Текст книги "Cruel and Beautiful"

Автор книги: A. M. Hargrove

Соавторы: Terri E. Laine
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Текущая страница: 6 (всего у книги 28 страниц)

He interrupts my cock-thoughts. His thumb and forefinger grab my chin and tip it so I’m forced to look at him. “Now it’s my turn.”

My palms, which are still sweaty, need a wipe on my jeans, but I don’t want to give that away. He knows I’m edgy. Hell, he can probably hear my damn heart race. It sounds like a freaking jackhammer to me.

He pulls my sweater over my head and stares at me in my bra. Then he sits on the bed and opens his thighs. Pulling me between them, he unbuttons my jeans. Now I stand in bra and panties only. Good thing I took off my socks and shoes in the bathroom.

“Your skin is perfect.” He runs his fingers from my neck to the top of my panties. “Unhook your bra for me, please.” I do as he asks and watch his face. His eyes roam my body but I thought they’d zero in on my breasts. They do for a moment, but then ultimately land on my own eyes. “You undo me, Cate.”

His finger moves to the top of my lace panties. He runs along the top, but doesn’t dip any further than that yet. “Is this okay?”

“Yes.” My voice is unsteady and I don’t sound like myself.

“You look sexy enough to eat and I’m going to eat you, Cate.”

“I know. I want you to.”

“I’m going to take your panties off now.” He pushes them down my legs and I nervously step out of them. Then he takes my hands and places them on his shoulders. A fleeting thought about how smooth and tidy Louise looks pops in my mind. But it’s gone with his next words. “Spread your legs for me. And by the way, your pussy looks beautiful all smooth, but I would have liked it any way.”

When he touches me I want to cry out but I watch in fascination. I bite my lips because I don’t want to make a fool out of myself. A hot wave sweeps into my belly as he strokes me back and forth and then rubs me in a circular motion. I’m sure I’m dripping. Now I know why he put my hands on his shoulders. When he stops, I cry out. “No!”

“Shh, hang on.” He lifts me and sets me back down on the bed. At first I don’t understand why, but what he does next gives me my answer. He spreads my legs and his mouth teases the inside of first one, and then the other thigh. “I’ve been dying to do this. I want to hear my name when you come, Cate. I want to have your taste on my tongue when you come for me for the first time.”

Oh, god. When his tongue trips over my nub, I almost scream. And here I thought his fingers were awesome. What the hell did I know? Louise is going to do a happy dance. But the thing that grabs my heart the most is when his eyes seek out mine over the skyline of my body. His lids flutter as though I’m the finest delicacy on Earth. He hums against my skin and I’m transfixed by the fact that he derives as much pleasure from this as I do.

I’m jolted out of my trance when he adds a finger and hits that mystical g-spot all my friends talk about. He presses and rubs it as his tongue continues to dance circles around that tiny bundle of nerves and I feel everything tightening, tensing. My arms stretch wide as I clench the comforter between my fingers. I can feel every breath he exhales across my flesh and it only heightens where he licks and sucks. And then it happens. It starts in the arches of my feet and spreads up my legs, fanning out across my body. My first Drew-gasm.

“Oh god, Drew, Drew, Drew.” It’s all I can think or say as I come all over his mouth and hand. And it’s extraordinary. My hands move to grasp his hair and I’m unaware of anything as my world narrows down to the intensity of my climax.

When it finally ceases, my fingers still fist his hair. I release it as soon as I come to my senses. Poor guy. And he never said a word about it.

“Wow. That was … did they teach you that in medical school?”

He shakes his head, chuckling. “No, we didn’t have an Oral Sex elective. But Cate, you were beautiful.” He crawls up and lies next to me, resting his weight on his elbow. A hand travels up and down the curves of my body. “I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything.” He pauses and stares at me with so much reverence I’m almost afraid of what he might say. “I know I already asked you this. But are you sure you’re ready for this? Say the word and we don’t have to go any further.”

I don’t have to think about it at all. I’ve been ready to lose my V card since dickwad. He just didn’t get the job done and until I met Drew, the right one hadn’t come along. I’m not sure where this relationship will go. But I know he will make this experience something I’ll want to remember, not forget.

“Yes, I’m ready. I want you, Drew. Now. Please.” And I do.

He reaches in his nightstand and comes out with a condom. I watch him roll it down his shaft and it’s hot. Totally hot.

“Can I do that next time?”

He grins. “Absolutely.” Turning serious again, he asks, “Would you like to be on top or bottom? Top will give you more control and could possibly make it better for you.”

