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It was beautiful, covered in white and gold decorations, balloons, and crepe paper, almost like a dream. It looked classy and chic, with the white Christmas trees adorned with white twinkling lights. I hadn’t realized how big my grin was as I examined the room until I looked over at Terry. He was smiling widely at me.
“You don’t get out much, do you?” Terry teased, winking at me.
I laughed at his question. “Not to places like this,” I said.
“Bryce had never taken you somewhere this nice?”
“Terry,” I warned.
He held his hands up in surrender. “Sorry, just a question. If he was just a friend you hung out with or went to events with, I would have thought they would have included things like this.”
“I try to avoid being photographed. I don’t want the attention.” I didn’t want to say I avoided these types of events because I was worried that too many pictures of me in public would bring out Chad.
Catherine had Jackson run a check on the man. He wasn’t in LA; he had moved on and was living in San Francisco. He was engaged too—that worried me. I wondered if he was up to the same tricks with her that he had been with me. The thought scared me, and a shiver ran down my spine. Terry must have noticed. He came over and put his arm around me.
“Let’s get you something to drink. I think the bar is this way.” He motioned toward a crowd of people in front of a large, moon-shaped bar.
“Yeah, let’s get some champagne.” I smiled up at him.
We made small talk with other guests at the bar as we worked the room together. I found Clara, the executive director at Inlet for Hope, who would be presenting me with my honor.
Clara was a small woman, and she was wearing a beautiful, classic black cocktail dress. She certainly enjoyed her inspection of Terry. I watched her take him in, her bottom lip between her teeth as she fought to keep a straight face. Yeah, I know, lady. He’s devastatingly handsome, I thought as she looked him over.
“It’s so wonderful to meet you,” Clara said to me once her attention was finally pulled away from Terry. “You have helped us out tremendously over the years. I am so honored that you were able to attend this ball and accept your honor.”
“Thank you,” I said, blushing under her praise. “I am happy to help out.”
“It’s so wonderful when women-owned businesses take the time to support our cause,” she continued.
“I’ve always thought so too.” I hoped that this was where it would stop. Catherine said it was doubtful that anyone would suspect why I had really helped out the way I did, but I wasn’t sure. I felt like if she was suspicious enough, she would dig further and my secret would be exposed. A paranoid thought, I knew. But after what I’d been through, I earned the right to be.
“Well, if you’ll excuse me, they will be serving dinner soon. I’ll see you on the stage.” She patted my arm and hurried past me, barely missing Terry. I was sure that some part of her body had connected with his.
“Oh, someone likes you,” I said, winking at Terry.
“Don’t worry, she can look all she wants, but I only have eyes for one woman.” Terry winked at me and led me to our table.
Dinner went by without a hitch, and so did the ceremony. They called each sponsor up, presented them with a plaque, and allowed them just a few minutes to talk about themselves and their company. When it was my turn, I thanked them for the honor and explained that Shoegasm was always happy to offer a hand-up to women. Applause filled the room when I finished. I was done for the night—in the clear. No one would bothered to ask any further questions. Once all the photos were taken by the staff and the press, I was making my way back to Terry.
“I am so proud of you.” He pulled me into a hug and kissed my neck. A shiver ran down my spine. “You looked so fucking hot up there.”
“Terry,” I hissed. “Lower your voice.”
His lips brushed against my ear. “It’s so loud in here with all the talking, laughing, and music that no one could hear me. I could take my hands and place them underneath your dress to finger fuck you and these people would have no idea.”
My cheeks heated at the thought of him doing that, and I leaned into him for support. I felt like an idiot for actually having weak knees at the nearness of him.
“Come on. No chance of that happening right now. I wouldn’t dream of embarrassing you here. Let’s head on over to the dance floor so I can twirl you around.”
I nodded in agreement. It had been a long time since I slow danced like this, had been held this close and tenderly. I was secretly looking forward to it.
Terry pulled me onto the floor and we began to dance. We fit together perfectly, just as we had back then. I smiled at the memory, and tears pricked my eyes. Of course, he saw it.
“Don’t cry, Mia. I know. I know why you’re sad,” he cooed in my ear. “Don’t let the jackass that I was back then ruin the fun we’re having this evening. That jackass isn’t here. This one is and he loves that he gets to hold you. He loves moving around this dance floor with you, our bodies so close I can almost smell the arousal coming from between your legs.”
My eyes snapped to his, shocked.
“I can always tell when you’re turned on, remember? Your eyes darken and you shiver. You’ve been doing it all night, and I know it’s not because you’re cold. It’s plenty warm in here. You’re turned on by me in this tux. And I don’t blame you. I’ve been half hard all night watching you move around in that dress.” Terry pulled me in closer and brought his mouth right beside my ear. His tone dropped to a sexy low octave. “I have imagined placing my head beneath it, or hiking it up so it’s around your hips and burying myself inside you. Seeing that dress lying on the floor of our old bedroom while I fuck you in our old bed. But right now, we’re going to dance, laugh, and talk to all the people you’re supposed to. As soon as we leave here, I’m getting you out of that dress and into bed. Agreed?”
“Okay,” was all I could muster.
Terry chuckled and ran his tongue down my ear. “Relax, gorgeous. I won’t try anything until we’re out of here.”
