“Get me one?” Camden murmurs into my ear before nuzzling into my neck. He’s sweaty from dancing, though he smells delicious, but my mind is still on Ford. I attempt to shift out of his embrace so that I don’t lose sight of the object of my obsession, but when I look up, expecting to see Ford walking toward me, I realize he never moved from his spot.

  Disappointment settles like a rock in my stomach. Dammit. Apparently I’ve developed a rather annoying crush on my ex’s father.

  I motion to the bartender for Camden, and once we both have our drinks, I lead him back to the dance floor.

  Mel appears five minutes before midnight and joins us. We get lost in dancing again. Bodies sway, music taking over. When Camden leans in, it’s obvious he’s about to kiss me. The idea of his lips against mine feels heavy, like if I let him, it will weigh me down for far longer than just tonight. Avoiding the contact, I spin and grind my ass against him. His hands are everywhere, sliding over my hips, along my ribs, under my breasts. But then I’m pulled forward, out of his grasp.

  “What the hell?” he yells.

  I blink twice, sure that I’m seeing things. Shocked that the man looming over me is the one I’ve been desperate for all night.

  Ford’s jaw is clenched and his hair is mussed like he’s been pulling at it. I like to imagine I had something to do with that.

  “What are you doing?” I whisper as he grasps my waist with both hands and pulls me closer to him—and farther from Camden’s grip.

  “Get lost,” he says over my head.

  I should turn around. I should at least apologize to the man I’ve spent the last hour dancing with. Flirting with. Letting believe he had a shot.

  But I don’t.

  There’s only one person whose attention I’ve wanted, and now that I have it, I’m not giving up even a second of it.

  “I said, what are you doing?” This time my voice is louder, my stare challenging, eyebrow arched, lips pulled together, waiting for him to finally make his damn move.

  Ford’s thumb ever so gently rubs back and forth against my ass. It’s barely noticeable in the dark. Imperceptible really, but the simple caress sets my skin ablaze.

  “What are you doing?” He crowds me, his head tilted low. His tone is a warning. It’s dark and a bit angry, in complete contrast to the way he’s holding me. The way he’s touching me.

  “I was trying to get revenge. Ya know, a little New Year’s Eve fun? Maybe fuck someone in public. Show the world that I’m over your son and his cheating ways.”

  Ford’s jaw ticks and his chest heaves so violently it presses against mine with each inhale, but he doesn’t say a word. Goading him is probably a bad idea, and I definitely shouldn’t say what I’m thinking, but my lips don’t seem to get the memo. “If I really want revenge, though, maybe I should just fuck his dad.”

  FORD

  DANCING WITH OUR HANDS TIED

  I’m rendered speechless, but I have yet to let go of Lake. In fact, my hold on her has gotten tighter. There’s no way I’m going to allow her to escape. Allow another man to touch her.

  Fuck that.

  For the past hour, I’ve watched her every move. Every sway of her hips on the dance floor. So intently that Gavin and Beckett settled for talking around me. Eventually, they pushed me forward, telling me if I was going to make it this obvious, then I might as well get it over with and take her.

  I considered staying put, pushed away the need clawing its way through me, knowing she didn’t need the mess. But then that fucker leaned in for a kiss. She’s lucky she maneuvered out of his hold the way she did. If I’d had to break up a kiss, I would have done it with my fist, and that asshole would have been laid out in the middle of the crowd.

  Fuck, she makes me crazy.

  Around us, the countdown begins. Every person chanting.

  “Five.”

  Lake moves closer, if that’s possible.

  “Four.”

  She tips her head back, her eyes sparkling brighter than I’ve ever seen.

  “Three.”

  Her red lips taunt me as she says, “Let me go if you don’t want me to kiss you.”

  “Two.”

  I don’t make a move.

  “One. Happy New Year!”

  The crowd around us erupts. The music gets louder, and we’re being pushed and pulled from every side. Having not taken my eyes off her mouth, when it curves in the tiniest smile, I know she knows I’m not pulling away. She lifts up on her tiptoes, and then her famous red lips are on mine.