A case of extreme self-consciousness attacks me so I try to hide my nakedness with my arms. Top is way too exposing for me. How could I possibly do that? “I-I can’t be on top,” I sputter.

He pins me with his eyes. A hand covers mine and he loosens the near death grip I have on my arm. When his fingers lace with mine, he gently tugs, and my arm relaxes. “You don’t have to be on top, Cate. It was just a thought. I want this to be as good as it can get.” He moves over me, hovering, and rests on his forearms. “If I haven’t told you this, you are so beautiful, lying here with me. Being with you, like this, has consumed me. I know this may suck for you, but let me know if you want me to stop at any time. I’ll go slow, but there’s no getting around the hurt.”

I put my hand on his cheek. “Drew, I’m not worried about the pain. It was a little awkward for me being naked, you know…” I trail off. “Let’s just get it over with.” My stomach’s knotted with anticipation but I want this first time to be behind us already.

His eyes droop. “I don’t want this to be like that.”

I immediately regret my words. “That came out all wrong. I just want the painful part to be over with.”

“I don’t want to hurt you at all.”

“But you might not be able to help it.”

His hand moves between us and he rubs me a bit. Then he pushes himself in my opening. A little at a time he enters me, and then he stops. His forehead creases as he strains to hold himself in check. I can tell it’s difficult for him.

I want to get to the good part, but I know this part has to happen first. I’ve heard friends talk about it. So I’m as prepared as I’m going to be. “You know the Nike slogan?”

He looks at me like I’m nuts. “Yeah, why?”

“Just do it, Drew.”

His mouth curves up.

“Go on,” I urge.

One hand reaches under me and I already see the apology in his eyes. And then he thrusts. No, it’s more like a serious ram. Once, twice and then he’s in. And holy motherfucker it stings like fire. He stills and I know it’s because I’ve turned into marble. Frozen in time. I can’t move. I just want to lie there until the pain goes away. He makes all these little calming noises, but I don’t hear them for a second or two. I bite my lips to keep from howling. But then the pain eases off and after another minute or two or three, it finally slips away. I slowly come back to my senses.

“Deep breath, sweetheart. Come on. Just one,” he says.

I breathe. And my body relaxes. I do it again and I feel better and better.

Then I notice he’s rubbing my face, my forehead, and pressing tiny kisses all over me.

“You better?” he asks.

“Yeah. I am. Do you think you can move?” When he starts to roll off of me, I stop him by grabbing his face and I smile. “No, not that kind of move. I mean move inside of me.”

“You’re sure?” he asks tentatively.

Still smiling, I say, “I’m very sure.”

His lips skim mine. “You don’t hurt?”

“Not now.”

He starts to test the waters. And while I have to say I’m not completely pain free, it’s more soreness than actual pain. So I tell him.

“Thank god. I was afraid I’d really hurt you.”

I shake my head. “I’m good. For a minute there, it wasn’t great, but now, I’m fine.”

Slowly he increases his pace until he moves in earnest. He lifts his body a little, but only enough to slide his arm between us. Then I feel his fingers on my clit and everything intensifies. Throughout all this, I can’t help but watch him. Even though the sensations I’m experiencing are awesome, observing him is a sensuous journey in itself and I respond to that, too. Before long, I am caught up in everything—Drew, the sounds he makes, the way he looks and feels against my skin and inside of me, and the way he reacts to me. And before I know what’s happening, I’m tumbling, falling as I orgasm and he calls out my name as he follows.

My hands are molded to his ass and I didn’t even know I’d put them there. I release the pressure on them and smooth my hands over his cheeks, then I roam up the wide sea of his back. His muscles tense beneath my fingers but my eyes dig into his, bright blue with deeper striations. They remind me of the ocean on a clear spring day. “Kiss me, Drew.”

He does, beginning at one corner of my mouth, playing with my upper and lower lip. His tongue darts in and out of my mouth. He’s an artful kisser, doing all sorts of lovely things with his tongue. All of a sudden he rolls over and I’m on top.

“I want you this way, next time. I want to see you ride me, Cate. With your head thrown back and your hair tumbling all over the place. Tell me I didn’t hurt you too much. I know you already said it, but I need to hear it again.” He takes my hand and kisses each fingertip.

“At first it stung more than hurt, and then it went away. But then … I had an amazing orgasm.”

“I could tell. I felt it when you came.”

“You did?” This fascinates the hell out of me. “Tell me.”

“You squeezed me. In sequences. Like a song keeping tempo.” What a nice way to put it.

