payback for all the brushes of the ass you delivered last night at dinner.”

“If that’s your payback, I can’t wait to see what happens when I smack it.”

She grinned as if that were something she’d be open to. “So what do you want to do?”

“Take you up to my room and fuck you until you can’t walk straight.”

“Then why did you have me meet you in the garage where anyone can happen upon us?” She swatted him away like a pesky gnat.

“Because I want to do this right. So today we’re going on a date.”

Her face went completely white as if he’d said they were going on a murder spree. “A date? Like in public? We’d be as discreet as your cherry-red car.”

“Which is why we’re taking my Range Rover with tinted windows. And we’re going to a place that will be completely abandoned. No one but you and me.”

Her panic faded into a bright smile that made his chest tighten.

“What are we going to do?”

“It’s a surprise.”

---