“It’s a five-star function centre?” she says, like I’m meant to understand what the problem is.
Which I actually do, so I decide to have a little fun with her. There’s no doubt their website would mainly showcase weddings and other formal gatherings. It would freak me out too if I didn’t know it was our family local, so I play along. I could only imagine what’s running through her head.
My smile widens, enjoying watching her squirm. “Only the best for my fiancé.”
Her frown deepens, and I think I hear her mutter something about setting fire to the place. I’d pay good money to see her actually try. I can’t help but laugh and release the press, deciding to put her out of her misery.
“There are smaller banquet rooms our family use on special occasions. And this is a very fucking special occasion. What? Do you think I’m the type of guy that would organise a surprise wedding just in case you changed your mind?”
Her eyebrows shoot up and her mouth opens, before she shakes her head. “You do not want me to answer that question.”
I bark out a laugh, snatching her hand, and pulling her close, so I can have her in my arms again.
“Ah, ah, ah.” She slaps my hand away, waving her finger, still nowhere near at ease. “There’s no more time for hanky panky.”
I smile and lean back on the bench, crossing my arms behind my head. “Okay, so what’s the problem?”
She sighs and gives me a look like I should know it’s never that simple with her. “I don’t have anything to wear.”
Her body sags, and she throws up her hands, looking defeated. This time, it’s me frowning.
“Did you not go shopping the other day? I told you to get everything you need.” I sit forward and search her face, suddenly realising there’s more to the story.
She doesn’t answer straight away, just stands chewing her bottom lip, brows scrunched together, looking guilty as hell.
“Well. . .” She pulls out a large wad of cash from her back pocket, most of what I had given her to shop. “To be fair. I wasn’t planning on staying, remember?”
This time I don’t listen to her protests and haul her into my arms, giving her a searing kiss.
I pull back and rest my forehead on hers, looking into her eyes. "Did you even buy anything?"
“Heaps, but mostly from Target. I needed getaway cash,” she says it so innocently, like these are normal conversations to be having.
“Babe, keep the money.” I run my thumb over her swollen lip, enjoying the way her breathing hitches. “We need to sort out the clothes situation tomorrow. But call Amari I’m sure she’ll have plenty of dresses you can borrow.”
She lets on a long pent-up breath and nods, looking at me with those big, pretty eyes. “I do have money too, you know? You don’t need to buy me everything. I’ve just not been able to touch my bank account because he tracks it.”
The mere mention of him sends chills down my back, and fire to my veins.
“We’ll sort that out tomorrow too,” I say through gritted teeth.
She nods, her cheeks a rosy pink, then leans in and takes away my simmering rage with a soft, leisurely kiss. “Okay.”
And I can take the sweet from Lilly all fucking day for the rest of our lives and die a happy man. So, of course, my hands start to roam.
“Ah, ah, ah.” She jumps up and out of my arms, giggling. “There’s too much to do.”
“Dinner’s hours away.”
“And I’m gonna need all of it to get pretty.”
“You look perfect just the way you are.”
She laughs, rolling her eyes. “Oh my god. That was cheese on a stick.”
I arch a brow, determined to do better. “Okay, how about this? You look hot as fuck, and all I want to do is bend you over and fuck you so hard you can feel me inside you all night long.”
Her cheeks flame, and she’s gnawing on her lip, unable to hold back her desire, and I’m officially done.