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I nod, laying my arms on his shoulders. “Well, maybe you could just show me.”

“Fantastic idea,” he murmurs, leaning in and sealing his lips over mine in a kiss that’s far more aggressive than he’s ever been before. I come alive in his hands and arch into his body, every cell pumping through my bloodstream screaming for me.

“Fuck, I want this dress off you,” he growls and thrusts his hips forward, his erection digging into my hip. I gasp, clinging to the lapels of his tux and he pulls back as he shakes his head.

“Shit. I’m sorry, baby.”

I shake my head and pull him closer. “No, please don’t stop.”

“Darlin’,” he rasps, flashing me a grin as he swipes his thumb below my bottom lip. “You’re running this show and now you’ve got to fix your makeup.”

“Oh, shit.” I glance at the clock behind me and I sigh as I slip out of his arms. “We’re picking this up later.”

He holds his hands up in surrender as he steps into the room and the door closes behind him. “You won’t hear any complaints from me.”

I finish fixing my makeup, aware of his intense stare the entire time and when I turn to face him again, I smile. His brow arches as I slowly walk toward him, putting a little extra swing in my hips and hoping I look as sexy as I feel. When I reach him, he pulls me into his arms again and molds my body to his.

“I have a surprise for you after the gala,” I tease and he grins.

“Yeah? What is it?”

Shaking my head, I push away from him. “You’re just going to have to wait and see.”

“Oh, you’re mean.”

“Trust me, it’ll be worth it,” I call over my shoulder as I stop at the door and hold out my hand. “Now, are you coming?”

“Absolutely. I’m not letting you out of my sight tonight.”

I laugh as we step out into the hallway and I tuck the hotel key into my clutch. “Why not?”

“Because this place is going to be crawling with men and you are a goddamn goddess. All these bastards need to know that you’re mine.”

“I like the sound of that,” I whisper. It’s the first time he’s ever laid down a claim like that and I love the way it feels knowing that I belong to him. And there’s not a single part of it that’s demeaning or rude. I belong to him in the way he feels like home and the way he makes me feel like the only girl in the entire world.

We step into the elevator and he stands next to me, wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me close until I can feel his warmth seeping into me.

“You know what I like?” he asks and I glance back at him.

“No. What?”

As the elevator doors close, he turns me to face him and slowly backs me up until my back presses against the wall of the car. His hand cups my face and he leans in, hovering his lips over mine and stealing the air from my lungs as our eyes meet.

“I love that you’re all in now.”

I smile. “I love that you made me feel safe enough to take that chance with you.”

“Do you remember what I told you the night we went over to Iris’s for dinner?” he asks and I think back to that night.

“That I’m in control?”

He nods. “That’s right, baby. I’m not holding back anymore but I want you to always remember that, okay? You’re the boss and if you’re uncomfortable with anything, you just say the word and it stops.”

“I trust you, Lucas,” I whisper, gripping his wrist as he brushes his thumb over my face. He smiles.

“You have no idea how much I love hearing that.”

Before I can say anything else, my phone buzzes and I scrunch up my nose. “Hold on one second.”