I shook my head. “I thought that in case you were going to make inappropriate demands, I’d let you know, I’m okay with them.”

  He reached for my elbow. “Let’s get dinner and come back here. I have some very inappropriate suggestions.”

  “Celebrate first.”

  “Oh, you’ll be celebrating, I promise.”

  So cocky and confident.

  Damien

  “I’ve never eaten here,” Ella said as we walked up to the 1920’s Mediterranean-style villa in the Meridian-Kessler area of Indianapolis.

  “It’s one of my favorite restaurants.”

  “Mr. Sinclair,” Evelyn, the hostess, greeted as we entered. “When I saw your name on our reservation list, I saved your favorite table for you.”

  “Thank you, Evelyn,” I said with a bow. “This is Ella, my soon-to-be bride.”

  Evelyn extended her hand and Ella shook it. “Welcome, Ms. Ella. You have quite a man.”

  As Ella looked up at me, I was the one to respond. “I have an amazing woman.”

  “Come this way,” Evelyn said.

  “She likes you,” Ella whispered.

  Placing my hand in the small of Ella’s back, I softly laughed. Evelyn was older than my parents. With her rhinestone glasses and fancy dresses, she enjoyed hitting on all the wealthy men dining at Mama Carolla’s.

  And Dani thought men were sexist.

  Evelyn led us through the hallway of what had once been a home and out onto a paved patio. Lights were strung overhead and romantic music filtered through the air. The table Evelyn saved was a table for four nestled between a vine-covered hedge and a large fountain.

  I pulled out the chair near the hedge for Ella and took the one to her side.

  Once Evelyn was gone, I turned and whispered. “I have thought of nothing but your gift since we left home.”

  Ella’s smile grew as she sat taller. “You don’t make me disappear, Damien. You help me shine, and I see that now. You make me see the world differently, and I’m seeing you differently.”

  “Look over there,” I motioned with my chin. The lights in the fountain changed with the music coming through the speakers.

  “It’s beautiful.”

  “This is my favorite table because I can see others, but with the vines and fountain, we’re less visible.” Laying my hand on her knee, I gathered the material of her dress.

  Ella’s eyes opened wide. “What are you doing?”

  “Something inappropriate. Since this is one of my favorite places to eat, I want to taste my favorite juice.”

  Pink filled Ella’s cheeks as the waiter arrived.

  After ordering our wine and appetizers, I handed Ella a napkin.

  “What is that for?”

  “Stifle your scream. We don’t want to draw attention.”

  “Damien, you are not going to finger me in a restaurant.”

  “I am.”

  As she turned one way and the next, I knew she was contemplating what I’d said. She was deciding if we could do it—if it could be our secret. The way her breathing deepened and the hue of her décolletage grew a brighter pink, I had my answer.

  “Admit it. You want to come, right here.”

  “Damien, what if people know?”

  “No one will know. Our inappropriate secret.” I leaned closer and whispered. “You started this with your gift. I know you’re not wearing panties. How did you expect me to go all evening without touching you?”

  “Anticipation,” she said.

  I slid my hand beneath the hem of her dress.

  Ella’s eyes widened as she took the napkin in hand.

  “Spread those sexy legs.”

  The muscles beneath my touch relaxed as she slowly adjusted. I was almost to my goal when our wine arrived. When my gaze met Ella’s, she had the most stunning smile as a nervous giggle bubbled from her lips.

  “Sir, would you like to taste the cabernet?”

  One of my hands was occupied. “The lady may taste.”

  “Oh,” Ella said flustered. “Okay.” She took a deep breath and laid her hands on the table.

  As the waiter handed Ella a wine goblet, I moved my fingers higher.

  Ella clamped her thighs together as she took the goblet, swirled the wine, and made a show of enjoying the bouquet.

  “I can smell the aroma,” I said. “I’m sure it tastes as good as it smells.”

  Ella’s expression told me that she knew I wasn’t talking about the wine. After a deep breath, she took a sip. “It’s very good.”

