Page 39 of I Could Be Yours

He’s not wrong, but still. And Essie is right about not being able to play with her if I don’t know where she’s staying.

“Seriously?” Essie narrows her eyes. “How is this even possible? Did you go snooping around when you stopped by the other night?”

“You stopped by Essie’s?” Flip leans forward. “I keep telling you, I could be the one.”

“The one I don’t need,” she quips, batting her long lashes.

This trip is turning into a shitstorm. “Can you two stop talking around me?” The last thing I need is Flip flirting with Essie all weekend. “I had to drop something off because apparently it couldn’t wait twenty-four hours. I wasted a whole night running around,” I grouse.

But mostly I’m frustrated that I can’t get the sound, smell, and feel of Essie coming for me out of my damn head. And I really, really want to do it again. Soon.

“I really appreciated your dedication to seeing it through, though,” Essie says sweetly.

I give her a look.

She winks.

My dick wants to get involved.

This is going to be a long-ass flight.

CHAPTER 13

NATE

The text conversation keeps rolling over in my head. It doesn’t matter how many vodka sodas I consume, they don’t dull my awareness of Essie’s proximity and all the things we could do this weekend when no one is looking. The memory of her hands on me and the taste of her mouth is all I can think about.

How good would it feel to have those pretty, soft lips of hers wrapped around my cock? How much would I love to suck on her clit piercing while I bury my fingers inside her? How much do I want to be the one to make her come?

“Are you a nervous flier?” Flip asks.

“Huh?” I drag my brain out of the gutter and look his way.

He glances at the armrest, which I’m gripping so tightly my knuckles have turned white. “Oh. Yeah. Sort of.”

I stop drinking and try to ignore Essie. I’m zero percent successful.

She spends the entire flight fully focused on making sure everyone is comfortable, being sweet to the flight attendants, and reviewing her unbelievable spreadsheets. The more I see Essie in action, the harder it is to ignore what’s right in front ofme. Yes, she’s otherworldly gorgeous, but she’s also thoughtful, amazingly organized, and intelligent.

I’m relieved when we finally land and are forced to take separate limos to the same hotel. “You and Essie for sure didn’t plan this?” Tristan asks for the tenth time.

“No, man. This is supposed to be your bachelor party, not a couples’ retreat.” I thought I’d have a three-day reprieve from Essie—not because I don’t want to see her, but because I do.

I had this idea of who she was and what mattered to her, and the more I learn, the more I realize I was wrong about all of it. Except for her obsession with love and weddings. But that makes her an outstanding maid of honor and the main reason I put this much effort into Tristan’s boys’ weekend.

“It’s just wild, right? Who would have thought we’d end up on the same flight and at the same hotel?” Dallas can’t stop grinning.

“I’m not complaining.” Kodiak’s phone is in his hand. He’s probably texting his wife. He spent ninety percent of the flight trying to get her to link pinkies with him across the aisle.

“I’m actually glad we’re in the same city—you know, in case Shilpa has any issues,” Ash adds. Of all the guys, I can’t blame him since his wife, who is also the team lawyer, is pretty damn pregnant.

“I’m with you on that,” Roman agrees, although Lexi isn’t as far along.

I want to remind them this is supposed to be about the boys, but seeing as the uncoupled people are outnumbered three to one, and all their partners are here, it’s pretty much a lost cause.

The girls have just finished checking in when we arrive at the hotel. Most of the guys beeline over to them, while Flip follows me to the front desk.

He glances over his shoulder and drops his voice to a whisper, “I hope you don’t mind, but I got myself a separate room—you know, since it’s Vegas and all.”

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