I’m riding on a post sex high and I love how I don’t feel awkward with Drew like I did with the dickwad. It feels so good that I can just be honest about how I feel.

“I love the way you sound when you come.” I’m sure my face is pink when I say this.

“Hmmm. Then I’ll have to come more often, won’t I?”

He makes me feel empowered that I could get him there. Still, I’m a bit shy when I say, “I suppose so.”

“But right now, I need to pull out of you and get rid of this condom, even though it’s the last thing I want to do.”

“Right. I guess it’s the smart thing to do.” I shimmy off him and let him up. And I miss him immediately. I hear the toilet flush and the water running. Then he’s back with a smile, a glass, and something in the other hand.

“What’s this?”

“Ibuprofen. I don’t want you to be sore.”

“Thanks.” I swallow the pills.

He pulls me back on top of him. “I’d like to make you come again and again, but I don’t want you to be any more sore than you already are.”

“I think you’re making a bigger deal out of this than is necessary.”

“No, I’m not. Besides, I have to get up early for my shift.” He rubs my back and I purr.

“Okay, I’ll give you a pass then.”

“Cate, you need to go use the restroom.”

“No, I’m fine.”

“No, sweetheart, you do.”

Lifting my head so I can look at him, I ask, “Why’s that?”

He cups my cheek and says, “For a couple of reasons. One, it’s a great idea to do that after sex. It prevents bladder infections. I could give you my professional explanation, but I don’t think you need that right now. And two, when you get to the bathroom, you’ll see why.”

And then it hits me. Blood. Fuck! How embarrassing. He sees my reaction and says, “Don’t you dare be embarrassed by this. It was beautiful and amazing and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Now go before I take you myself.”

Scrambling out of the bed, I scurry into the bathroom and when I look at my thighs, I screech. In less than a few seconds, the door busts open and he’s in there with me.

“Can I just tell you something? A little blood goes a long way. What looks like a whole lot on you there, is only a little bit. Calm down and why don’t we get in the shower?”

I shake my head and say, “Okay. But let me use the bathroom first and then put my hair up.”

He walks out and I use the facilities. Then I call him back in and he enters while I’m twisting my hair up in an elastic.

He turns on the shower and when the temperature is right, we get in. He squirts some shower gel in his hands and rubs them together. “May I?”

“Yes.” How can I say no?

Before I know what’s happening, he spins me around and pulls me back against him. “You’re so gorgeous, Cate.” Then, soapy hands dip between my thighs and gently wash me. He slides them all over and back between us, all around to make sure all the blood is washed away. Then he turns me back around and lets the shower rinse the suds away. He lathers up again and washes the rest of my body.

When he’s finished, I say, “My turn.” I mimic everything he did. It’s kind of funny because when his back is to me, he’s so much taller than I am, I feel like a little kid. But my hands reach around and take hold of his erect cock. His arms stretch out to brace himself on the wall. I work the lather all around him, and he moans. This may turn into something way more than a shower. As I turn him back around, the look on his face has me moaning, too.

“Drew.”

“Cate.”

“I want you.”

“No. You’ll hurt too much tomorrow.”

“I should be the judge of that. Not you.”

“Not in here. No condoms.”

I look up at him, and then down at his erection. My mind is made up. I drop to my knees and put my mouth on him. He’s large, but not ridiculously huge like you read about in those romance novels. His cock doesn’t jut out and reach his chest, meaning it’s not eighteen inches long. No, thank god. I would run screaming from this shower if it did. But it is large and thick. Just perfectly pretty. A nice tawny shade with a lovely mushroom cap on top. And he feels like velvet.

Blow jobs are not my specialty. In fact, I’ve only ever given a couple. So I decide to stop and tell him if I’m doing something wrong, he needs to tell me. Or if there’s something he wants me to do, to tell me that, too.

“Just put your pretty mouth on me, Cate, and lick and suck. And leave the teeth out of it. Well maybe a little bit of teeth.”

With his erection back in my mouth, I do what I think I would like if I were a man. Apparently, I’m right. Because he thrusts his pelvis forward to meet my rhythm and starts talking.

“Oh god, Cate. So damn good.”

My tongue decides to take a trip down cock road. So it roams from base to tip, up down, up down. Faster, faster and then I put the whole thing in my mouth, sucking until I take it all and he sucks air in through his teeth. Then he makes this groaning sound and I decide to play with his balls. I squeeze, like I’m pumping, but softly, gently. And he starts calling out my name again.

