"I was really hoping we'd go to a strip club or fly to Vegas or do something crazy and fun. When you said bachelor party, I never thought in a million years it would happen in Nashville." I sighed because it was a real bummer. "I should've known better, man. You're a stupid fool when you're in love, a sucker for all things romantic. Remind me to buy you a pair of brand-new shiny steel balls as a wedding present. You might need those sooner than you think."
Nick rolled his eyes, handing me a beer.
"Tuck, you're just jealous. Always have been. If I remember correctly, you're the one who stated, and I quote: 'Settling down isn't for me. I love diversity. And to be able to sample everything on the buffet.' I can still hear and see you when you announced it."
With a frown, I threw my beer cap at him.
"Yeah. When you say it like that, I sound like a fucking ass."
"Man, it sounded the same when you said the words as a teen. Lucky for you, Nashville is full of hot women. One rule, though." My best friend, and the future groom, lifted a finger. "Stay away from Dahlia's best friend, Addi. She's been through a rough break-up, and she doesn't need you to complicate things more. Okay? She's family, and her heart is hurting. Women get attached to you easily. Even if you're not interested in a relationship. No games this time. She's out of reach."
"Is this a warning?"
He breathed out. "It should be."
Nick waited for me to say something, his bottle hovering in mid-air in front of his lips.
"Is she hot?"
Something bitter twisted in my stomach, but I spoke the words he expected. The ones everyone thought I had the insensitivity to say.
"Tuck. Come on. You think all women are hot. You never look at their faces, only their tits and asses. Stay. Away. I'm not kidding this time. We're getting married in six weeks. Don't do anything to make things awkward. Don't get on Dahlia's bad side before the wedding."
I threw up my hands in the air between us. "Impossible. Your future wife is a fan of mine."
"Yeah, she is. But don't give her a reason to change her mind.”
"Fine. The maid of honor is out of reach. What about the bridesmaids? Are they also forbidden?"
Nick shook his head with a crooked smile. "Did you even hear a word I said when we spoke about the wedding before? It will be small. No bridesmaids. Just us four at the altar. Means you better behave."
I jumped up to stand and adjusted the cufflinks of my crisp white shirt, a contrast to my dark skin, and continued, "Change of plans then. I need a date for tonight. Where can I find some pretty creature in a short amount of time?"
Nick rose to his feet and clapped my shoulder. "No date needed. It's only dinner with friends and family. You, me, Dahlia, Addison, and Carter. A few other people. And Dahlia's parents. Fuck, you really registered nothing."
"I did. Me, groomsman. You, groom. Women in dresses. Booze. Music. Everything that's important. Anyway—wait. Your sister isn't coming?”
"No, Jessica is attending some surfing competition in Hawaii. It's fine. Good news. Your bestie Jack will make an appearance, but he'll be with a babysitter so we can enjoy some grown-up time. He's spending a few days with Dahlia's parents afterward."
"Pause for a sec." My brain had just processed what Nick said a minute ago. "Carter Hills will be there?"
"He's Dahlia's best friend. What did you expect?"
"How's your relationship with him? Still strained?"
Nick huffed. "Better. I guess. We're not quite friends, but I still have high hopes one day we will be.”
"All good for me then. Do you think he'll sign something for me?" I teased with the biggest smile spread over my face. "Autograph my pec or my shirt? Do you think he keeps posters in his trunk?"
"Okay, you gotta see a doctor, man." He shook his head, reeling in his smirk. "Since when did you become a groupie? Last fall, you faked having too much work to avoid coming to his show with me. Tickets you bought, remember? And now you want him to sign your man boobs?" He sent me a knowing gaze, with barely contained amusement and despair at my idiocy. Yeah, Nick Peterson could call my bullshit from miles away. My lips parted, but he kept talking. "Never mind. You do you."
I shrugged, baring an all-teeth smile.
"Do you think black ink would look good on my skin tone? Or should I get one of those golden markers?"
"If I were you, I'd opt to transform the autograph into a permanent thing. I know a guy who can ink you for cheap.”
I tapped my chin with a finger, pondering it over for his sake. "Would you add a guitar or a heart next to it? Or maybe a music note?"
"Tuck, you're incorrigible. Geez, it's been too long since we hung out."
"Hey, I said nothing."
