Ross finishes my face and takes a step to the side to see if I like it or not. I blink a few times before I stare at the mirror. I look like a totally different person, but I love what I see.
Ross purses his lips and flutters his eyes. “I knew you’d love it.”
I give an approving smile. He sets the brushes down on the counter and turns towards the mirror, before he practices his ‘straight voice.’ I watch curiously, doing my best to withhold snickers. Once he’s satisfied with his selection of a voice to use, he quickly turns his attention to me.
“Let me get us some drinks while you put on your dress. It will help calm the nerves.”
“I only have tequila from last Christmas.”
“Do you have limes?” he asks, eyebrows raised.
“I’m poor, Ross. Limes were the last thing I was thinking about at the grocery store.”
He holds up his hand and disappears down the hall. I shimmy into my dress, being careful not to smudge my makeup or mess my hair. I can’t zip it fully, but mostly, all my bits are covered.
“Wow, you look stunning.” Ross returns, setting the bottle of Patron and two shot glasses down on the table. The Patron was a gift from a past boyfriend, and it came in handy when I needed a drink to forget about him.
“Thanks. I think it will do for tonight. Can you zip me up?”
I turn around and give him my back. His cold hands make me jump, but the zipper goes up like a dream.
“Is this the same emerald dress from your cousin’s wedding?”
“Yes, except I added some stuff to it. Does it look cheesy?”
“Not at all. It’s gorgeous, babe. You look killer.”
I smile at the compliment and smooth my hands down the front of the dress. Ross hands me a shot and we click glasses before we quickly down the liquid fire. I shudder as it settles in my stomach, burning the whole way down.
“Another,” I say, holding my glass out to Ross. With a raised eyebrow, he refills my glass. We continue on with this for another three shots. With each shot I become a little looser, and calmer.
“So, how long do we have to stay at this place?”
“I don’t know, why? Do you have someplace else to be tonight?”
“Well, no, but I was just curious. Hell, I might even find someone to take home.”
“Ross, don’t forget you are my boyfriend tonight. No tail-chasing for you. Okay? You can’t ruin this for me, please.”
“I know, I know... don’t worry.”
He tells me not to worry, but I am worried. Several shots later, and after prancing in the mirror, practicing our acts for the night, we decide it is time to go.
By the time we leave for the party, Ross and I are both a little tipsy. I’m buzzed enough to not care what anyone thinks. I’m ready to take on the world. Fuck Nicholas and his hot face and strong arms. So what if I want to feel his tongue on my clit again? This night is going to be the last I think about him.
10
Nicholas
I purposely arrive at the fundraiser early to make sure they set everything up right. I want to see everyone as they arrive; mainly Riley.
People trickle in and like clockwork, Naomi arrives and makes a beeline in my direction. She saunters up to me in a skin-tight dress. “Everything looks amazing, right?” She doesn’t know when to quit.
“It’s suitable for the circumstances. Now we must see how the donors feel about it. I don’t think I need to impress upon you how important tonight is.”
Her face turns from sultry to business in a moment. “This isn’t my first fundraiser, or my last. Your brother hired me to do a job, one I’m very good at. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to make sure the mayor is being properly entertained.”
She moves off into the crowd, and I’m not sad to see her go. I’m only looking for one woman, and she hasn’t shown herself yet. I notice my pulse race as I think about what she’ll look like dressed in a gown. My cock hardens in my dress slacks.
The upper crust of Boston is here, greeting me with saccharine smiles and feigned interest. They all look to garner favor with a potential company that could bail them out, invest in their pipe dreams, or make them substantial amounts of money using our company name. None of them matter to me though, even when they should.
The doors to the ballroom open again, and the air in my chest stills as Riley comes walking in. Her emerald green dress highlights every aspect of her beauty. She’s beautiful on any day, but the way she looks tonight has my jaw nearly on the ground and my cock twitching in my trousers. It’s then that I notice him. The boyfriend. The date that she said she was bringing. He’s someone I couldn’t picture her with. He’s out of place, as if he’s uncomfortable with her arm tucked into his elbow.
I want to grab his arm and break it, snap his fingers for touching her at all, but she’s not mine. She finally catches my eye, and I have to hold myself still to stop from storming straight over to her and following through with my previous thoughts. A powerful surge of jealousy, and something else, courses through me. A part of me is disgusted, but the other part wants her no matter the cost—even my ego.
She walks toward me, a saunter in her hip, delicious pouty lips, and her dark brown hair cascading down her back. I want to sink my hands into it, holding her in place while she cries out my name. Fuck, I’m tempted right this second to pull her into the restroom and fuck her senseless. Boyfriend or not, I want to remind her of what we’ve shared, and who owns her.
“Mr. Brooks, this is my boyfriend, Ross. Ross, this is my boss and the head of the project, Nicholas Brooks.” She introduces us, her eyes darting from one face to the other. She sways on her feet, gripping Ross’s arm tighter.
“Charming,” Ross says, giving me a megawatt smile. He extends his hand, knuckles up, as if he expected me to kiss it. He slightly bows and then chuckles at his own actions.
I glare down at his outstretched arm and back at his face. “I’m sure you are.” I’m appalled by his behavior, but shrug it off. Jealousy burns deep in my gut. How can that be? I don’t even know this guy, and I’m jealous of him. Jealous of the fact that he has her. I’ve got to pull it together. Besides, something tells me he’s swinging for the other team.
He pulls his hand back and stuffs it in his pocket. “Well, Riley, would you like a drink? Cosmopolitan?”
She gives him a gigantic smile and nods. “Thank you, kind sir.”
A giggle escapes both of them, and I look on in confusion. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she’d started the party early. Ross walks away and Riley and I are left alone for the first time this evening.
“You’re a vision,” I say, not ashamed that I can’t keep my eyes off of her.
“I made it,” she hiccups and looks toward Ross, never fully making eye contact.
Taking a few steps closer, eating up the space between us, I reach out and pick up a piece of her shiny hair, rubbing it between my fingers. It’s silky and soft. I’d love to bury my face in it and inhale her scent. Her lips look soft, kissable, and my eyes trail down to her breasts, which are tucked perfectly into her dress.
“You made the dress?” I ask, eyebrows raised.