"I understand what you mean about bad jokes now," Graham said. "Guy was always a bit of an idiot. They wanted to get married for years, but kept postponing it because they didn't have time to plan. Then Amber found out she was pregnant. Matt proposed the same day."
"That's a lovely reaction," I replied. My mind automatically flew to the day I'd found out I was pregnant.
Something in my expression must have given away my trail of thought, because Graham asked, "Brings up ugly memories about Milo's dad?"
"I don't think of him as his dad. He said we'll try to make it work... then changed his mind and bolted."
"I'm sorry. You and Milo deserve better."
"What can you do? Things don't always work out. But I have a great support system." Feeling the urge to lighten things up, I changed the subject. "I forgot to tell you—Milo sends extra thanks for the tickets."
"He's welcome. Both of you are. But do me a favor?"
"You kind of have me there. Ask me anything."
"Anything? You’re sure? That might end up being the most dangerous thing you've said."
If the tingling in my center was anything to go by, it was already the most dangerous thing I'd done.
"So what's the favor?"
He tilted his head playfully, as if considering this. "I'm reserving the right to cash in on it later."
"Decided on a price for the new tickets?"
"I'm still adding up to that tally. Getting more ideas by the hour."
"I sense they'll end up being expensive."
"Very."
"You know I could change my mind and not accept them, right?"
He came a little bit closer. "But you don't want to, do you?"
A gust of wind ruffled my hair, entangling my ponytail in my left earring. I fumbled with my fingers to disentangle it, but I couldn't see what I was doing, and I suspected I was making it worse.
"Let me," Graham said.
"I think I caught a strand from the back, somehow."
He walked behind me, and I stilled when his thumb touched my earlobe. He was so close that I could feel his hot breath on the back of my neck.
"I like your hair up," he murmured. "I had a perfect view of your neck all evening."
He freed the strand and then traced the pad of his thumb up and down the back of my neck, from my hairline to the neckline of the dress. And then he placed an open-mouthed kiss in the middle.
Feeling his wet lips sent a wave of shock to my body. Feeling the tip of his tongue on the skin he'd warmed with his thumb wired the next wave of shock straight to my center.
He spun me around, and our gazes locked. The pull he had on me was so powerful I couldn't look away even if I wanted to. I stopped hearing the waves, the voices filtering out from the tent. I felt alone with him in our bubble. He pulled me in for a kiss, and I lost all sense of time and space. His lips felt exquisite. I opened up for him, and when our tongues touched, I felt the connection straight between my thighs. I felt him slide one hand at the back of my neck, tilting my head at the angle he needed to explore me better, deeper. When he slid a hand down to my hip, his fingers digging into my flesh possessively, I whimpered at the realization I'd drenched my panties.
Almost as if someone had poked our bubble, I became aware of our surroundings: the sea, the voices.
With a start, I jerked my head back. Everyone was still in the tent, thank God. Lust was dancing in Graham's eyes. It was intoxicating to realize he wanted me. I felt my nipples turn to pebbles in my bra. How could one look affect me so much? Or maybe that was the lingering effect of the kiss.
"Why do you have to be such a great kisser? I'd hoped I imagined it," I whispered.
"You didn't imagine it. You changed your perfume?"