  The taste of lime and something sweet infiltrates my system, sending a bolt of lust straight through me. I let out a groan as she sweeps her tongue against my own. Her lips are pillowy soft, and she smells so goddamn good. Sugary. Like a fudge shop. Sweet and innocent.

  Nothing I deserve.

  With one hand on her hip, I pull her closer. I cuff the back of her neck with the other, holding her in place. She melts against me, allowing me to take and take and take.

  We need to get out of here.

  When I pull away, she whimpers and grasps the lapels of my suit jacket, bringing me closer again. “Please.” Those red lips pout.

  “I’m not stopping, gorgeous. Just need you alone,” I murmur with one more peck to her sinful mouth.

  She smiles against me. “My hotel?”

  “I’ve got a room here. Follow me.” Another of my friends owns this hotel. I got a room in case I decided to stay, not that I ever imagined the night would end like this.

  Then again, I never intended to let her leave with anyone else, so it’s unlikely it would have ended in any way but this: with her gripping my arm as I nod to Gavin and weave my way out of the room.

  My best friend drops his head between his shoulders to hide the smile that splits his face. I can only imagine his thoughts. Fucking old man going after a hot young thing like her. His son’s ex-girlfriend at that. Fuck.

  I’m a parody. But I honestly don’t give a damn. There’s no room for judgment when my mind is filled with all the things I’m going to do to her. The ways I intend to touch her. Lake will finally understand the hype around sex. She’ll be begging to suck my cock and ride me after tonight.

  As soon as we step into the foyer, away from the music and the chatter of the crowd, we’re hit with reality. It’s brighter out here, making us more visible to the people who gape as I lead her toward the elevator.

  She can’t go anywhere without being noticed, gawked at, ogled. It’s nothing new, but she tenses beside me at the scrutiny, obviously uncomfortable, so I pull her into my side and wrap my jacket around her, offering her as much anonymity as I can.

  “Thank you,” she murmurs against my chest, her brown hair a curtain over her beautiful eyes.

  As soon as the elevator arrives, I guide her inside, then turn and glare at the man trying to follow us in. “Take the next one.” I hit the button for our floor, and as soon as the door closes on the man’s scowl, I peer down at the gorgeous woman who’s got me acting absolutely insane. “You okay?”

  Eyes the color of the sky on the sunniest of days widen as they study me. “You must think I’ve lost my mind.”

  “Why?”

  “I propositioned you. I kissed you. God, Ford, I’m so sorry.” A blush creeps up her cheeks, and she buries her head in my chest.

  With a finger under her chin, I gently force her head up until she’s looking at me. She’s got the smallest cleft right in the center, like it was made for my thumb, so I hold her there as I bring my mouth closer to hers. “Don’t apologize for giving me everything I’ve been thinking about since I first laid eyes on you.”

  “Tonight?” she murmurs, pulling back a fraction and scanning my face.

  A bitter smile forms on my lips as I shake my head and brush my lips to hers. “No. The day you walked into my office and introduced yourself. You were wearing a red tank top with black lettering on it. A black skirt that made my cock jump to attention, and pink nail polish on your toes.”

  She inhales sharply, and her eyes widen at my confession.

  “And these lips. Fuck, Red, you could bring a grown man to his knees with these goddamn lips.”

  Her pupils blow wide in response, and when I press on her bottom lip, she moans.

  “We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do, but I’d really like to show you what all the fuss is about.”

  Lake swipes her tongue across her bottom lip, brushing the tip along my thumb as she does. Her responding sigh is just as breathy as the one that escapes me. Then she does it again, this time inching farther so my thumb slides into her mouth. I hook it there, trapping her, and she moans around it, circling it with her tongue in a teasing way that has me pushing her against the elevator wall. Before we can take it further, though, the door chimes and the stainless-steel doors slide open soundlessly.

  “What do you say, Red? You coming?” I tease, backing away with one hand extended to her.

  Lake smirks and settles her hand in mine. “I better be, old man.”

  With a bark of shocked laughter, I grasp her around the middle and throw her over my shoulder. With a slap to her ass, I head toward my room. “I’ll show you how old I am. I should put you over my knee and make you beg for it.”