  Her legs relaxed and I went higher.

  It was as I brushed over her clit that Ella reached for the napkin.

  “Is everything to your liking?” the waiter asked.

  I turned to Ella. “Is it?”

  She nodded and hummed.

  I spoke to the waiter. “We’re officially engaged. She’s just excited.”

  “Oh,” he said, “it is a celebration. We will bring you a special dessert after dinner.”

  “Thank you.” After he left us, I leaned closer and whispered, “I’m about to have my dessert first.”

  As Ella’s breathing deepened, she sat forward giving me better access.

  One swipe and another.

  Warmth covered my finger. “Inappropriate,” I said.

  Her eyes came to me.

  “Coming on my fingers. You’re soaked.”

  She closed her eyes as I continued the ministrations. It was as I pressed and rolled her clit that Ella brought the napkin to her mouth, not before I saw she was biting her lip. Watching her come was one of my favorite pastimes and watching her try to stifle her responsive and sensual reaction was even better.

  “Oh shit,” she mumbled as her body trembled. She pressed her hand against the table.

  “You are stunning.” I removed my hand and licked my fingers. “Yes, all of my favorites in one place. We can cancel the dessert—I had mine first.”

  “Oh my God,” she whispered. “I can’t believe we just…” She looked in all directions.

  “No one was watching. They should have. You’re better than anything on the menu.”

  Ella shook her head and lifted her glass of wine. “If there’s a wet spot on my dress, you’re giving me your jacket to leave.”

  “Your dress is lined for a reason.”

  She bowed her head as a new level of pink filled her cheeks. “Now I’m going to think of that every time I wear a lined dress.”

  “Good.” I lifted my wine glass. “To many more inappropriate adventures.”

  Ella lifted her glass and we both took a sip.

  “You are a lot to handle, Damien.”

  “And you’re the only one who can do it.”

  Night had fallen by the time we drove home. As we traveled north from stoplight to stoplight, I said, “You are spectacular. When do you want to get married?”

  “There’s something else I want to do now.”

  “You don’t want to marry?”

  “I do,” she said, unbuckling her seat belt.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Payback.”

  Fuck.

  Gabriella

  “Ella,” Damien said, as I unbuckled his belt, “I’m driving.”

  “Mr. Sinclair, I want your cock. Tell me you don’t want to come.”

  He flashed me a devious grin. “Using my own words against me.”

  It was my turn to be in control. “Move your seat back.”

  “Fuck, Ella.”

  Maybe it was the wine or the atmosphere of the restaurant. It was more likely my first public orgasm; whatever the muse, I wanted to give Damien a taste of what I experienced.

  “I’m not turning you down.” He hit a button, moving the driver’s seat back.

  I took one more look out the windshield, seeing the streetlights along Keystone Avenue. It wasn’t as if we were on an interstate. There were businesses and houses all around. Other cars passed, and we had a series of stoplights in our future.

  A smile came to my lips at the growing bulge beneath his pants.

  Yes, Damien sought control, but what was happening to his body was my doing. Getting to my knees on the seat, I quickly unfastened his button and lowered the zipper. Pushing the silky material of his boxer briefs down, I freed his growing cock and lapped the shining tip.

  “Fuck,” he growled, tightening his grip of the steering wheel.

  Despite the cool breeze of the air conditioning, my body warmed as I savored his spicy taste. “Eyes on the road, Mr. Sinclair.”

  I wrapped my lips around him, slowly sliding down his length and not stopping until the head of his penis hit the back of my throat.

  Curses filled the car.

  Up and down, I bobbed my head. Using my tongue, I teased the tip before tightening my lips and sucking. In mere seconds, his penis grew both in length and girth, hard as steel. I continued licking and moving my head.

  Damien’s hand came to the back of my head as his hips began to buck. “Fuck, Ella. Take it. All of it.”

