“I’m not. Not even a little bit. This one…” I nod and smile because I can’t help myself. “This one, I’m gonna marry.”
Staci ends any further conversation with Owen about my mystery woman when she announces, “Time for this birthday girl to open her gifts.”
I stand in the corner halfway listening to the bullshit Owen and River are talking about while I watch Claudia open her gifts. A designer purse. Watch. Clothes. New phone. Cash. Gift Cards. She looks thrilled with all the gifts she has received.
“Thank you to everyone who came tonight to celebrate my birthday. And thank you for the wonderful gifts. I love everything.”
“One more to open.” A look passes between Claudia and her mom when she hands her my gift. Her mouth turns up when she sees the gold Mac Jewelers logo on the gift box and she does a shit job of hiding how pleased she is when she reads my name on the card. Good thing all this secrecy ends tomorrow. I think we’re done fooling everyone.
Her eyes widen and her lips part when she sees the diamond heart pendant. “I love it, Duke. Thank you.”
I mouth, “You’re welcome.”
“Is that real?” Owen says.
“Yes.”
“Dude, you better be careful buying diamonds for another woman. The mystery woman won’t like that shit.”
Staci slaps her hands together. “We’ve got grilled burgers, hot dogs, chips, and drinks out back. There’s plenty so help yourself to anything you want.”
Everyone disperses out the French doors toward the food on the patio but Claudia hangs back. She waits until the crowd is gone to come to me and wrap her arms around my shoulders. She kisses the side of my face. Nothing romantic. To anyone else it would appear like a kiss a sister would give her brother. “It’s gorgeous.”
“Not as gorgeous as the girl who will be wearing it.”
“Will you put it on me?”
“Yeah. Turn around.”
She lifts her hair, and as always, her signature peaches and cherry blossom fragrance tempts me, her skin teases me, her nearness seduces me. I want my mouth on every part of her. “We’ve waited a long time for tonight, but I swear to God today has felt like an eternity. I may die before I get you beneath me tonight.”
“Come with me.” Claudia grabs my hand, leads me down the hallway to her bedroom, and pulls her door shut.
“Someone could find us in here.”
She twists the lock on the doorknob. “We’re okay. No one is going to come in here. They’re too busy stuffing their faces.”
My girl reaches for the button of my jeans, yanks it open, and lowers the pull tab of my zipper. “I want to show you how much I love my necklace.”
Oh.
Fuck.
I want that too, but damn. Most everyone we know is only fifty feet away. “Claud. Everyone’s right—” I don’t finish the sentence because she puts her finger over my lips.
“Shh. Just lean back and enjoy what I’m going to do for you.” She opens my jeans and slides her hand into my boxer briefs. “See? You want this. You’re already hard.”
“Of course, it’s hard. It hasn’t quit being hard all week; I haven’t been able to stop thinking about tonight.”
She pulls out my cock and lowers herself to her knees.Fuck. She’s on her knees in front of me. Licking her lips and looking up at me. So fucking hot.
Her warm, wet tongue starts at the base and licks my length. When she gets to the head, she swipes her tongue over the tip and drinks the pearl of moisture.Fuck. She just swallowed my pre-cum.
She wraps her hands around my balls and massages when she takes me into her mouth.
All. The. Way. In.
Deep. Throating.