“Cate, Cate, Cate, Catelyn. Catelyn.” The last time he says it really long and drawn out. Then he tries to back away from me. “I’m gonna come.”

Isn’t that the point? Why is he backing away?

“Catelynnnnnnn!” And he comes. “Ah, ah, ah,” he repeats. Guys really do love their head.

When he finishes, he touches my cheek in the most loving gesture. Next thing, he picks me up and kisses me. “This shower was supposed to be all about you. And look at what you did. You sucked me off until … well until I lost myself. You weren’t supposed to let me come in your mouth.”

“Why not? Isn’t that the point? To come?”

“Oh, Cate.” Then he laughs. We rinse again, then get out of the almost cold shower.

After we dry off, we get back in bed. Drew turns to me and asks, “Were you pleased tonight?”

“Is that a trick question?”

“No. I don’t want you leaving here not feeling like you had the best sex of your life.”

Now I laugh. “Drew, I had the only real sex of my life and it was great. And if you’d let me, I’d be humping you right now.”

He smooths a hand down my hair. “You’re a mess.”

Wide-eyed, I glance up at him. “You think so?”

His smile is playful. “Yeah.”

“So you liked Louise, did you?”

With a puzzled look he asks, “Who the hell is Louise?”

“Sasquatch’s neighbor.”

At first he mouths, What the fuck. Next, laughter reverberates off the walls. Finally he says, “Louise is one in a million, Cate.”

“Well, Louise wants me to tell you she is ecstatic she finally got to meet you.”

I WANT YOU TO LEAVE THISroom now and go home, but I don’t want you to come back after you shower. I want you to say your goodbyes to me right here, right now.

A fine sheen of cool sweat covers my entire body when I’m jarred awake by the impact of the dream. The echoes of his voice make it more real than anything else. The wetness on my ears alerts me that I’ve been crying too. I sit up and fight the urge to hide under the covers from my past. I know why I’m starting to dream that moment. I only wonder why it’s taken several days for it to show up.

Later as I press my head to the chilled tiles in the shower, the memories still linger. I let the remnants of the tears spill as I try to wash away my sins. It isn’t until I get to work that the memories are finally shoved back into their proper place, deep in a recessed closet in the back of my mind.

It’s early and I watch in fascination when Mandy skulks in with large sunglasses on and her head hanging low as if she’s hiding from the paparazzi. I push away my keyboard as she comes into my office, leaving the door open behind her.

“What am I going to do?” she asks as she drops into a chair and covers her face with her hands. I can’t help the laugh that escapes me. “This is so not funny.”

“It totally is,” I say much to her annoyance.

She glances up from where she hangs her head on the edge of the desk. She removes her sunglasses and stares straight at me. “I don’t remember a thing.”

I arch a brow. “And?”

“And, he remembers everything. I had to fake an appointment to get him out. He wanted breakfast. Can you believe it?”

My laughter relieves some of the pressure I’ve been feeling all morning. “Admit you like him.”

Everything on her face widens. Her mouth and her eyes take on a ghostly impression as they mimic saucers. “I so do not.”

“You do,” I say chuckling. “You so have it bad.”

“I don’t do relationships,” she says with a vehemence I almost believe.

“Morning.” I glance up to see Daniel framing my doorway. He aims his next comment to Mandy’s back. “Morning, beautiful.”

I’m not sure how she does it, but Mandy’s eyes grow ever larger in a cartoonish way. I just stare not wanting to give anything away. Slowly, she turns and I can see a hint of the smile she gives him.

“Morning, Daniel. We should—”

He cuts her off and pulls a hand full of daisies from behind his back.

“Daniel,” she chokes out, obviously surprised and touched by his gesture.

Instead of looking at her, he moves aside as the office manager strides in carrying a vase full of long-stemmed pink roses. She heads directly toward me and places them on the only corner of my desk that is clutter free.

“These are for you. You must have an admirer,” she says before she strides out as breezily as she came in. She gives a quick nod of good morning to the two other people in my office on her way out. Daniel glances down and I feel bad that my flowers have taken the wind out of his sails.

“Daniel, they’re beautiful,” Mandy says getting to her feet. She takes the small bouquet of flowers from his hands. “I’m going to find something to put them in.”

Then she is gone. Daniel gives me a half smile before exiting. I’m left to pull the small white card from my own bouquet. Inside it reads…

To Cate,

The most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.

I’m sorry our evening didn’t go as planned. I look

forward to our plus one date.

A

The note is hand written and not typed. I recognize his attempt at a non-doctor scrawl. His scribble is actually really nice. I send him a quick text thanking him for the flowers before I dig into work.

