“Pull the curtain closed,” I whisper. He turns and closes it behind him. His eyes drop once more. “What the fuck are you wearing?” The atmosphere in the change room suddenly becomes thick with want. My pulse quickens. His eyes come back up to my face, his jaw ticks and he cracks his neck. Jackpot. I love it when he does that. I don’t know if it’s what I’m wearing or the fact we are alone. But I want him—I want him now. His eyes drop to my hardened nipples and his mouth drops open with arousal as he takes a deep breath.
“Fuck Tash,” he whispers as he closes his eyes, trying to block me out. “You need to get that dress off now if you want to walk out of here untouched.”
I smile and bite my lip. “I’d better leave it on then.”
He closes his eyes. “Stop it.”
“No,” I whisper. The next second he grabs me and spins me around so my back is to his front. We stare silently at our reflection in the mirror, each breath deeper than the last. His hands splay across my lower stomach and he pulls me back into his hard length. My head goes back to lean on his chest and my eyes close.
“Precious girl, you fucking turn me on, do you know that?” he whispers.
I can’t stop myself. I have to play. “What turns you on about me?”
His eyes drop once more.
“The curve of your waist. I love how you’re cinched in here.” He runs his finger from my breast down to the curve of my waist. “And those beautiful tits.” He brings his lips down to the base of my neck and runs his open mouth back up to the top as he tightens his grip on my stomach. “Your smile.” Goose bumps have scattered all over my body.
“My smile?” I whisper.
“Yes, your smile, it melts me. Those dimples,” he bites my neck hard. “I fucking love them.” Of all the things I thought he would say, that was the last, but for some reason it means the most.
“Josh,” I whisper as I bring my hand up around the back of his neck. My head drops back again. No longer able to resist, I turn to face him and we stand in silence. Our eyes lock.
“Can I help you in there? How are you going for sizes?” The idiot sales clerk is back. For fuck’s sake, will everybody stop interrupting us? I’m about to lose it. He jumps back and runs his both hands through his hair. Obviously as frustrated as I am.
“No thanks, I am taking the one I’ve got.”
Josh comes close to my ear and whispers. “You are not wearing that dress to the wedding.”
I frown at him. “Watch me.”
“I mean it, don’t fuck with me.”
I scowl at him. “You can’t tell me what to wear, Joshua.”
“Yes I can, and since when have you called me Joshua?” he mutters as he leaves the change room. I narrow my eyes at myself in the mirror as I redress. I call you Joshua when you piss me off, asshole, and recently that’s all the bloody time.
I exit to see him at the cashier with his credit card out. He looks at me deadpan. I walk over and place the last two dresses on the counter and get my wallet out.
“I’ve got it,” he snaps. I roll my eyes and wish the annoying sales clerk would leave so I can tell him to fuck right off. Who does he think he is?
We walk to the car in silence. I’m not playing his stupid game. If he’s got the shits then he can come clean about what. I’m not asking. He stalks into a coffee shop just where the car is parked. After ordering us two coffees he returns to where I have sat. He sits and starts to read the paper that has been left on the table. Am I in the twilight zone? What the hell just happened? One minute he is telling me my smile turns him on and biting my neck. The next minute he’s snapping orders. I’m too tired to deal with this shit today. I’ve hardly slept all week. I wait for my coffee in silence. His name is called and he goes and retrieves our order. I take it without a thank you. If he wants rude, two can play at that game. He sips his coffee while watching me. I ignore him.
“You are not wearing that dress with Syral.”
“It’s Simon,” I roll my eyes. “And yes I am. I gave you the chance to be my date and you turned it down, remember.”
He shakes his head as he drinks his coffee. “I told you, don’t threaten me.”
“And I told you, don’t tell me what to do.”
“When did I tell you what to do?”
“When you told me not to wear the dress.”
“I mean to the wedding for Chrissake. Someone will fuck you on the bridal table.”
I break into a smile—surely he can’t be serious. “You had better come then, to protect me.”