N. Walters - MacNamaras Lady

And there was nothing wrong with looking. Admiring the way his butt filled out a tight pair of jeans or how the well-worn material lovingly cupped his male attributes. But long-term, she wanted a man she had more in common with. Better chance of having a marriage that lasted.

Right now she was doing her best to ignore the fact she was actually in his arms. It wasn’t working. The palm on the small of her back was practically burning a hole through her dress. The man gave off enough heat to send her temperature soaring.

Beneath her dress, her bra and panties felt tight and confining. Her nipples were currently pebbled against the fabric just like they’d been at the chapel. Missy was very afraid they would be visible if she took a step back.

“Everything okay?” His deep, sexy rumble set her skin to tingling. Her stomach fluttered and it wasn’t with hunger. Well, maybe it was hunger, but not the kind that could be sated with a brownie, no matter how divine it was.

He moved his hand, rubbing it in a slow sweep up and down the long length of her spine, sliding it over the nape of her neck, which was exposed by her short hairstyle. Missy swallowed hard and bit her bottom lip to keep from moaning aloud. She nodded. “Fine. Everything is just fine.”

She was proud of the way she held herself together. Then he tightened his fingers around hers and pulled her closer. When her stomach brushed against his, she felt a distinct bulge. A very substantial bulge.

She creamed her panties at the very tangible sign of his arousal and had to fight to keep from throwing herself at him. He might not be her dream man but he certainly pushed all her buttons. No doubt about it. She wanted him. Bad.

He was so close. She could smell his aftershave, something woodsy and earthy. She wanted to bury her nose against his neck and simply inhale him. His lips were inches from hers. His breathing was getting deeper and more ragged.

Usually men were shorter than her when she wore high heels. She did it on purpose, a defensive mechanism. She didn’t want a man in her life right now. It wasn’t part of the plan. She was the one to pick and choose if she wanted to date a man.

But T.S. overwhelmed her.

His breath was warm and moist against the curve of her neck, his lips soft as they grazed the skin beneath her ear. Her fingers tightened reflexively around his. He nuzzled her hair and whispered in her ear, “Let’s get out of here. Go somewhere quiet.”

His words were as effective as a bucket of cold water in the face. She snapped back to her senses, which wasn’t easy considering her wayward hormones desperately wanted to take him up on his offer. Oh yeah, her body was on board with the plan. But her brain was screaming for her to proceed with caution.

“I don’t think so.” She took a step back and was slightly disappointed when he immediately released her.

It wasn’t fair the way this man could overwhelm her senses without even trying. She was no easy one-night stand. She dated men first. They went to dinner. They went to the theatre and popular clubs. If a man lasted three months, she’d consider taking the relationship into the bedroom.

That attitude had given her a reputation. She knew some thought she was cold. She preferred to think of it as smart. Because she dated so much, many of her colleagues at work assumed she was very sexually active. Heck, even Candy thought so. But Missy had always been reserved when it came to her sexuality. Oh, she put up a very believable front. She could talk the talk, but she walked slowly and carefully.

“Thanks for the dance.” She turned away from him and made her way to Candy’s side. Once she’d said her goodbyes to the bride and groom, she’d gather her belongings and leave. It was time to go home.

Well, that had gone well. Not.

T.S. tried his best to ignore his raging hard-on as he watched Missy walk away from him. No, not walk. Saunter. The woman could move like water, flowing around a room, her hips working from side to side as she went. He swore under his breath as she leaned down to talk to Candy.

He hadn’t misread her signals. He knew he hadn’t.

She was as attracted to him as he was to her. Her nipples were poking out from the silky fabric of her dress like soldiers at attention. He’d felt her sway toward him, heard the catch in her breath when her stomach had brushed against his erection.

She hadn’t pulled away then. No, she’d only done that when he’d suggested they leave. He should have kept his mouth shut. If he’d played his cards right they might have left together a little later. But like a callow youth, he’d rushed things.

“Shit,” he muttered under his breath as he stalked to the buffet table and grabbed a soda from the ice chest. He’d already had one beer. That was his limit when he was going to be driving.

He stood in a shadowy corner of the room and did his best to ignore the heavy throbbing of his cock, willing it back into submission. He took a long pull of the fizzy soft drink, wishing like hell it was a double scotch. All the more reason not to drink, he decided. He didn’t like to be out of control. Ever. He’d allowed hormones to control him once in his life and that had led to disaster.

The situation was laughable. He, who did his best to avoid women when he was forced to attend a wedding, wanted to go home with one. But not just any one would do. It had to be Missy.

T.S. raked his fingers through his hair and sighed. Damn, he was acting pathetic. So a woman didn’t want him. No, that wasn’t quite true. She sure as hell wanted him. She just wasn’t willing to act on it. That was okay. He was a big boy and could handle a no. Wasn’t the first time he’d gotten one and probably wouldn’t be the last.

Tomorrow, he’d probably laugh his ass off at his predicament. Tonight, however, he was finding little humor in his hard-on that just wouldn’t go away.

Missy and Candy were still talking. Whatever they were discussing, Candy was becoming more animated by the second, waving her hand in the air. She grabbed Missy’s hand and dragged her toward the master bedroom. Probably some secret wedding stuff that was so important to women.

He watched until Missy disappeared from sight. Then he took a deep breath. Immediately, he felt more in control of his body. The muscles in his arms and legs relaxed and his erection slowly dissipated.

Back in control, he worked his way around the room, chatting and laughing with the other guests. T.S. hated crowds, but no one in the room would ever know that. They’d see a man who was comfortable in his own skin, someone with an easy smile and a ready laugh. He’d worked hard to cultivate that image. He’d learned early on that such a persona made life easier and kept folks from asking too many questions.

Very few people knew the real him.

And he liked it that way.

He glanced at his watch. It was just after ten. By his estimation, he’d put in enough time so as not to be considered rude if he split. He found Lucas chatting to Justin. T.S. nodded at Justin and spoke to Lucas. “I’m heading out now.”

“I’m surprised you lasted this long.” Lucas didn’t sound the least bit offended by the fact he was leaving.

“Me too.” He grinned and slapped his buddy on the back before turning to Justin. “Day after tomorrow we start work on your place.”

“I’ll be there,” Justin promised.

T.S. made his way to the front door with Lucas by his side. “I’ll catch you then, too.”

Lucas just smiled. “Maybe.”

“Be happy, my friend.” Things would be different now. T.S. wasn’t stupid enough to think otherwise. Their nights of drinking together when the memories got too bad were over. Football Sundays were probably a thing of the past. Lucas was a married man now. Candy’s presence changed their friendship. But he was glad for Lucas even as he mourned the passing of an era.