Late that afternoon, I’m pulled into a meeting. I stop short when a man standing at the head of the conference table turns. He could have been on the cover of any magazine.

“Cate,” my boss says changing my focus. “This is Ted Caine.”

I face the man again, who wouldn’t win any awards for height. He moves to stand in front of me. He’s about my height in the flats I’m wearing.

He extends his hand and I give it a quick but firm shake. I can’t help but notice how soft his skin is. His suit screams money so I’m not surprised his hands are as smooth as a baby’s butt.

“Nice to meet you.”

My boss jumps in. “She is the associate I was telling you about.” Ted steps back and I catch him giving me a serious once over, but he’s back to business before it gets awkward. My boss holds his hand out for me to take a seat. “Ted has been a client of ours for years,” he announces proudly. “He’s recently acquired a company and has engaged us to assess their accounting department for best practices. He would like you to head up the engagement.”

Me? Why had my boss been telling him about me?

“He was impressed with you finding the mistake on the quarterly 10Q filing and fixing the problem so that it still went out on time.”

Our team busted our ass to ensure we filed that quarterly comprehensive report of financial performance of the billion dollar corporation to the Securities and Exchange Commission, timely and accurately. Which was why we’d gotten drunk the other night in celebration. That was his company? I’m dumbfounded.

“Yes,” Ted answers as if I’d asked the question out loud.

He shifts in his chair and the light hits the crown of his head. I notice there is a bit of salt mixed in his thick peppery hair. He takes charge of the meeting and begins to tell me his plan. “I would like you to go in and get a feel for things. The caveat is that I would like you to do it under the radar. I would introduce you as a new hire.”

“Why, may I ask?” I’m curious regarding the subterfuge.

“We’ve done all the due diligence. Everything checks out on paper. Now that the deal is done, I need to know if changes need to be made. I find most employees are scared of change, especially when new management comes in. They fear for their jobs. I need to know if their policies and procedures are up to my company’s standards. The best way to find out is from the inside.”

After talking it through, the decision is for me to start work at his office on Monday. That way he has time to set me up with my fake employment. As Ted leaves, he shakes my hand and holds it just a little longer than socially required. And his stare leaves me to believe he’s interested. I might have been flattered because he’s a very attractive man. However, all I can think about are the flowers on my desk from Andy.

The rest of the week passes with Mandy mum on the status of her and Daniel. Andy’s been silent as well. His schedule has been crazy and we haven’t had a chance to talk much at all aside from nightly texts. Some are sweet and some make my toes curl.

On Friday, I get an e-mail from Ted’s office regarding my assignment starting Monday. I get the location of the office and where I need to report to get my security badge. I set up a calendar invite on my phone so I’m prepared.

That night, after a hectic day, all I want to do is kick up my feet and watch a movie when I get home. Instead, I’m pulling out a dress I picked up during a hasty lunch shopping trip.

The color of the dress, bright violet, is a little out of my comfort zone. However, according to Mandy, the silk gown with its sweetheart neckline and fitted bodice with a twist makes me look heaven sent. I have to admit, it subtly hugs my curves with its A-line silhouette, and I feel pretty. I’m standing in front of the mirror when my phone buzzes.

“I’m here. Should I park and come up?” Andy’s sexy voice croons out the other end of the phone.

“No, I’ll be down.”

I end the call and check my hair. Thanks to YouTube videos, I’ve managed to put my hair in an updo with a few tendrils of hair loose to frame my face. My makeup is subtle but there. I stick my phone in my clutch and head downstairs.

Andy’s managed to find temporary street parking at the curb. My wool coat flutters open as I make my way over to the car, barely negotiating the lingering ice patches and managing not to fall on my face in my heels.

Before I can open the door, Andy’s there. His hand on my shoulder shouldn’t have given me goose bumps considering he hadn’t touched me skin to skin. But it does.

“Hey, gorgeous.”

He kisses me quickly before he opens the door and I slip in the car. It’s toasty inside and I’m grateful because I’m rethinking the wisdom of wearing peep-toe shoes.

“It’s not too far,” he says while pulling out. “I’m sorry I haven’t had a chance to talk to you much this week. My rotation has been brutal.”

“Don’t worry about it. That’s the life of a doctor.”

He sighs. “Sometimes I wonder why I chose this profession, especially when I see what I’ve missed all week.”

He glances at me and I feel the warmth of his gaze before his eyes are back on the road. And he hasn’t lied about the venue being close. We are at the entrance of the historic Willard Hotel in no time.