  She giggles as she bounces on my shoulder. The movement and the hallway lights bouncing off her glittery dress highlight her ass, making it impossible not to sink my teeth into it as we go.

  “Oh my God, Ford!”

  Her reprimands only make my need for her grow. I love the sound of her screams. Love the way she’s letting loose. The prim and proper Lake is nowhere to be seen tonight. And I intend to fuck the proper right out of her for good.

  I breeze into my room and toss her onto the bed, loving the look of shock that mars her pretty face as she gapes up at me. Her body arches on instinct as she props herself up on her elbows. Her legs are sprawled out on the duvet, like she’s a doll just begging to be played with. She opens her mouth, maybe to try to rationalize what’s happening. That won’t do either of us any good, so I drop one knee to the edge of the bed and grab her right foot, pulling her closer. Then I climb over her and pin her beneath me.

  “I’m going to kiss you now.”

  She smiles as I make my descent, and then our lips are mashing together. This isn’t gentle. No, I’m fucking her with my mouth. Devouring her. Eating up her little sounds. Tasting her every caress. Her moans are fuel to the fire in my blood, scorching every inch of me and leaving a trail of nothing but her.

  With just one kiss, she’s destroyed me. Owned me. Changed me on a cellular level—from the man I was minutes ago to the man I am now. Hers.

  It’s only fair I return the favor. “Now tell me, Red, do you like touching yourself, or is that also overrated?”

  Lake turns her head, her pretty blue eyes finding the window, avoiding my scrutiny.

  I press my thumb to the space in her chin made just for it and force her to look at me. “Don’t get shy now, gorgeous. You wanted to fuck your ex’s dad. You stole the kiss. Tonight is all about you. Tell me what you like.”

  She squirms beneath me, bucking up to seek more of the friction we created with our previous indelicate kisses.

  “Do you want me to kiss you here?” I press my lips to her collarbone and enjoy the shivers that skate across her skin in response. “Or here?” This time, I brush my lips across her chest, dragging my tongue against her sweet skin as I do. “Or here?” I nip at the swell of her breast, then suck on it, surely leaving a mark. I intend to mark her entire body.

  She throws her head back and groans.

  Her dress is a distraction. The sequins catch the light of the moon, casting her in an angelic glow. I don’t want her to look like an angel tonight. She’s sin, a temptress with her red lips and rocking hips, her legs around my waist and her ankles locked at the small of my back as she tries to get me closer.

  A dark chuckle escapes me, sending goose bumps rippling across the skin of her neck. “For someone who doesn’t like sex, you’re awfully greedy for it.”

  “Why do I have the feeling you’re about to destroy every misconception I’ve ever had?” she whispers, arching up and grinding against me, trying like hell to ride my cock.

  I cage her in so she can’t look away from me and pin her with a pointed look. “Because I am. I’m going to obliterate you, Red. Going to make you beg for every orgasm. You’ll be my dirty slut. You won’t say please and you won’t say thank you. You’ll take it all. You’ll ride me hard and ensure that the only one grateful here is me. Because I’ll know that I made you this way.”

  “Oh fuck.” She slaps the mattress on either side of her. “Why is that so hot?” Her whimpers get louder as I slide a hand beneath her dress and give her nipple a hard pluck.

  “Because you’re a slut and you’ve been waiting for this. Because your pussy needs this. It’s not your fault you’ve never been satisfied, Red. You’ve never had a man who took the time to worship you. Now turn over so I can unzip this dress and see every inch of skin you’ve been hiding from me.”

  She complies without a word. I hate it and love it at the same time. I want her to take control. I want her to be free of the compulsion to perform. For once, I want her to be the Lake who doesn’t overthink what she’s doing.

  But maybe that’s exactly who she is right now. Maybe she doesn’t have to think too hard about this because what we’re doing is innate. Natural. There are thousands of critics out there who wouldn’t believe it, but having Lake beneath me feels more natural than anything I’ve ever experienced.

  More explosive too.

  This girl is going to blow up my world, and I’m going to stand back and let her.

