She grins at me, leaning forward to give me a kiss. “Did I ever tell you how much I love it when you get forceful,” she coos.
I can feel the blood rushing to my cock. “No. Why did you have to tell me now?”
Her eyes twinkle slyly as she reaches over and rubs her hand along the length of my erection.
I groan sharply and go to press her hand into me harder, to grasp along the ridge.
But she gives me a wink.
“Come on.”
And quickly gets out of the car.
Damn it.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Amanda
I was completely nervous about the party up until about ten minutes ago. Which was good because if my nerves kept up like that, I could totally see myself having another Sir-Pukes-a-Lot moment in front of these people, which would pretty much seal my fate as that girl that is literally always vomiting (or chundering, as Blake calls it).
But now, now everything is different. Everything has changed. My nerves are dancing for an entirely different reason.
When Blake first mentioned Rachel, I could have sworn he was going to say he was going back to her, maybe even going back to England. And no matter how hard I tried to convince myself before that I could handle losing him in that way, the fact was I couldn’t. It slammed into me like a rock, the very thought that he might still love her, that he might not be mine after all.
But then everything swung around and in the most adorable, dorky (adorkable?) way, he told me he wants something more from me. Like, a girlfriend, boyfriend, this is an actual relationship kind of thing. No more just casual sex, no more just writing partners. He wanted more and I…
I didn’t know what to think. I know I’m falling in love with him, that I have been every time I see him, every time I catch the dimples on his cheeks, the gleam in the eye, the way he makes me laugh like no one else in this world. God, he fucking makes me laugh.
Yet committing is scary, especially to someone who spent the better part of his time here sleeping with everyone in town. He’s a manwhore and I know he was also deeply committed to Rachel, but I’m not quite sure how safe my heart will be in his hands. I know he likes me, I know he’s coming from his heart and he means everything he says right now.
But will he mean it later?
That doesn’t really matter though because every relationship starts off with fears. It’s about a leap of faith and I’m leaping with him just as he’s leaping with me.
My boyfriend.
I hold out my hand for him as we walk toward the steps of the winery, the music and laughter drifting out from inside.
He grasps it in his, looking ever the gentleman in his suit, and steadies me, giving me strength. In the distance comes the faint hoot of an owl. The moon is low on the vineyards, bathing the rows of grapes in traces silver and there’s the fresh scent of lavender rising on the warm breeze.
“We could just stay out here,” he says, looking around wistfully. “Two for two with vineyard sex.”
I want to stay out here too, and yeah, some dirty sex in our fancy duds would be pretty hot. In fact, now I regret coming here at all.
I didn’t really mean to use Blake in the “hey, look I’m with a hot piece of ass right now” way but at the same time I didn’t think he, of all people, would mind being arm candy. When I got the email from Sarah, she sounded so sweet and happy and she’d always been that one friend who I should have stayed in touch with more. Besides, she had come to every single party that Alan and I had, so it was only fair I attend her engagement party.
But my pettiness and competitiveness came out to play, as usual. Once she told me Alan was coming with his girlfriend, I knew I couldn’t go alone. I’ve mentioned that I’m petty, right?
Luckily Blake’s been a good sport, and now that we’re actually together as a couple—as of a few minutes ago—at least I know that none of who I am will be a lie.
Except for the writing part. As much as I wish I could tell them that I’m a big deal now in some circles (they don’t have to know which circles), I know I can’t. The word would spread so fast and both our lives would come crashing down. It wouldn’t be worth it just to have them be impressed for a moment.
“Here we go,” I say to Blake, raising our joined hands in the air in a show of bravery before I take a deep breath and we head inside.
“Amanda, you came!’ Sarah says to me almost immediately, running up from the crowd.
She’s looking stunning as usual and she pulls me into a hug. Wow, she’s drunk too.
She pulls away, holding me by the shoulders and looks me up in down. “You look fantastic. Have you lost weight? My god, your boobs.” She looks over my shoulder at Blake and raises her brows, seemingly impressed. She leans in and whispers in my ear, “This is your new man? Damn, he is cute. Where on earth did you find him?”
“Hi I’m Blake,” Blake says, offering his hand, overhearing it all.
She shakes it, smiling coyly at him. “And he’s English too.”
“Yes, he is,” he says. “You must be Sarah.”
“I am.” She looks around her. “My fiancé David is somewhere, I’ll have to track him down. I’ll come find you in a bit,” she says before she hurries away into the crowd. Many of the people in the crowd now stealing glances my way. I recognize most of them, offering them a timid smile but nothing more. I’m not sure if I should be the stand-offish, shy girl that they knew me as before or go out of my way to be extra nice, to make up for the whole New Year’s Eve fiasco.