My fingers went to the top button on my heavy coat. “What if I told you I’d been wearing it all night?”
He groaned. “Aww, shit..”
I giggled and finished unbuttoning my coat. I slowly peeled it away, stepping back out of reach when Ross tried to assist me. “Patience,” I said, wiggling a finger at him.
He backed up and reached for the bottle of champagne that was chilling in a bucket on the counter of the small kitchenette. He held it up, and I nodded. With expert skill, he popped the cork and poured two flutes like he’d been a cater waiter in another life.
“What should we toast to?” I asked, holding up the glass he’d offered me.
Ross lifted his own glass. “To Aunt Maggie.”
“Aunt Maggie?” I repeated with a laugh. “Aunt Maggie generally isn’t who’s on my mind right before jumping into bed with someone, and if that was where your mind is headed, we probably need to have a serious talk.”
Ross grinned, letting out a chuckle. “Hear me out.”
I laughed. “Go ahead.”
“If I’d never stumbled into her diner, I’d have missed out on meeting the most beautiful girl in the world.”
“Not to mention you would have missed out on some pretty kick-ass biscuits and gravy,” I added, giving him a quick wink.
Ross smiled, but his expression darkened as he took a step toward me. “I’m serious, Shelby. You’re special to me too, and I hope you know this is real. It’s been a crazy couple of weeks. The holidays, the playoffs—being the fucking starting quarterback—it’s surreal. But I want you to know how much each minute we are together means to me and how grateful I am to spend this time with you.”
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes and gave the room a soft fuzziness around the edges. “To Aunt Maggie,” I whispered, not trusting myself to say anything else.
Ross tapped his glass to mine, and we both took a sip of the sweet champagne before coming together for a slow, smoldering kiss that quickly ignited into flames.
We clumsily set our glasses down and Ross peeled away my dress. With his hands on my hips, he spun me around, located the zipper at the back and gently pulled it down, revealing my lace-covered skin as he went. His hands parted the fabric and ran over my waist. “I’ve waited long enough, Shelby. Show me what you’ve been wearing just for me.”
I smiled and dropped the cap sleeves from my shoulders before slowly twirling around. My dress slipped down my torso, and I eased it over my flared hips, revealing the black and gold lingerie I’d been wearing all night. The top was made of a sheer lace lined with gold and barely covered my breasts. The matching panties had black garters attached to hold up the thigh-high stockings. When my dress hit the floor, Ross’s jaw quickly followed.
“Holy shit, babe.”
I reached up and removed the clip holding back part of my hair and set it aside, shaking it free. Ross’s eyes sparkled, and he moved forward, his hands unable to make up their minds on where to start as they roved over my waist, breasts, and up my back. He pulled me against him and I smiled at the feeling of his obvious excitement. “I’m guessing you like,” I teased, walking my fingers up his solid chest.
“If I’d known you were wearing this—I wouldn’t have made it through my first drink,” he said, laughing softly. “You are so damn fuckable.”
“Good.” I popped the first button on his suit jacket. I glanced up at him, holding his stare as I finished the second and third buttons. “’Cause I really want to get fucked.”
He growled under his breath and eagerly pulled me to him, leaving wet, tantalizing kisses along my neck. “I’m going to adore your body all night long, baby. You’re not going to be able to walk onto the plane tomorrow. At least not without a nice wobble.”
A delicious thrill shot up my spine at his promise. I pushed his jacket off as I looked back up at him, my hands gliding over the firm muscles of his shoulders and chest. “Go ahead and wreck me, Ross.”
“Your wish is my command,” he whispered, dragging his lips back up my neck and to my ear.
I whimpered as he found the sweet spot where my jawline met my ear, and Ross chuckled against my skin. “Damn, this is gonna be a good night.”
“Leave the stockings on,” he said into my ear, stroking the fabric of my panties.
I gasped as he pulled my panties aside and slid a finger across my pussy lips. “Mmm, baby, you’re already so wet.” He stroked me again, making me shiver and push up against him. “I want you in the bed.”
I nodded and made my way to the bed. I paused at the foot, waiting for him, but he didn’t lay me back. Instead, he spun me around and gently pushed me forward. I lowered to the bed, fighting my vulnerability as I propped up on my hands and knees. “Like this,” he said, hiking my hips up so I was on all fours, my ass bared to him.