"No need." He shook his head. "Just in case a part of you is serious in some ways, we must set some ground rules until the wedding. Tell me. Why didn't I pick Jace as my best man?"
My smirk widened, and I winked. "Because he's married to your ex-fuck girl, who owns his balls and who happens to think you're a pathetic loser because you refused to date her when she decided your little arrangement didn't suit her anymore. And let's be honest. I'm the best choice." I scanned the suite. "Why isn't he here this weekend, though? I thought he said he was flying in this afternoon.”
Hurt flashed in Nick's eyes.
Jace was our other best friend. We all grew up together.
If I had known Jace would be a no-show this weekend, I would've carried him here myself. No matter what his evil wife used as an argument.
She had a record of perfectly timed excuses to keep our friend away from us.
The devil, or Pamela White according to her driving license, had organized a fishing expedition, something she knew Jace would never miss, somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean the same weekend Nick was getting married. Such a low blow.
The guy chose to marry a mean control-freak. Nobody forced him.
But he had said he wouldn't miss this weekend. He swore he'd be here.
Nick was like a brother to me, always there, and Jace, the pesky cousin who was flitting around. The three of us had been inseparable growing up, and we got into trouble more than once. Jace distanced himself after he eloped with the devil.
"What's the reason this time?" I asked. "Let's not kid ourselves. We both know Pam is behind Jace's whereabouts."
"Her birthday. Her sister is in town one week beforehand to celebrate with her. He said he felt bad about leaving her in Chicago since she refused to tag along," Nick said as he took a sip and shrugged. "It sucks. We've been friends forever, the three of us. I still don't get why she hates me so much. I don't think I ever will. She's the one who slept with one of my two best friends—”
His stare moved to a spot on the carpet as he peeled the label from the bottle, lost in his thoughts.
Feeling a bit like a jerk for bringing that bitch up, I asked, "What are the rules? You're never not organized, so you already must have a list ready for me. Just in case I was planning on going rogue."
"Tuck, don't be a jerk."
"It's me, man. You can trust me. I promise to follow them the best I can. But only for the weekend."
"Six weeks, Tuck. Not just this weekend." He exhaled, and flecks of annoyance tinted his words.
In our relationship, I was the unpredictable one, the wild friend always in pursuit of good times and short-term fun. Nick was more thoughtful, aiming for long-term commitments and a conservative way of living.
"But—"
"No buts," my friend cut in. "You sure you wanna do this?"
"Yep. Give it to me."
"Okay. First. No getting too close to Addison. Second. No fangirling over Carter. For whatever reason, if that's really the angle you wanna play. The guy is now able to tolerate me for more than a couple of hours. Don't give him a new excuse to hate me.”
I chugged the rest of my beer. "Man, the guy can't hate you. You're the kindest and the most harmless person I know. You're almost boring with your lovey-dovey ways. Don't forget you were nicknamed Chicago Lamb."
"No. I wasn't."
I shook my head. "You should have been," I muttered. "No kidding. You're too soft. Give Carter Hills a run for his money. I can help you. I don't care if he's mega-rich or the president of Nunavut."
"Focus, Tuck. For once. It's important to me. And to my future wife." Nick pinched the bridge of his nose. "And by the way, Nunavut isn't a country. No president there."
I smirked. The guy was so predictable. At least, he was to me. Most of the time. And bantering with him prevented me from thinking about all that was bothering me these days.
"Smart ass, I know where Nunavut is. I was just testing your geography skills." And doing my best to make you forget the fact that Jace isn't here. "About Carter Hills hating you, I'm sorry. But you can't blame him. You're the guy in the middle. And that woman of yours is quite a catch. I'd be possessive too if I were him. Just sayin'."
Nick exhaled a noisy breath. "Let's just say he's overprotective of Dahlia and Jack and sees me as a threat. Or he used to. Now we're surfing a calm wave. We're getting along. And I wanna keep it that way."
"The guy is a douche."
"I wish. But he's not. You should have come to that concert. You would've seen for yourself instead of taking my word for it. What he did for Derek... I'm still speechless when I think about it. Truth be told, he's amazing to Dahlia and Jack. Their friendship is truly special. Getting into their close-knit circle—or rather duo—can be challenging. After everything they've been through, it's understandable. One last thing. Don't tease me in front of him for entertainment purposes. Please. That would be shitty. Even coming from you."
