I put my cheek against her hair. “I’m sorry this happened today. I was really looking forward to tonight.”
She nodded. “Me too.”
Her scent wafted over me, expensive shampoo and something citrusy, a smell that could only ever be Maddy. “I meant what I said, you know.” I pulled back to look at her. “I don’t care about Katie anymore.”
She blew out a shaky breath. “I appreciate you saying that.”
“But?”
“It’s just a lot. Probably the same way that my mother is a lot.” She put her head against my chest. “Let’s just dance, okay?”
“Okay.” Fake date or not, a lot or not, I couldn’t help it—I kissed the top of her head.
Another country raised their red flags.
No matter what else had happened, it was impossible to have a bad time at Sienna and Tim’s incredible wedding. Maddy and I eventually stopped sulking and started doing shots with everyone and dancing instead.
At three a.m., the drummer slumped over. The rest of the band members started packing up. The bride and groom were long gone, Claire and Mia were slow dancing by themselves near the bar, and Josie had disappeared. Tyler and his friends finally left, as had Dean Smith and his wife, thank God. And Mr. Delaney had taken Mrs. Delaney back to her crypt before the sun came up.
“Bed,” Maddy said. “Must. Get. To. Bed.”
“I got you.” We wrapped our arms around each other and stumbled out. I heard another bottle of champagne being popped, and I shook my head. “These wedding guests make me feel like an amateur. They even drank the band under the table.”
“They’re pros,” Madison agreed. “We should leave the experts to it.”
We staggered down the hall to our wing. “I had fun tonight.”
“Me too.” She leaned against me. “Although I have a feeling I’m going to regret those shots.”
“I already do.” We stopped outside our doors and hesitated.
“Um…” Maddy said.
“Er…” I wanted… I wanted all sorts of things. I put my hands on her hips and flexed them. She let out a shivery breath as I pulled her closer. “Is this okay, Mads?”
She looked up at me, her big green eyes getting wider. “Yes.”
I leaned down and brushed my lips against hers. A pull deep in my belly almost had me moaning. Our lips touched again—we were tentative, but there was a wanting beneath it, powerful and intense.
She was braver than me. She put her hands on my chest and kissed me deeper, opening her sweet mouth and gently seeking my tongue with hers.
When they connected, an electric shock zipped through me, straight to my cock.
Giving in to the sensation, I sank my hands into her hair. She moaned, running her hands over my chest as our kiss deepened. I throbbed for her, from my head all the way to my dick, which was getting harder by the second, trying to get closer to her.
“Whoa, whoa.” I pulled back, breathing hard.
“Whoa what?” She laughed and reached for me again.
“We should stop.” The words were out of my mouth before I could think them through. “We’ve been drinking. It’s been a long day.”
“Of course!” Madison laughed, but it sounded borderline hysterical. She quickly took a step back. I could tell from her face that she was embarassed and about to cry. “See you tomorrow!”
“Maddy—”
But she hustled off and shut her door before I could say more.
I didn’t blame her. I went in my own room and stalked over to the windows, staring at the dark ocean. Waves crashed against the sand, over and over, a never-ending catch and release.