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I lean against Ayden and try to push all these gloomy thoughts out of my head. We finally have time for each other. It’s a chance to be with him and a chance I should make the most of.
I turn to face him, put my hands on the back of his neck, and soak up the sight of his deep green eyes. Just looking at his perfect face, his even features, is enough to send a sweet shudder through my body. I lean forward and seal his lips with a kiss. My hands wander across his broad shoulders, soaking up the warmth of his skin. His scent calls to me, and I breathe it in and feel this insatiable throbbing inside me.
I open my lips to let in his tongue and it makes me gasp. I push my hands under his sweater, greedily caressing his smooth firm skin. His muscles tense under my fingertips, and Ayden kisses my neck, fanning the fire inside me even more. I breathe his name, which elicits a chuckle from him. As his hands find their way under my sweater, my mind is focused on one thing: getting rid of all these clothes.
But it never comes to that. There’s a knock at the door, and I look up in surprise.
“Open the door. I know you’re in there.” It’s Alfredo’s voice.
My eyes widen, and I feel the anger bubbling up inside me. It’s just after eight. What’s he doing here? So much for our agreement.
I get up and open the door. “What are you doing here?” I snap at him.
Alfredo leans casually in the doorway. “Slight change of plan. The Council members are meeting a little earlier. More time to mingle and chat.”
“You mean more time to parade me around.”
“Call it whatever you like, but we have to go now.” He looks me up and down. “You’re not even dressed. I should have known. Lucky I came when I did. Go and change. And don’t keep me waiting.”
I refrain from asking what he’ll do if I’m not fast enough.
“Your timing’s not great,” says Ayden. He grips my arm and pulls me toward him, ignoring Alfredo’s gaze. He gives me a short but intense kiss, and my heart flutters.
Alfredo groans irritably. “Hurry up and put the dress on. I’ll give you ten minutes.” With that, he closes the door behind him.
“At least we scared him off for a few minutes,” Ayden says with a smirk.
“Ten minutes are nowhere near enough.” I really wish we had more time. Preferably hours, days, weeks …
But I have no choice, so I let go of Ayden and go to the garment bag that I brought with me. The dress is dark blue and reaches past my knees. It’s hemmed with gauzy lace, and the back is very low cut. Too low for my taste.
“Like I’m on my way to a movie premiere,” I say to Ayden, holding up the expensive garment.
“They want to make an impression. It’s an important evening for them. If Claire fails, then the Fabricis win the upper hand again with you in their corner.”
“Lucky me,” I remark.
I lay the dress aside – it’s too provocative for me, and I don’t see why I should be their show pony after they’ve broken their promise and cut short my time with Ayden. So I stick with my jeans and black blouse, but I apply a little makeup and tie my hair back.
Ayden grins and kisses my naked neck. “You look stunning.”
“Thanks,” I say, my hands already roaming across his body again.
“But Alfredo will probably blow a fuse,” he adds with a smirk.
I shrug. “That’s his problem. If he threatens me, the evening won’t go well for his family.”
Alfredo was apparently lurking outside the door using the stopwatch function on his phone because now he knocks again loudly. “Time’s up! Let’s go. I hope you’re ready.”
“It could hardly be worse in the military,” I grumble. I give Ayden one last kiss goodbye and step out into the corridor, where Alfredo’s waiting impatiently.
He takes one look at me, and his eyes widen in dismay. “You can’t be serious! Why aren’t you wearing the dress?”
“Why do you think? If you can’t keep your promises, why should I?”
I see his jaw grinding. He runs his hand angrily through his hair, sighs, and then shakes his head. “Whatever. This is fine. Most of them have already formed an opinion of you, and a dress won’t change that.”
“Thanks for the compliment. You look dashing tonight too.”
