Page 4 of Coast

The feel of her smooth skin under my hands had me biting back a groan. I wanted to place her off balance, and the shiver that ran through her body and the change in the tone of her voice, let me know I succeeded.

“Emery,” Mac said breathlessly as I paused at her knee and caressed the tender skin behind before I moved the garter over the small cap of her knee.

“You only have to tell me to stop,cariño, sweetheart.” I lowered my voice and looked up at Mac when no reply came. “But I really hope you don’t.”

Once my hands reached the middle of her thigh, I stopped and released the garter. I felt the heat radiating from her core, and, with my large hand on her inner thigh, my fingertips touched the material of her panties. I wanted nothing more than to push the material aside and slide my fingers through her warmth and let the heat of her engulf them. Instead, I pulled my hands away, sat her foot on the ground, and straightened her dress where my actions had pushed the hem up. Then I stood.

“Dance with me,cariño?” I asked and held my hand out.

Mac paused a moment. “What’s all this about, Emery?” she asked as she placed her hand in mine.

“Do you know the belief behind the garter being placed on the woman who catches the bouquet?”

“Seriously, you’re interested in wedding traditions?” The way Mac’s brows furrowed and the intense way she stared me in the eyes, I wouldn’t have been surprised if I actually saw gears moving. She was trying to figure me out, and it wasn’t working well for her.

“So, do you know or not?” I pressed.

“Ugh, are you telling me you honestly believe the woman who catches the bouquet becomes the next to marry? Then yes, who hasn’t heard that tale.”

“It isn’t only about the woman who catches the bouquet. The man who catches the garter will be the one she marries.” I kept my face blank as I looked down at her.

“How much have you had to drink? You’re acting strange even for you.”

I hadn’t been able to keep my lips from twitching. The woman had no clue. The more she pushed me, the more I’d push back.

“Considering you run in the other direction when you see me. How would you know how I act? Have you been watching me, Mac, when I’m not looking?”

She tried to pull her hand from mine, but I tightened my grip and wouldn’t allow it.

“One experience with your arrogance was enough. Why would I want to come back for more?"

“Just once if you would’ve given me a chance before you took off in the opposite direction, you might’ve been shocked and received an apology. I’ll admit my reaction to your offer to pay for lunch in the diner that day was a bit—”

“Over the top. Dickish. Assholish. Being a big jer—"

“I wouldn’t go that far, Doc.”

“Oh, now I’m doc and not sweetheart, love, honey, or baby. But I guess it beats bitch.”

I was unable to keep the grin off my face. “Understand Spanish, do you? And for the record, I’ve never called you a bitch. What I said to you that day was to stop bitching, or I was going to turn you over my knee and spank your ass. Which I might still do if you don’t stop glaring at me as if you’re trying to make me burst into flames.”

“Entender y hablar un poco de español, idiota! Understand and speak some Spanish, idiot. And you wouldn’t dare spank me,” Mac said defiantly.

“Oh, but I would,cariño. Then, I’d kiss those cheeks before fucking you until we both passed out.”

“Oh my God, you’re too much. I apologize for calling you an idiot. But damn it, you piss me. One minute you’re pulling a garter up my thigh, talking some nonsense about marriage traditions, calling me sweetheart in Spanish, then you’re talking about what you’re going to do to me,” Mac said and looked around, I assumed to see if anyone had overheard as we stopped at the edge of the makeshift dance floor. “What do you want from me, Emery?”

“That’s a loaded question. Come on, Mac, let’s start with a dance.” The current song was ending, and I moved us into the group still dancing before she had time to react.

WhenSlow Handsby Niall Horan started, Mac reached up and placed her hands around my neck, and I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her close into my body for the slow song. With my height and bulk compared to her small stature, we shouldn’t work, but we did. She felt right in my arms.

“No one can predict the future,” I said offhandedly as I breathed her in.

“Huh?”

No way was I going to try to explain to her that my thoughts were stuck on if there was any truth in the old wise tale of the bouquet and garter toss recipients marrying. Instead, I answered, “Nothing. Listen. Feel.”

As we rocked and swayed, I leaned my head down until my face rested in the crook of Mac’s neck. Her hair was pulled up into some kind of twist that left her neck exposed, and I planned to take full advantage. With the lightest of touches, I ran my lips up her soft skin until I reached her ear. When my lips closed over the lobe of her ear, I bit gently and sucked. Mac moaned softly, and her body melted more into mine.

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