"Never. After all, I'm the reason you and Dahlia found each other. If I hadn't sent you to Green Mountain in the first place, you'd still be alone and miserable. I'm glad my cupid ways worked. You still owe me for that one. I'll cash in on my dues soon. Once I figure out what to demand in exchange.”
Nick tilted his head back and let out a heartfelt laugh. "Keep sending yourself flowers. You know you're delusional, right? Nobody owes anybody anything. If we'd kept tabs down all those years, you'd be the one in debt. For every single time I saved your ass." My friend pointed to the scar across his eyebrow. The one he got after he jumped into a fight because I kissed a football player's girlfriend and the entire team decided to get revenge. "Tuck, about those rules—are we good?"
"Yup. I'll stick to those two. For the rest, I intend to make this weekend one to remember." I uncapped two more beers, and after I handed one to Nick, I raised mine to click with his. "To you, man."
"Are you ready, pussy-whipped-man? Your woman can't wait to see your sorry ass. I bet the girls are curling each other's hair in the room next door. Or maybe they're rubbing each other's bodies with oil. Geez, I'm getting hard just thinking about it." I shook my legs to remove the tension tightening my crotch. "While I'm here, do you want me to gel your hair or shave your butt? That's as far as I'm willing to go for your bachelor party weekend. Just say the word and I'll give you a beauty makeover."
"She said that?”
Did my best friend hear a word of what I'd just said or only process the part where I told him Dahlia was getting ready next door? "Her friend arrived one hour ago. They'll meet us in about thirty minutes at the venue. Your fiancée dumped all this info plus sent a dirty text while you were in the shower."
"Tuck, don't read my stuff. Already told you that. Like ten thousand times in the last twenty years. Gimme my phone."
Nick rolled his eyes, and I laughed, unable to take my friend seriously when he was acting like a baby over a text message. It wasn't even that dirty, anyway.
Dahlia and Nick had rented half the top floor of City Garden, Nashville's finest hotel, for the weekend. It helped that the future bride had founded the Carter Hills Band with her best friend when they were kids. A few years ago, before Dahlia retired from the music scene, the band was the biggest country music sensation in the world.
Dahlia and Nick were two of the most incredible and generous human beings I had ever met. Their hearts were in the right place. And they never did anything half-assed. Both successful small-business owners, I bet they spared no expenses for this weekend. And from what I'd noticed so far, renting half a hotel floor for a couple of days to celebrate their upcoming nuptials didn't seem like a big deal.
"We're ready to leave, I think," Nick said as he exited the bathroom. "I can't believe this is happening."
"Man, are you getting cold feet?"
"Never. I love her, Tuck. She's the one. I knew it the first time I laid eyes on her."
I clapped him between the shoulder blades. "I know, man. Seeing you with Dahlia is almost enough to make me believe in love. Almost." I winced, but his honest smile shattered my train of thought. "You guys just fit. I don't know how to explain it, but she's the one for you. No questions asked. I'm happy you two found each other. And that I put you on her radar, if we're being honest."
Nick's grin widened. "Thanks, man. It means a lot. Not the radar thing, though. Whatever.”
I adjusted his shirt's collar and the lapel of his jacket.
"There. Better. You missed the Tucker touch."
I winked, and he pulled me into a hug.
"Thank you. For always having my back. And for being here this weekend and everything."
I tsk-tsked. "Don't go all emotional on me, man.”
He straightened his back and regained his composure. "Not a chance."
Three inches shorter and less muscular than me, Nick and I looked like complete opposites. With his blond hair and amber eyes, he had the serenity of a guy who'd experienced the ups and downs of life reflecting in his eyes. More comfortable wearing a pair of jeans and a T-shirt than a suit, he preferred nights in with his family to the loud music of any bar or nightclub.
I, on the other end, was built like a pro football player, with dark skin, wide shoulders, crew cut, always dressed to impress. I had expensive and diversified tastes. Amazing food, grandiose apartment, designer clothes. And women.
And yet, our friendship had lasted over two decades. Even in our differences, we were similar. And had each other's backs. No matter what.
"Now let's go. I can't wait to meet the two people I'm not allowed to get too close to," I teased with a wink.
