The One Adored (The One Trilogy Book 3) Read Free Page A

pissed you silly woman and your boyfriend is inside, well for now anyway. “You don’t seem very drunk?”
    “All day drinking is a killer and I’ve done my fair share, Lu but remember I can handle it better than you. You don’t drink the same as you used to.”
    Fair point. I don’t get taken out to drink anymore. Well not for much longer. Things were going to change after this weekend. I decide to lighten the mood and change the subject.“Suze and G are so happy. The wedding has been fab; your speech was great Seb, truly inspirational.”  
    “Big G is a star and I love your sis you know that. It was an honour to be asked. I’d be happy to find half of what they have.”
    “What, the almighty Mr. Silver might give in and get shackled one day? Nah - never happen.” I smile back at him, openly teasing him but confident of my viewpoint. He was the ultimate player, no matter how much I wished it weren’t the case.
    “Don’t think you have me all figured out…yet, Lucia Myers. There’s another side to me you’ve yet to experience. In time, my sweet lady, all in good time.”
    Fuck me !  
    That made me close my mouth and swallow my words in an instant. The waiter Seb had collared before, arrives at that opportune moment and offloads, a glass of tap water, tea for one, a pint of beer and two tequila slammers and I raise my brows at the odd combination of refreshments.
    “The beers for me. The teas for you, oh and the water. Get them down you, now.”
    “And the shots?”
    “For us - for after”
    “Eh?”
    “I want to rehydrate you and keep you standing but you’re under 25 not a fucking grandma, Lu. We can still have some fun.”
    That draws a smile from my lips and I’m reminded why he is my best-male-friend.  
    “Seb?”
    “Yup.”
    “Thanks.”
    “What for?”  
    “Putting up with me being a dick.”
    “You’re not being a dick, babe.”
    “Really?”
    “Really. You were being a total arse but once every so often is allowed - after all its not everyday your younger sis gets married. You’re obviously going to be a spinster now and you were feeling a bit put out that all the attention wasn’t on you! I get it - really I do. I was bound to happen. The thought of being left on the shelf must be messing with your head!”
    “You total shit.”  
    The beer mat hits his chest, just as he ducks and his hands grab my fingers before I can retract them, pulling me towards his body and onto his lap. “There that’s better. Now shut up, drink your tea and then we’ll get smashed, Ok?”
    “Sounds good.”
    “It does doesn’t it.”
    I wriggle across his legs, adjusting my dress, bare feet dangling and I feel him tense beneath me. “Sit still, you’ll do me an injury.”
    I don’t remember ever being this close to him. I could smell his skin, see his pulse at his throat where his cravat had loosened. His dimple flashed, as he smiled up at me and I felt his arm hug me to him. Oh boy! It’s the booze, definitely the booze.
    “You look beautiful today by the way - absolutely stunning.”  
    I lean my head into the crook of his neck to inhale more of that intoxicating scent I’d smelled yesterday. He was so familiar yet so unknown. “I do try.”
    “Pink to make the boys play with their pink oboes…”
    I laugh at his play on words. “I thought it was pink to make the boys wink?”
    “Not in my world. Right come on te…qui…la time!”  
    I grab the salt, and about to pour a dollop onto my hand when his fingers lift my hand to his mouth and locking eyes with me, dark chocolate oozing from each orb intensely, his tongue flicks out and licks a path up the side of my thumb onto my wrist.  
    Oh.My.God. Hold on to my panties - they’ve just melted.
    “Saliva holds the salt better.”
    I can hardly speak but manage to mutter a pathetic “Oh” before sprinkling salt onto the wet patch on my skin, nerve endings going haywire. He licks his own hand, smiling saucily up at me (thank fuck