“Stella, bedroom now!” I walk past her and into her room, stepping over clothes everywhere.
“You better want me back here to kiss me senseless or else that tone will never work!” she hisses behind me.
“You can’t wear that, babe, I’ll go crazy here,” I say without looking at her.
“What’s wrong with this?”
I turn and take in the midnight blue halter dress that barely covers her hips and cringe at the sky-high heels. She’s a walking wet dream. Gay or not, she’s going to turn heads when she walks in the club tonight.
Her face falls again, reminding me of the night at my brother’s party when I went crazy over her bathing suit. “Nothing’s wrong, babe. It’d be nice if you would wear a little more clothing. You look amazing. Come here.” I hold out my arms and she walks into them.
Her skin against mine is almost my undoing. She lifts her head to kiss me quickly and then steps back.
“You have nothing to worry about. I’ll behave. I love drag shows. I have a side bet going with Laci. If I can catch the eye of one of the acts and get on stage, she owes me dinner.”
“I’ll buy her out right now if you change.”
“Nope, fair is fair. Now what are you doing tonight?”
“I have a little work, some fantasy football, maybe some last minute shopping for my sexy as sin girlfriend who didn’t let me know her birthday was on Sunday.”
“Are you mad?” She bites her lip.
“Mad at myself for not knowing. It’s important to me to know everything about you. I overlooked that while trying to convince you to give me a chance. But I have to question how were you expecting to get out of here on Sunday and me not know?”
“I figured dinner with the parents was too soon for you.”
“Really? You met practically my whole family.”
“Yeah, but I figured that was different. I don’t know why, but I was nervous.”
“Babe, don’t be. I’m excited about meeting your parents and sister. Hell, I even have to meet the Barnes family.”
“I’m sorry about that. They’re really awesome people. I promise.”
“I don’t care if they’re not. By the end of the night, no one will doubt how I feel about you. Now you better go, before I change my mind about you leaving.”
“What about my kiss?”
I wrap my hands around her waist and pull her close. Her breath hitches against my lips and I lick, delicately outlining her mouth. Vanilla fills my senses and I press closer. Her taste is exhilarating and it takes extreme self-control to pull away, but I have a plan tonight and it includes her out of the house.
I kiss along her lips, savoring her flavor and open my eyes to her starry gaze. Pure lust. I mentally give myself a pat on the back.
“Fucking vanilla kisses. I’ll never get tired of them.”
“In that case, I’ll never change my lip gloss.”
“Bella, be careful tonight. Call me if you need me.”
“Okay,” she whispers breathlessly.
After I hear the door close and the car drive away, I go on a mission. It’s breaking every fucking cardinal rule about snooping, but I don’t give a shit. I’ll spend the next fifty years apologizing, but my woman’s going to have the most memorable birthday ever.
Several hours later, I’m in a limo with the best champagne money can buy. I’ve stopped by three stores and am satisfied with my purchases. The guy I hired to watch Stella tonight has been keeping me updated with texts and videos. When I saw her dirty dancing with a couple of drag queens on stage, it was time to take matters into my own hands.
Dressed in torn jeans and a baggy shirt, I pull the ball cap over my head when we arrive at the nightclub.
The scene in front of me is nothing compared to my beautiful Bella, on stage dancing with a diva of sorts. I stop moving when I spot Laci and Landon on the side dancing with an enormous man. Landon is wearing leopard print leggings pants that hit above the knee. My eyes burn at the sight. Both are swaying off-beat to the music.