We made it to the top of the building, two doors down the street. For the entire night, we had the rooftop to ourselves. A green fake-grass rug lined the concrete floor. A bar in a little shack made of recycled barnwood was on our right, next to a makeshift dance floor with fairy lights hanging from beams above. A long white table decorated with golden plates and green foliage was set in the middle. Tall vases filled with pink dahlias and baby's breath gave a country-chic vibe to the decor. From here, we had a perfect view of the Nashville skyline from every angle. No doubt why my friend and his fiancée chose this place for tonight. It was magical.
Even my untenable heart felt giddy as a server passed pink champagne in crystal flutes around.
"Let me introduce you to everybody," Nick said, tugging at my elbow. Before we could move, Dahlia came to us, with a tall girl in tow. Blonde hair and the most vibrant blue eyes I'd ever seen overpowered my senses.
"Hey Tucker. So glad you could make it." Dahlia leaned forward and kissed both my cheeks before stepping back. "This is my best friend, Addison." She motioned to the girl, now deep in a conversation with Nick, before moving closer. "I hope Nick has already warned you to not mess with my friend. The two of you together are sure to create wildfires. And she's been through enough already. If you tango with her, I'll break your neck myself."
"Are you joking?"
"Try me and find out," she said in a deadpan tone, a mixture of humor and something fierce like protectiveness dancing in her moss-green irises.
"Jesus, Dah. You and Nick have become a pair of cutthroats."
She tipped one eyebrow as if to say, "Did I make myself clear?"
I lifted both hands between us. "No maid of honor for me. Understood."
Who knew Dahlia Ellis, the girl with the voice of an angel and the sweetest person I'd ever met, could serve threats the Chicago way? Guess the Southern ways weren't too different from ours after all. She leaned back and offered me a warm smile, all traces of her harsh words gone, her voice smooth as honey. "I'm so happy to see you. You don't visit us often enough. Enjoy yourself tonight, and let's catch up later.”
Nick wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her to him, kissing her temple and whispering something in her ear that made her giggle.
"Addi, this is Tucker, Nick's best friend," she said, introducing us in record time, making sure we couldn't exchange more than a "hi” or a "hey." She tugged at her friend's hand. "Come on, Carter is here. Let's have a drink, the three of us. It will be like high school all over again."
Addison stared at me, giving me a slow once-over, a gleam in her eyes. The girl was trouble. I could already tell. I hoped the future bride and groom had served her the same warning they gave me.
Just a thought.
Her lips parted, and she mouthed something I didn't quite catch, her eyes still trained on me.
I offered her my most dirty look, zooming in on her rack and making sure she noticed it.
Dahlia led her friend away, offering one last silent "hands-off" warning when her eyes met mine over her shoulders.
"Whoa, what did you do to piss off my future wife, man? I thought you two were best friends. Your words, not mine. You usually have a blast together." Nick scratched the side of his head, his gaze following the girls traipsing away.
I sipped my champagne, offering him my most unaffected expression. "Oh, we're good, man. More than good, actually." A smug grin stretched my lips. "She just threatened to break my neck, but hey, we're all right. Don't worry."
"Damn, she's hot. Every time she holds her ground with you, I love her more." They grinned at each other from a distance. Love was like newborns or puppies; it turned people into weirdos. "Don't meddle with a Southern woman. Whatever you do, don't ever say I didn't forewarn you."
Carter Hills came to introduce himself next.
"How is it going, man? Heard a lot about you," I told him as we shook hands.
"Great things, I hope." His eyes darted to Nick for half a second.
"Always."
Something—or someone—caught Carter's attention behind us. A wide smile curled up his lips, and he excused himself. I turned around to see a middle-aged couple, whom I assumed to be Dahlia's parents, holding their grandson Jack's hand as they exited the elevator.
Carter hurried across, and after he greeted them—now I was sure they were Mr. and Mrs. Ellis—he swept the boy off his feet, his broodiness now forgotten. Carter's face lit up as if he'd just won something priceless. From his well-over-six-foot height, he resembled a giant next to the little boy.
"Okay... From up-close, the resemblance is even more striking. Fuck. Right now, I could've bet my savings they were father and son."
"Yeah." Nick downed the rest of his champagne. "I'm pretty sure his brother and he could pass for twins."
