The Sweet Addiction Series Collection: Sweet Addiction, Sweet Possession & Sweet Obsession (49 page)

“Yours,” I answer breathlessly. I let my head fall against his shoulder. “I need to start getting ready. Joey will freak out if I make us late to wherever the hell we’re going.”

He kisses the corner of my mouth before sliding his hand out and sucking on his finger. “I need to get ready, too. But you will be sitting on my face later.”

“Promise?” I tease, standing and making my way to the bathroom. I turn when I don’t get a response just in time to see him drop his shorts, displaying his massive erection. I stumble a bit. “Wow. I mean, we have a little time, right?”

He arches his brow. “Get in there before I pin you against the wall. You know I hate rushing when it comes to you.” I pull my shirt over my head, flashing him and pairing it with my best flirtatious smile. He shakes his head. “Go, love.”

“Yes, Mr. Carroll.”

By the time I reemerge from the bathroom, ready to get this night over with, Reese has already dressed and left the room. I walk over to my suitcase and grab the black high heels I packed. They are dangerously high, buckle around my ankle, and scream sex kitten. I might actually kill myself wearing these tonight, but when the hell else am I going to wear them? Besides to bed with Reese, which will definitely be happening very soon. I strap them on and walk over to the floor-length mirror hanging on the wall. My blonde hair is falling over my bare shoulders. My makeup is looking on point and very sexy, thanks to my false eyelashes, and my dress is short, black, and practically a second skin. It’s probably a good thing Reese has left the room already because I seriously doubt he’d let me walk out of here in this. He took it upon himself months ago to categorize the majority of my wardrobe as
for his eyes only
, leaving me with only a few dresses deemed fit for public outings, according to his standards. And none of those dresses would do tonight. This
is
my bachelorette party; I’m supposed to look sinful. Besides, he can rip this off my body later and do whatever the hell he wants with it. And by it, I mean my dress
and
my body.

“Holy shit,” Joey practically squeals as I walk very carefully down the stairs. Juls and Brooke are standing by the doorway, both in tight dresses themselves, and Joey is looking exceptional in a dress shirt and khakis. “Thank Christ the guys left already. There’s no way in Hell Reese would approve of that dress, which you look amazing in.”

I smile widely. “Thanks. You don’t look so bad yourself.”

“You look incredible, sweets,” Juls adds as I come to a stop at the last step. She points at my feet with her perfectly manicured finger. “I need to borrow those shoes immediately.
They
are fabulous.”

“The limo’s here!” Brooke chirps, swinging the door open. “Let’s get this party started.”

I hold my clutch with one hand as Joey takes my other, looping it through his arm. “Are you ready to get down and dirty, cupcake?”

I smile at him, concealing my apprehension. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

“I can’t believe you got a limo for this. Did the boys leave in one, as well?” I ask, climbing into the back of the stretch-Hummer-style limo that could easily fit twenty people. The last time I was in a limousine was prom, and it was nowhere near as nice as this one. The cool leather of the seats chills my legs as I slide over to the bench seat.

“No. They aren’t fabulous like we are. They all left in a cab,” Joey answers as he settles into the seat to my right. Juls slides in next to him and smiles at me, pulling the hem of her dress down on her bare thighs.

Brooke opens one of the cabinets and grabs a bottle of champagne and several flutes. “Let’s make a toast.”

“Should you be pouring that? Didn’t you pre-game it at the house with a few of the minis from the fridge?” Joey asks, scooting closer to Brooke.

Brooke glares at him. “Shut up, you queen. I’m perfectly capable of pouring under tipsy conditions.” She fills the glasses, handing them out to the three of us. Joey takes his with a disapproving look before dropping it to give me his winning smile. “Who wants to do the honors?” Brooke asks.

“Me. I have to practice for Saturday anyway.” Juls holds her glass in front of her, prompting the rest of us to do the same. She beams at me sweetly. “To my very best friend, Dylan, who deserves all the happiness in the world. We all love you very much, sweets.” Her lip quivers a bit and she looks down, hiding her teary eyes. She wipes her finger across her cheek. “Sorry. I’m just so happy for you.”

Joey sniffles next to her and squeezes her knee.

“You guys are lame. Is this how it’s going to be all night?” Brooke asks. She tips her glass back when no one responds and downs the contents. I smile over at my two best friends, motioning to them for us to do the same. Brooke collects our empty glasses before reaching up and rubbing the back of her neck. “That stupid couch was not meant to be slept on. I’m getting a bed tonight.”

“Not mine,” Joey informs her. He looks out the window as the limo begins to slow down. “Oooo, we’re here!”

My nerves hit me in one big rush, not knowing what to expect when I step out of the vehicle. I try to look out the window, but Brooke blocks my view as she stands and smoothes her dress.
Shit. I really don’t want to go to some seedy strip club where you’re most likely to catch an STD just from breathing the air. But I can’t bail, not when we’re already here.

Juls places her hand on the door, looking back in my direction. “You ready, sweets?”

