Into the Tide (Cottonwood Cove #1)(61)

That was not something I ever expected a man to do for me.

Hugh was this big, rugged guy, but he was so attentive and caring at the same time.

I’d offered to return the favor and attempted to drop to my knees, but he’d tugged me back up and pulled me onto the bed, where we’d both fallen asleep for two hours.

Apparently, orgasms really wiped me out because I rarely napped, but I’d had no problem dozing off.

We’d gotten up and dressed for the rehearsal dinner, which was here at the hotel restaurant. It was going to be a small group, and just family, and I was thankful that I had my black cocktail dress from the awards banquet I’d attended after winning nationals.

“Damn, you look gorgeous,” he purred as he tugged me close to him.

He wore a white button up, which was wrinkled, per usual. But he wore black fitted dress slacks and dress shoes. His hair was wavy and thick. After watching the little he had to do to make it look sinfully sexy, I envied him. I’d had to add waves to my hair after the bath and the nap, as my hair obviously took a bit more effort.

“You look beautiful,” I said, pushing up on my toes to kiss him.

We hadn’t kissed enough. I wanted to spend hours kissing this man.

He must have felt the same way because the next thing I knew, his hands were beneath my butt, and he lifted me up, causing my dress to bunch at my waist, and my legs wrapped around him. He turned so my back was against the wall, and his tongue tangled with mine. My fingers were in his hair, and I’d never wanted someone so badly in my life.

We stood there kissing for what felt like forever, when his phone buzzed in his back pocket. He groaned and pulled back.

“What are you doing to me, Snow?”

“I could ask you the same thing.”

“Yeah? Do you know how much I want you?” he asked, his voice gruff and his lips just a breath away.

“You did stop me from returning the favor.” I looked up at him and studied his gaze. That little voice in the back of my head had wondered why he didn’t let me unzip his pants and pleasure him the way he’d pleasured me.

His sage-green eyes searched mine. “And you think that’s because I don’t want you?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know, but the thought did cross my mind.”

He gripped my hips and lowered me over his engorged erection. My eyes widened as he slid me down and then slowly lifted me back up. “It’s definitely not that.”

“What is it, then?”

“I’m not ready to take anything from you. Right now, I fucking love pleasing you. But it’s not because I don’t want you. I’ve never wanted anyone more.”

I let out a long, strained breath and placed a hand on each of his cheeks. “Pleasing you would be giving me something.”

He smiled this big, wide grin. “You’re too fucking sweet for your own good, Snow. Come on. Everyone’s downstairs waiting for us. You can tell me all the ways you want to please me after dinner.”

He slid me down his body until my feet hit the floor. The man was so tall. His hands were large. His shoulders broad. Yet, we somehow fit together, no matter what position we were in. Standing. Hugging. Sitting. Me grinding against him. I didn’t know how it worked so well, but it did. “Sounds like a deal.”

He adjusted himself and groaned before pulling the door open, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

We stood next to one another on the elevator, the backs of our hands touching, as his finger looped around mine until the doors opened. Then we both stepped off and made our way to the restaurant.

His hands slipped into his pockets, and we were just two friends attending a wedding together again.

“Hugh! Lila!” Georgia came running toward us with a mopey-looking guy behind her. He had surfer vibes, but he looked uncomfortable as he stood there.

Hugh wrapped his arms around his sister before she turned to me and gave me a big hug. “Damn, Lila. This dress is gorgeous.”

“Thank you. I love yours,” I said, taking in her black slip dress.

“Thanks. This is Dikota,” she said as she introduced us.

“Nice to meet you.” I smiled, and Hugh grunted something, but the way he stood hovering over the smaller man had me biting back a laugh. He could be so big and growly when he wanted to be.

Gracie came running up and held her arms up for Hugh, and he scooped her right up. Cage gave me a hug and glanced over at Hugh and then at Dikota, and the two brothers appeared to be communicating without using words.

“There they are. Lila, I want to introduce you to Kaeran.” Brinkley paused to hug Hugh, and then he extended his arm to her boyfriend, who nodded and shook his hand.

“How’s the restaurant business, Hugh?” Kaeran asked.

“It’s going really well. I found me a secret weapon,” he said, winking at me, and I swear my belly did little flips and I felt my face heat. “Lila has things running smooth enough to let me sneak away for a weekend.”

Georgia studied her brother before turning to me with a big smile on her face. “Come on, let’s get a drink.”

The next hour was spent greeting family and seeing all Dylan’s sisters, who I hadn’t seen in years. They were all pregnant, aside from Dylan, and everyone was joking that there must be something in the Honey Mountain water. I met their husbands, and everyone was having a good time.