Dahlia neared them, and Carter enveloped her in his arms and kissed her forehead. They exchanged smiles and seemed to understand each other without speaking a word.
"Now a lot of things you said before make sense. Don't you feel like kicking his ass or something? I know I wouldn't like my girl being all cuddled up in another man's arms if she were mine.”
Nick blew out a long breath. "See, I've learned to accept it. That's the way they are. Dahlia could've dated Carter in all these years, but she didn't, so why should I be jealous? That would just make me miserable. They are family, as they say. Nothing more. I trust her. I really do. Now I am just happy to be a part of her life. And Jack's."
"Carter too?"
"He will have to be the acquired taste."
A burst of laughter escaped my lips at his drawl.
"For sure. Anyway, she's head over heels in love with you. That much is evident." I studied them for a few more seconds. "You're right, man. She doesn't look at him the same way she looks at you." I raised my hands in surrender. "I won't meddle in your relationship. You guys can have threesomes, if you desire, none of my business. Unless you want me to join in... But I'm telling you, I'm not doing you, man. Tried it once. A man, I mean. Not my thing. Never doing it again.”
"Shut up," Nick said. "Too much info, Tuck. Your sex life is your thing. No need to gimme the four-one-one. I already know more than I should. Way too much. Stop putting these images in my head. They never fade away afterward."
I let out a loud laugh and ordered two whiskeys from the server as he neared us.
An hour later, we all sat at the table. Riley, Dahlia's former manager, rose to his feet to make a toast.
"Let's see. I've known Dahlia for a long time. We used to travel the world together. Without a doubt, she's one of the most amazing and caring women I know. Dah, I've seen you at your highs and your lows. And I can honestly say—today, you shine. No, you sparkle. It was about time you got your groove back on. I've met Nick a few times already, and I can predict you two will go the distance. You're made for each other. And come on, when was I ever wrong?" Carter threw a balled napkin at him. "See? Carter agrees. He knows I'm speaking the truth. He's the living proof." Everybody laughed. "Anyway, I wish you guys many years of happiness. You're what we should all aim for. Unconditional love. To Dahlia and Nick. And to soulmates."
We all cheered.
"Nick, welcome to the family. You're now officially one of us," he said, lifting his glass one last time before sitting back down.
A few more people said words before we dug into our five-course meal.
The blue of the sky transformed into multiple shades of pink, and someone turned on the fairy lights over the dance floor, giving the rooftop a warm glow.
We ate like royalties. The food was insanely delicious, our wine glasses and tumblers always full.
Addison stared at me from across the table, the blue of her eyes hypnotic. I'd felt the heat of her gaze on me from the moment we sat down. For the last hour, I'd been averting mine, doing my best to avoid locking eyes with her, no matter how tempted I was. Somewhere between the third and fourth course, she rubbed my shin with her foot under the table. I pulled my leg back. No, I wouldn't go there. Not a chance. I was strong. I gave my word to my best friend. Addison was out of reach. And I loved my life way too much to risk Dahlia putting me into an early grave. Way before my time.
With one mission in mind, veering as far as possible from the troublesome maid of honor, I went to the restrooms, needing time to cool down. And give my overzealous teammate a stern talking-to. I usually never backed down from a challenge. Even less, a lady's challenge. I loved women. Always had. A little too much, according to my friends. And I could never stay away if they gave me the come-hither looks. But I didn't do relationships. Never. And I never saw more than one woman at a time. Those were my rules. And to wear a rubber. All the fucking time.
I was freakish about catching some disease or shit. Heard they made your junk red and itchy. No thanks, I'll pass.
In front of the mirror, I adjusted the collar and rolled the sleeves of my Esteban Fu button-up shirt, my everyday go-to clothes and my designer of choice, my jacket already discarded. Yeah, I looked elegant. And fucking hot. I smirked at the image the glass reflected.
Too bad I couldn't use my charm on anybody tonight. I would enjoy a good chase. Get my blood boiling and more. But no, not tonight.