I nod and force my most convincing smile. Juls and Joey file out of the limo, followed by Brooke. I scoot myself along the bench seat and take Joey’s offered hand that’s held out for me, mentally preparing myself for what I’m about to endure. And then, I step out of the limo.

I am expecting neon lights and loud music pumping from a building.

I am expecting drunk patrons stumbling along the street and the smell of booze and cigarettes.

But I am not expecting this.

The limo has dropped us off outside a very ritzy establishment, the words ‘Bella Donna Day Spa’ scrolled in fancy script above the doorway. I turn toward my two best friends who are smiling at me. “We’re having a spa day?”

“This is what you wanted, isn’t it?” Juls asks.

The tenseness in my shoulders has disappeared completely. I reach for Juls’ hand and she places hers in mine, squeezing it gently.

Joey wraps his arm around my shoulder. “Did you really think I’d make your bachelorette party all about me? What kind of friend would I be if I did that?”

“But you told me to dress sexy.”

He runs his eyes up and down my body. “And you knocked it out of the park. Don’t worry, we’ll put that dress to use when we go dancing after this.”

I lay my head on his shoulder as he directs me to the door, following behind Juls and Brooke. “Thank you, Joey.”

He kisses the top of my head. “Come on, cupcake. Let’s enjoy some massages.”

I really have the two best friends in the world.

Juls and Joey set me up with a two-hour hot stone massage, which worked every single knot from my back that had begun to set in due to wedding-planning stress. Juls, Joey, and Brooke all received massages themselves while I passed out during my session. If I had my phone with me, I would’ve informed Reese that my masseuse had amazing fingers. Very feminine, amazing fingers. I’d never let him think another man had his hands on me. I’m very aware of his views on that, even if it is in a spa setting.

After that, the four of us drank wine while we got manicures and pedicures. Brooke even seemed happy about the festivities, not once complaining she wasn’t getting her rocks off somewhere. Once we were all relaxed and buzzing from the wine, we were served a fancy lunch in the private bridal room: tiny cucumber and chicken salad sandwiches, assorted fruits and cheeses, and of course, more wine. Thank God for the food because I would’ve needed carrying out of there if I didn’t have something to absorb the alcohol that seemed to be free flowing.

Feeling full and borderline-tipsy after my relaxing afternoon, I can barely keep my eyes open as we make our way to our next stop. Juls and Brooke are talking quietly as I lean my head on Joey’s shoulder.

“What do you think the boys are doing right now?”

He sighs. “Well, if it were a different bunch of men, I’d say they were getting panties thrown at them. But Reese only desires your panties, and Ian is so whipped it’s almost laughable.” Juls overhears this and flips Joey off as she continues to giggle with Brooke. “And Billy…” Joey’s voice trails off as he reaches up and fixes the collar of his shirt.

I lean up and kiss his stubbly jaw. “He loves you. You know that, right?”

He nods, dropping his worried façade. “I know. I’m just in a funk. Once you’re hitched, I’ll be the only single girl left at the party.” I swat at his leg and he laughs just as the limo comes to a stop. He peers down at me. “You ready to work that outfit at the hottest club in the Big Easy, cupcake?”

Dancing with my two best friends… and Brooke?
I glance around at the three smiling faces. “Hell yes, I am. Let’s do this.”

Joey leads the way past the bouncer and into the Raging Rhino. The dance floor is packed with people, and the music is bumping through the speakers. This place is massive and a serious step up from the clubs we’ve been to in Chicago, and I always considered Clancy’s to be on the fancy side. It’s two floors, the bottom one containing a bar that stretches the length of the dance floor. The top level is roped off and a security guard is standing at the bottom of the stairs, granting access to certain individuals. Brooke squeals excitedly behind me as Juls turns her head and leans close to Joey and me.

“I say we dance first then hit up the bar,” she yells over the music. Joey and I both nod in agreement, making our way toward the middle of the dance floor.

By some miracle, I’m able to dance without any problem in my sky-high heels, and I do just that with Joey, Juls, and Brooke dancing next to me. Even though there are tons of people around us, the dance floor is so large we all have plenty of room to move. Joey uses that to his advantage and spins around in a way only he does. I hold my hair off my neck and move my body to some remixed version of “Sexy Back” by Justin Timberlake. It becomes a competition, the three of us all trying to out-dance the other for what feels like hours. My feet at one point become numb, and I don’t care in the least that I’ll probably have blisters; I’m having too much fun to care. As one song blends in to another, I glance around and realize Brooke is missing.

I wave my hands out in front of me, getting the attention of Juls and Joey. “Where’s Brooke?”

They both glance around, Juls spinning in a circle and looking over the heads of the other dancers. She shrugs when she turns back to both of us. “Bathroom, maybe?”

“Who cares where she is? Ooooo, this is my jam!” Joey squeals.

“Single Ladies” by Beyoncé comes on, and Joey begins to do the entire dance routine from memory, probably better than Mrs. Carter herself, and that’s saying a lot. Juls and I buckle over in laughter as he nails it, not caring what the hell anyone thinks of him. Because it’s Joey we’re talking about; the man has zero shame and I love him for it.