A valet opens my door shortly before Andy arrives with a helping hand. The line of cars ahead and behind us is impressive, along with the men and women with more bling than I can imagine.

My bargain find that had been a previous season’s designer dress starts to pale in my eyes as we make our way to the coat check near the humongous ball room. But Andy’s eyes nearly pop out of his head when he sees me without my coat.

He runs a thumb over a spaghetti strap as he leans in and says, “You are stunning.”

My cheeks flame scarlet for the second time that night. “You’re looking good yourself.” And he does. His tux, although classic, fits him as if sewn on his body.

He takes my hand and leads me away from the direction of the ballroom. I wonder for a millisecond why we stop in an alcove.

“D– Andy,” I correct mid-squeal. His sudden boldness takes me by surprise as he backs me into a corner.

“Cate. You are going to kill me tonight. I’ve barely thought about anything else except seeing you tonight. Then you wear this dress and all I want to do is tear it off of you.”

He doesn’t ask as he presses his mouth to mine hard. As he kisses me, I fear the tiny scrap of fabric between my legs won’t hold the moisture I feel pooling from his kiss alone. His hand leaves my hips and rounds to the small of my back. I have the urge to hike up a leg and ride him right there, not caring people could walk by. Actually, the idea thrills me and I know I will have to go to the bathroom to mop up the moisture so I don’t mess up the silk of my dress. When he presses into me further, his hard length wedges perfectly against my sweet spot forcing me to moan.

“Jesus, if you keep making noises like this I’m going to carry you caveman style upstairs to one of the rooms.”

“Why not here?” I breathe. I’m teasing, but at the same time I’m daring him to do it.

He groans and steps back. I watch in fascination as he adjusts himself. He follows my eyes down to his man parts and then his eyes darken with heat.

“You’re not playing fair.”

My life has changed, and I’m not the same person I was. “I’m not playing at all.” I hold his cerulean blue gaze letting him know how serious I am.

“Later,” he promises.

I nod in agreement.

“Wait.” I pull a compact out of my clutch to fix my lipstick. Then I step forward and wipe at his mouth, trying to remove the remnants of my smudge proof lipstick. I think I need a refund. Andy decides to play with fire and sucks my thumb in his mouth.

I shake my head, pulling my thumb free. “You said later.”

He steps up behind me after I turn to make my way out. He stops me from moving forward with firm hands on my hips. “I have to be honest with you. When I finally get inside you again, it will be hard and fast. I’ve waited too long to have you in my bed again. It won’t be sweet, but I can promise you’ll love it.”

I step back, pressing my ass against him. I’m completely turned on. “Give me your worst then.”

The sound that comes from his throat reminds me of a growl as he slides his hands down the sides of my hips before he walks us back to the ballroom. The man’s touch sets me aflame each and every time. My mind wanders to how he touched me last week at his house before I stopped him. I have to focus on the many guests of tonight’s gala with fortunes to burn in order to turn the lust part of my brain off.

The philanthropists attending this event must have included men and women with net worth rivaling the assets of some banks, the way they ooze money in their couture outfits and diamond-encrusted jewelry.

A woman in a modest dress with a clip board stops us before we’ve made it too far. I’m busy trying not to look at Andy’s ass, so I take in the room instead while she chitters in a hushed tone.

Above, chandeliers spill from the ceiling in graceful tear drop shapes. A railing circles the room, giving the impression of a second story. And the walls’ trim and chairs are the color of gold which is fitting for the amount of affluence that is in the room.

“Your table is over here.” I overhear her tell Andy.

We walk in a maze between round tables to one near the front. A podium is set up not too far from where we are.

“I forgot to mention I may be a guest of honor tonight,” he says with a mischievous smile.

Before I can question Andy’s whispered words, a woman in a Grecian dress of white and gold floats over as her flowing golden hair follows her.

“Drew! I’m so happy you were able to make it.”

She’s taken his arm and turns him to completely face her.

“Désirée,” Andy barely gets out before she air kisses both of his cheeks.

“You are so handsome. And you’ll be fine tonight. My sister would have said so herself.”

Her words seem genuine, yet she sounds so fake. I can’t help but feel sorry for her needing to try so hard. Then she plasters herself to him as her voices hitches on her next statement. “I know she would.”

I watch as Andy’s hand slowly comes up to pat her back. I’m hoping his hard on is gone or she’ll take it as a good sign. It takes several seconds before he’s able to disentangle himself from the woman.