When I exited the men's room, the blonde temptress cornered me, drawing a hand over my chest, her long pink fingernails toying with the buttons of my dress shirt. I held my breath, curious about this encounter. Wearing a steel-blue gown that tied at her nape and ended mid-thigh along with strappy high heels, she looked gorgeous. Even with those extra inches, I towered over her as I watched the goddess in front of me. A star amongst a sea of dark dresses, her blonde hair fell over her shoulders like a radiant aura around her. She sported an intoxicating smile, and her heavy-coated lashes made her irises appear bluer than before. More alluring.
"Tucker, right?"
"Yep," I said. A server walked by and offered me my drink of choice. I accepted and brought the tumbler to my lips, studying her features and the fire in her eyes. "At least it was the last time I checked."
"Oh, a sense of humor. I like that." She laughed and lost her balance on her four-inch heels. I clamped my fingers on her waist to steady her. Something coiled inside me, warming my core where our bodies connected.
"Ooooopsy. So sooorry," she slurred, revealing how drunk she was.
Addison pushed her hair over her shoulder, her smile devilish and enticing.
"Stop looking at me like this, Tuck. I can call you Tuck, right?"
"Guess so," I shrugged, keeping my back straight and doing my best to look unaffected by her antics. I had made a promise to my best friend. And my words counted for something. But Jesus, this woman.
"Anyway, Tuuuck," she said, her voice sultry and sinful, putting emphasis on my name, "just so you know, I'm over men."
Every molecule in me woke up, reacting to the intimacy of her touch. To her tone. And the luring energy emanating from her.
The heat circulating in me reached a searing point.
My grip tightened around the glass in my hand.
"You are?" I asked, my voice a loud growl, my interest in her growing with every passing second.
"Yes," she said with a firm slant of her head. "Men break hearts. No matter how much you love them or how many times you suck their dicks in a week, they always end up breaking your heart." She waved her fingers over me. "This means you too break hearts. I can tell. You have this thing that makes women crave you." She leaned closer and sniffed me. Yes, she fucking sniffed me. I blinked, wondering if Addison was for real or if she was playing a game. "Oh, and you smell too," she added, her voice a whisper against my skin.
With a step back, I lifted my arm blatantly and took a whiff of my armpit, scared I really did smell, then dropped it back down.
"You're crazy, sweetheart. I don't smell."
She scrunched up her nose and sighed, then waggled a finger at my face. "Nooo...not like that. You smell like sex. You probably have a big dick and are very capable with your tongue. Am I right?"
Who was this girl, and where had she come from? No wonder Nick warned me off her. I was wrong when I thought she was trouble. She wasn't. She was pure evil. Sent on this earth to be the end of me. I realized I had to be careful. All this time, I thought I was a player. But here she was—pure dynamite. And could play the game too. Damn it.
Speechless for one of the first times in my life, I stared at her. Amusement danced in her eyes, and I was pretty sure it did in mine too.
My body pulsed to her symphony. I rolled my lips over my teeth to avoid saying something I wouldn't be able to take back or doing the unfeasible. Like getting the explosive tension out of the way by locking us in the restroom and ramming into her until I fucked the sassiness out of her. Addison was drunk. And I had promised to stay away. Two major turnoffs.
I breathed out, barely in control, many scenarios enacting in my head. All of them involved us getting naked and panting, while her small hand lowered down my abdomen.
My stomach muscles clenched.
"Are those abs you are hiding underneath that shirt? Six-packs are a real turn-on. Do you agree?" Her sensual voice twined around my control, cracking the tough shield I had over myself.
"You tell me, sweetheart. I'm not usually patting a man's stomach the first time we meet."
She fought a roll of her eyes, never breaking the contact. "Women possess them too. Don't discriminate. Like I said, I'm over your species. God should've named you T-R-O-U-B-L-E. I should re-baptize all of ya. It's a good thing I love women now. Not being picky."
I chuckled. "And yet, you're the one feeling me up right now. Are you enjoying it? Never would have guessed you're into women.”
Her fingers traced lower, and a shiver traversed through me. Addison's eyes turned to slits, and she cocked her head to the side.
"Nobody told you to never make assumptions?" she asked.
"Nobody told you to never send mixed signals?" I countered.
Her gaze ate me up, and I could almost palpate the electricity ricocheting in the space between us.
The fire that had been simmering low inside me for a while now rekindled. My senses heightened. My heart did what I'd define as a complete revolution. Whatever this woman did, it worked. I felt alive facing her. Like I hadn't in quite some time.