  Faster I sucked and bobbed, the pressure from his hand keeping me focused as my nipples tightened and more moisture dampened my thighs. Damien’s ragged breathing and movements of his hips let me know that he was close. Unbelievably, so was I. This was hotter than I imagined. And I’d been imagining it ever since I came at the restaurant.

  I felt the car swerve before Damien slammed on the brakes.

  “Fucking Christ,” he called out as both hands came to my head, his fingers entangling in my hair.

  I couldn’t stop if I wanted.

  I didn’t want to stop.

  The knowledge that I was making the great Damien Sinclair lose control was like jet fuel coursing through my bloodstream. I was on autopilot as I continued my mission. Reaching for his balls, I twisted and rubbed.

  His hips jumped as he cursed the seat belt.

  A deep, resonating roar echoed throughout the automobile as he came, filling my mouth with his salty seed. Lap after lap, I swallowed as the tenseness in his body released and his praises continued. “Good girl. That was…”

  Lifting my face, I grinned. “Payback.”

  With his hands on both sides of my face, Damien lifted my lips to his. Strong and possessive as always, this kiss said more. It said that I was his and he was mine. It said I wasn’t disappearing but growing.

  When we came up for breath, I sat up and looked around. “Where are we?”

  “I have no fucking idea.”

  We both laughed.

  “I can be inappropriate too,” I said.

  “It’s a deal. We can spend the rest of our lives trying to outdo one another, rekindling our desire.”

  “That sounds like a proposal. Was that a proposal, Mr. Sinclair?”

  “One of many.”

  As I settled into my seat and buckled my seat belt, I had a thought that made me laugh.

  “Private joke?” Damien asked.

  “I was thinking I’m glad this dress is lined.”

  After repositioning himself, Damien leaned back, closing his pants and buckling his belt. “Next time, give me more of a heads-up. That seat belt was the death of me.”

  “Hmm.”

  His deep blue stare came my direction. “What?”

  “Those toys you have,” I said, speaking of the restraints, “now you know how I feel.”

  Damien’s smile grew. “Frustratingly erotic.”

  “That about sums it up.”

  “Navigation,” he said, speaking to the car, “home.”

  “You really don’t know where we are?” I asked as the screen filled with the schematic of a map.

  “I’m pretty sure I blacked out.” He reached for my hand. “You’re fucking amazing.”

  I tipped my head toward the screen. “Get us home and we can continue this celebration.”

  As Damien began to drive, it turned out we weren’t too far off the beaten path. He had taken a few turns onto side streets and gotten us back into a neighborhood with big houses and large yards.

  “Did Julia tell you why Dwain is leaving the coalition?” I asked.

  “Competition policy. I’d expect that’s with Sinclair. I don’t care. I’m just glad he’s out of it. Especially if he was involved in bugging our places. Good riddance.”

  “Do you think your car is bugged?”

  We were now in familiar territory, heading home.

  “If it is, they just got an earful.” Damien looked my direction. “No, it isn’t. After the nanny cams, I had our security company do a full sweep of our houses, cars, and offices.”

  “Dwain isn’t leaving the coalition because of competition with Sinclair,” I confided.

  “Then why?”

  “It has to do with a new venture, an offshoot of Moon Medical. Dwain Welsh is getting into the health-and brain-supplement market.”

  “Like Body Kindness?”

  I nodded. “And he isn’t doing it alone.”

  “Who is Dwain’s new partner?”

  Pressing my lips together, I turned toward the window.

  “Are you clamming up on me now?”

  “No.” I turned and lifted my eyebrows. “I’m bargaining.”

  “You are?”

  “If you can make me have one more orgasm when we get home, I’ll tell you.”

  “Tell me now and I promise two or more.”

  I shook my head. “Confident.”

  “Very.” Damien turned the SUV into our neighborhood. “Tell me.”

  “Darius.”

  His eyes widened. “No shit. Well, good. Hopefully, that will keep him away from Sinclair.”

  “I knew you’d be happy.”