  I press a kiss to the base of her neck, then lick a path downward, tracing the arch of her back with my tongue until I reach the top of her dress. Without pulling my lips away, I grasp the zipper and ease it lower, then follow its trail with my mouth, baring her smooth skin to the moonlight. Fuck, if I thought her dress sparkled, it has nothing on her.

  She’s an angel on earth, and I’m about to drag her toward the fires of hell.

  With one hand, I undo the clasp of her bra and then follow the arc of her ribs until I can cup the swell of her breast in my hand. “You’re perfect,” I murmur against her neck.

  She bucks her ass against me, forcing a puff of air from my lungs.

  “So greedy. Don’t worry, Red. I’m getting there.”

  “Get there faster,” she grinds out, finally demanding what she wants.

  I peel the straps down both of her arms until I’m sliding off the bed and taking the dress with me. She’s left in nothing but a scrap of red lace between her ass cheeks and black stilettos with red soles that sway as she shimmies her hips, putting on a little show.

  With a fist to my mouth, I let out a guttural groan. “Fucking perfection. Now turn over and cup those perfect tits so I can see just how dirty you are.”

  Instead of listening, she pushes up onto her knees, crosses her ankles, and sticks her ass out. When she looks at me over her shoulder, the liquid heat in her eyes begs me to dive in. She’s tantalizing. “Make me.”

  Grasping her thighs so hard my nails puncture her skin, I pull her so her ass is flush against my hard length. I lift her hips slightly and roll her pussy against my cock, one way, then the other, so she can feel every fucking inch of me beneath my suit. “That’s how you want to play it?”

  “Yes,” she breathes, head dropped between her shoulders. “Treat me like your little whore. Make me come all over your cock.”

  Holding her up with one hand, I land a sharp slap to her bare ass, pulling a perfect scream from her. Immediately, I rub at the sting. “You gushing for me, Red? Soaking those panties because you love the feel of my hands on your ass?”

  “Yes, Daddy.” Her moans are hoarse, desperate.

  My body goes to war with itself then. The inferno raging inside me isn’t all desire when her words register. “Don’t you fucking dare,” I growl, crashing my hand down on her other cheek.

  “You don’t like it when your dirty whore calls you Daddy?” she taunts, pressing her ass against my dick and rubbing.

  It pisses me the fuck off. Makes my skin itch. I’m not her goddamn daddy. The things I want to do to her? Fuck no.

  “I’m your ex’s Daddy, Lake. Remember that when you come all over my cock. I’m the one who gets you there. I’m the one you’ll be calling for. You’ll say my name only when you come. Test it out for me. Say my name.”

  “F-Ford,” she whimpers, her legs shaking beneath her as she tries to get closer.

  I hold her in place. “Say it like you know you hold all the control, Red. Say it like you own me, because tonight, you do.”

  Her back rises and falls as she takes a deep breath. Then she pushes up on her hands and looks at me, her blue eyes lit with pure desire. “Then turn me around and fuck me, Ford. No more teasing. Give me my fucking cock.”

  That’s my goddamn girl. I flip her over by her ankles in one rough move, and she falls against the bed with a thud. Without taking my eyes off her, I shuck off my jacket and pants, then get to work on the buttons of my shirt.

  Her gaze alone is hot enough to set fire to my clothes. She tweaks her nipples and writhes on the bed, then she snakes one hand down her abdomen until it disappears beneath her sin-red panties. With rapt attention, I take in the way she teases her clit, soaking the lace with her arousal.

  “Good girl. Make yourself come, Red. I want to taste it.”

  She thrashes against her hand, working herself harder. Unable to stay away, I drop one hand to the mattress and hold myself above her, pressing my lips to her ankle, then her calf, before I pull her legs wide open and lick up her thigh. Sweet moans fill the air, and with my lips still on the smooth, sensitive skin of her inner leg, I peer up at her and watch as she begins to come apart. My patience sapped, I run my tongue along the seam of her panties, savoring her sweet saltiness, and pull the fabric aside so I can lick a path between her lips. That one pass is all it takes for her to shatter beneath me. I don’t pull away. No, I double down on my work, relishing the way her pussy pulses around my tongue as she does exactly as I request.