We fixated our gazes on each other. Her throat rippled. Her breathing accelerated.
My cock pushed against the zipper of my trousers, bewitched by the blonde tornado ripping through my control.
I downed the rest of my drink, wishing it was cold water and that it would kill my arousal.
Addison gave me a doe-eyed look, not backing down from inspecting me as if I were her next meal.
Two words: excruciating torture. A test of my resistance. All I could imagine now was that sinful mouth around me.
Back down, I ordered my dick. Don't expect anything from this woman. Not happening. I whizzed a quick breath out, urging my common sense to make an appearance.
As if she could hear my train of thoughts, Addison blinked away whatever spell had taken her hostage, shutting down the desire that had been simmering between us. "Back to business. The thing is, I know I'm right. I know my men. You are all the same. Except for Nick. Nick is fine. He passed the test. Anyway, he doesn't have that alpha-vibe pouring out of him like you do. You're dangerous, Tuck. Very dangerous." She got lost in her own head for a moment. "Now that I'm choosing to only love anyone but hot-blooded men for the rest of my life, guys like you can't hurt me anymore. I'm done being played. Women don't have dicks, so they're safe. And they aren't heartless. Men are. Women are more compassionate. I had a girl lover once, and she used her tongue much better than all of you Neanderthal specimens combined. She could give you lessons. Do you want lessons, Tuck?"
"Oh, believe me. I need no lessons, sweetheart."
She tsk-tsked. "Don't go cocky on me, Tuuuck. Every man requires a woman's help. Adam, Eve. Barrack, Michelle. Harry, Meghan. Anyway, you get the point." She swept her bottom lip with the tip of her tongue, and it was one of the most erotic displays I'd ever seen.
I blinked and perused the space around us for another drink, desperate to cool off the arousal sprouting in my dick and slowly climbing its way up my being.
Something was going on, right? Was I being pranked?
Where were the cameras? And the crew? Was Nick on it? Was the entire sexy-meet a set-up? A test? Not that it was his style, but still, a guy had to ask.
I took a split-second decision to keep playing along.
"My tongue is made of gold, sweetheart. Don't judge a product you've never sampled before."
I sucked a deep breath in, trying to keep my composure intact.
"Too bad my vagina isn't interested. Guess we'll never know." She offered me a one-shoulder shrug. "See ya around, Tuuuck."
As if she couldn't convince herself to walk away, Addison studied me a little longer, her finger tracing the length of her mouth, her eyes devouring me in the process, unaware of the battle consuming me.
The one I could lose any second now.
She parted her lips to add something, and like a fool, all my attention was diverted to those juicy temptations, waiting.
A heat wave crashed over me, flooding my body with sensations I'd never experienced before. Well, I had. To some extent. But never close to the intensity searing inside me right now. I memorized the line of her neck and the freckle below her left earlobe.
The womanizer in me had been poked, and all he yearned for was a little fun of his own and to have his way with her. Rip her clothes and make her come until she passed out from too many pleasure-induced-by-me orgasms. The kind of things she'd remember forever. That would brand my name on her.
We watched each other, my pulse throbbing in my temples. Addison closed her teeth around her forefinger. Was she even conscious of how sexy and diabolical she acted? My blood boiled hotter.
With a wink, she traipsed away, and I fought the desire to call her back, to settle this thing between us. To get the upper hand and lead my team to victory.
Armed with a loaded weapon in my trousers, I watched her retreat instead, once more urging my on-alert cock to stand down. Recede. Play dead.
A couple of deep breaths later, it finally listened, going from a strained full-on to a half-mast second-line team player.
My gaze scanned the rooftop. From the dance floor, Dahlia and Nick looked in my direction. My friend offered me a subtle shake of his head, pinching his lips like he was about to burst out laughing.
Dahlia made a cut-throat gesture with her finger and mouthed, "Don't even think about it. Out of reach."
They were in on it. All along, they knew Addison was a risk to my sanity. To my dick.
From afar, Addison looked all sweet and harmless, but she was a vixen wearing colorful clothes and hypnotizing smiles. One I was now dying to taste. I could read every strategy in her playbook. Because we shared a similar one.
I stood there, bothered and mesmerized.
Fuck.
Why did I promise to keep my distance?