  “I’ll be happier when Duchess is watching us and you’re screaming my name.”

  Damien

  Three months later

  Dani straightened the bow tie of my tuxedo. Her blue gaze met mine. “I’m happy for you, big brother.”

  “We’re going to do it right this time.”

  “Ella is right for you.” Dani shrugged. “I’m not sure how you convinced her to give you another chance, but I’m glad you did.”

  At first, Jackie, Ella’s mom, was unsure about my best man being a woman and Ella’s maid of honor being a man, but somehow it felt right. Dani would stand with me and Niles with Ella. Ella’s niece, Kenzie, was our flower girl.

  With the help of her mother and some input from mine, our wedding was planned. More than planned. The day was here. There were no limits on what I would do for my wife-to-be. The biggest and most extravagant wedding was Ella’s for the asking. Instead, with fewer than one hundred guests, we were to wed outside on a beautiful autumn day, surrounded by the oranges, reds, and yellows of changing leaves. Our reception will be in a beautifully restored barn. It even has a chandelier. According to Ella, similar venues were quite the rage these days.

  “Do you have the wedding band?” I asked Dani.

  “Oh damn.” She turned right and left.

  “One job.”

  Dani laughed, looking elegant in a slender black dress.

  Black and white were our wedding colors. Ella said it was because life wasn’t black and white. It made sense to her, so who was I to argue?

  “I have it.” Dani pulled the small box from her things. “You had plenty of time to get her a new band,” she said, lifting Nana’s ring.

  “She didn’t want a new one.”

  My sister grinned. “I love her.” She playfully hit me. “If you screw this up, we’re keeping her.”

  “Thanks. I don’t plan on screwing it up.”

  There was a knock on our dressing room door. “Ella can’t see you before the ceremony. I’ll answer it,” Dani said. After a peek, she opened the door wide. “Come in.”

  “We needed to see our son before his wedding,” Mom said.

  “Since we missed his first two,” Dad said with a grin. He patted me on the shoulder. “We’re proud of you, son. You’re marrying the right one this time.”

  “I married the right one last time. It just wasn’t legal.”

  Mom reached for my hand and for Dani’s. “We’re proud of both of you, and especially for how close you are.” She inhaled. “I’ve been afraid to ask. Did you invite Darius?”

  That had been an ongoing point of contention. “Ella said we should as a sign of good faith.”

  “You did?” Mom asked.

  “Ella thought we should,” I explained. “I figured since we weren’t invited to his non-legal wedding to Amber, we could lose his invite. The final answer was no.”

  Dad nodded. “I understand. It still makes me sad.”

  “Not on our son’s wedding day,” Mom said, hugging Dad’s arm.

  “Are we going to do this?” Dani asked.

  I looked at my watch. “It’s about time.”

  “Ella is simply stunning,” Mom said. “We stopped by her dressing room first.”

  “I wouldn’t adhere to these stupid traditions if they weren’t important to her.”

  Mom again reached for my hand. “That shows that you love her.”

  “I do. I really do.”

  After our parents left, I turned to Dani. “Thank you.”

  “I’ve got your back.”

  “And I’ve got yours.”

  Gabriella

  “You’re beautiful,” Mom said as she adjusted the veil. “I’m so happy that we’re with you for this special day.”

  “Me too, Mom. Things all worked out.”

  “They did,” she said. “And Derek is looking healthy.”

  “Damien and I wanted you all to be here.”

  “And me,” Kenzie said.

  “You are beautiful, Gabby.” My sister Charlotte was one of the few people who called me by another name. “And Kenzie has been practicing her petal drop.” She turned to her daughter. “Are you ready?”

  Kenzie nodded.

  I reached for her shoulder. “Aunt Ella’s got you.”

  “See, Mom. We’re good.”

  I turned and met Niles’s stare. “You’re unusually quiet.”

  “I was just thinking,” he said with a shimmer in his eyes. “You are visible, Ella. Definitely visible.”

 

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