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With the announcement looming in a few days, I needed her more than ever, and she wasn’t here. She wasn’t withme.My fist met the tiles again, pounding it harder this time as irritation burst through my veins like a roaring fire.
I thought about our furious assaults on one another, taking out our frustrations in a tangle between the sheets. My dick twinged, hardening to life, and I lowered my hand, tracing my girth with my thumb and index finger.
Images of her deep-throating me and her looking up through her long lashes had me hard in an instant. How is it that mere images had me ready so quickly? I stroked myself from base to tip, growling out a hiss under my breath. My stomach clenched and my balls pulled up as I found my release, this time to the single image of her sultry eyes.
Fuck! Since when has a woman ever had a hold on me like Pepper Little?
8
Pepper
Saturday.
The Diamond Charity Ball was the hottest ticket on the social calendar, and if you were lucky enough to get one, you were here. Women wore their best diamonds, shining brighter than a lighthouse beacon as New York’s finest wore their prized possessions and designer wares straight from fashion week.
Every year, Lourde’s mom, Elizabeth, didn’t disappoint, somehow making it bigger and better than the last. Forget ice sculptures, carvings, and caviar from Russia. This year was no exception as we’d been treated to a surprise guest appearance from Kit Jones, an international singer from the band, Four Fingers, flying acrobats above our heads and oxygen drips for those inclined to overdo it on the top-shelf alcohol. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and the lighting silhouetted the walls and roof and round tables filled with New York’s rich and famous.
My parents were seated beside the Diamonds, of course. Being friends since we were kids and having nearly as much wealth through my daddy’s grocery supply company, they were like my second family.
Heck, if only they knew what Connor and I were up to.
But with the ball in full swing, Connor Diamond was on my mind constantly.
I didn’t understand it.
But it was probably because I hadn’t seen him all week and craved his touch like a visit to Van Cleef & Arpels, the way he knew my body, every point, every curve, his fingers did things to my body no one had.
Frustration had been brewing all week,andnow I was craving him as much as he wanted me. Except now, he was standing next to Francesca near their table, and I couldn’t help but stare like a groupie backstage.
Francesca stood with her hands on his chest, toying with the lapels of his jacket. Straight blonde hair smoothed like an oil slick down her back, while a white and black floor-length gown with a high slit to the thigh had her skirting dangerously close to breaking the very strict dress code.
Connor’s tailored black suit gripped his broad shoulders, stretching across his muscular back. I imagined unbuttoning his crisp white shirt and tossing away his thin tie as I stood in nothing but my stilettos, lace suspender belt, and bra.
I blinked, the image evading me, as I watched her lean in and whisper something in his ear. She tilted her head back, and he smiled before saying something back to her. A kaleidoscope of emotions shot through me, settling in a lump in my throat. As though sensing my discomfort, Connor turned, his eyes colliding with mine.
Quickly, I reached for my champagne and nodded, pretending to be involved in Lourde’s and Olivia’s conversation next to me.
What the fuck? Was he actually doing this in front of me?
“You okay?” Lourde stared at me like I had a unicorn on my head.
“Yes, why?” I offered weakly.
“You were just nodding,” Olivia added, looking equally perplexed.
I laughed, tilting my champagne. “You know me, one too many, and I’m looser than a pair of granny pants!”
They both split into laughter.Thank fuck they were off my back. I don’t know if I could’ve lied to them if they’d kept pressing the issue.
“It’s nice to see you laughing,” Olivia said, and I agreed, nodding in Lourde’s direction.
“Yeah, well, I really don’t want to be here.” Lourde sighed, staring down at her untouched plate of food.
Her calls to Barrett had remained unanswered, even though he had been cleared of all assault charges. And he wasn’t here tonight.
The Diamonds had always put their reputation above all else, and I understood why Barrett wasn’t here. Being accused of assault was a cross on Lourde and, therefore, the family. But even with breaking news hours before the charity ball went live, the woman admitting her accusations were a lie and that he was framed, Barrett still hadn’t called her.
And apart from the brief laughter a moment ago, Lourde had been sitting reserved and withdrawn.
