“Fuck’s sake,” I huff out, turning to Willow and ignoring the brooding arseholes around me. “How was your first morning?”
She proceeds to tell me all about it, and before long Loki joins in, with the odd word from Ash and Kai. Jax remains quiet, but that’s no surprise given his usual engagement level with strangers being zero. Our food arrives, and we all eat, continuing to chat. I invite Willow back to our dorm for dinner later, both of us silencing any arguments by offering to make shepherd's pie for the guys.
I’d call that a successful introduction.
After all, they didn’t threaten to kill her.
CHAPTERSIXTEEN
LILLY
The rest of the week is over in a flash, and before I know it, it’s Friday, and I’m getting ready for dinner at the Vanderbilt’s mansion. I’ve chosen an original nineteen-thirties bias cut gown in wine coloured velvet. It has a high scoop neckline, and is strapless, with a silk waist tie and a short train. The pièce de résistance is the back, which is completely open, the fabric gaping on either side of the opening to give tantalising glimpses of my sides as I move.
I’ve put my hair up, wisps teasing around my face and neck, and my makeup is all smokey eyes and dark red lips. And of course, my feet are in Irregular Choice heels, emerald green sequin ones with a matching bow on the toes.
“Jesus, Pretty Girl,” Loki rasps, and I look up from applying the finishing touches to my face to see him devouring me with his stare, leaning in the open doorway of his room. Luckily, the fabric is fairly thick so it hides my pebbling nipples, and I watch him in the mirror with bated breath as he stalks towards me, a predator's gleam in his eyes.
When he’s behind me, he reaches out and runs a single finger down my spine. I can’t hide the full body shiver that races across my skin at his touch.
“Fuck, if we didn’t have somewhere to be…” he trails off, swallowing and biting his lip as his other hand goes to his crotch, adjusting himself, the outline of his dick clear through his dress trousers.
He’s looking fucking edible himself in black trousers and a matching jacket, with a crisp white shirt and black bow tie. My whole body is suffused with heat, my nerve endings tingling as I stare at his reflection. I watch as he brings his hand up to my face, and lean into his touch when his finger brushes me from temple to jaw, leaving a blazing trail behind.
“You keep eye fucking me like that, Pretty Girl, and I won’t be held responsible for my actions,” he whispers in my ear, his voice low and sinful, his breath tickling my skin and stirring the hair around my face.
“Loki…” I whine, my whole body alight, my skin suddenly feeling too tight to contain the fire that is burning inside me.
“Time to go!” Jax calls from downstairs, breaking the tension that’s threatening to drown Loki and I.
Loki heaves an enormous sigh. “Come on. Let’s get this shitshow over with.”
The fire suddenly goes out, his words effectively dousing the flames and leaving me feeling nauseous. I turn with my own sigh, and he grasps my hand in his warm one, looking down as my charm bracelet tinkles. A beautiful smile tugs at his lips as he leads me out of the door, grabbing my clutch like a true gent, and down the stairs.
“Ash and Kai went ahead…” Jax starts, trailing off as he spots us. “Fuck.”
I can’t help but chuckle at his awestruck look, his eyes like blue flames as he takes me in. I’m sure mine are just as heated as his, my stare devouring him. He, like Loki, is also in a tux and bow tie, and damn, does it look fucking incredible on him. His hair is tied up in the usual sexy as fuck man bun, his beard neatly trimmed. Her Vagisty is practically weeping at this point, begging me to take them both back upstairs and get lost in their arms.
“It gets better, bro,” Loki tells him, a sexy yet pained smile on his face.Same, Loki, same.
He takes a step away from me, holding our hands up, encouraging me to do a slow twirl. A satisfied smile tilts my lips when I hear Jax curse behind me.
“Fuck,” Jax repeats, and I turn back to see him rubbing a huge hand over his face. “We best leave now before I change my mind, Baby Girl, and take you back upstairs.”
My breath hitches at the promise in his eyes, sweet anticipation making my core ache, mixing with nervous butterflies taking flight in my stomach as we leave the safety of our dorm, and head towards the lion’s den.
We walk out of the front doors to be greeted by a valet holding out Jax’s truck keys to him, the truck idling on the drive in front of us.
“Shotgun!” I cry, quickly making my way to the front passenger side and sticking out my tongue at Loki, who pouts back.
We all get in and buckle up, the butterflies flapping their wings furiously and increasing my heart rate. I don’t know why I’m so nervous. Perhaps because the boys are? Or maybe it’s just instincts. Whatever it is, I need to calm down before I explode. What I need is a distraction. Luckily for me, I’ve a hulking Viking who’s sporting a semi sitting next to me in the driver's seat.
“How far until we get there?” I ask, an idea forming in my mind as we start to drive off. I grab Jax’s phone, which is wirelessly hooked up to the speakers and scroll, selectingNight Driveby HENRY and hitting play, putting the phone back on the magnetic charging port.
“About fifteen, maybe twenty minutes,” Jax says, eyes flicking to me, driving through the ornate gates. “Why do you have that look on your face, Baby Girl?” he asks as he focuses back on the road, his brow furrowed.
“What look?” I say innocently, unbuckling my seatbelt.
“What are you doing, Pretty Girl?” I hear Loki question from the back, but my attention is all for the big guy next to me. Leaning over, trying to avoid the gearstick, I open his suit jacket, popping open the button on the waistband of his trousers.