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Dangerous thinking. I need to stay on plan.
I lift her left hand from her chest and kiss her palm, making her shiver again. “Don’t worry. The photo op is almost over, princess. Just one more conversation, then we can leave.”
“Good. All I can think about is how wet and naked I am under this dress.” She shifts uncomfortably.
I grin. “That’s consuming my thoughts, too.”
Before she can rebuke me, we reach the foyer and Duke appears. “I hope you enjoyed your dinner.”
“The best I’ve had in a long time.” I let the innuendo linger as I skim my fingers up and down Corinne’s hip. It’s a delicious reminder that her panties are in my pocket.
“Excellent. And you?” Duke turns to Corinne, undressing her with his stare for a split second before his practiced smile shifts back into place.
I restrain the urge to punch him for daring to eye-fuck what’s mine. But she isn’t. We have a mutual purpose, and for that I’ll get the pleasure of having her in my bed. But she’ll never belong to me.
I shelve the annoying thought.
“It was wonderful,” she breathes.
“I’d be hard-pressed to say whether my fiancée or I enjoyed it more. Ms. Emerson and I just got engaged.”
“Congratulations,” Duke offers smoothly.
“Thank you.” She smiles, flashing her ring.
“I’ll send you home with a bottle of champagne to celebrate. If you’ll give me a moment, I’ll grab it and your dessert so you can be on your way.”
“Thank you.”
Once he’s gone, I cup her shoulders and tip her chin up to me. “You’re doing great.”
“How long do you think it will be before Parker sees pictures of the engagement ring?”
“My guess? He already has. Any regrets?”
She shakes her head.
People are still watching, so I swoop down and kiss Corinne breathless for the cameras, crushing her lush mouth under mine. I’m sure more pictures are being snapped…but I don’t care. I’m fixated on tasting her sweet lips.
A nibble isn’t enough. I latch my hand around her slender neck and tilt her head to take me deeper. She clutches my shoulders and presses her body to mine. Her touch travels through every part of me like a live wire.
I’m contemplating which nearby wall I can press her against and work my hand under her dress to pet her bare pussy when someone clears his throat.
With a growl, I lift my head.
“Your dessert.” Duke hands the bag packed with dry ice to Corinne, then gives me a chilled bottle. “And your champagne. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”
When the restaurant owner pivots away, my sanity returns. “One more thing.”
He faces us again. “Yes?”
“Princess, get the valet to bring my car around.” I hand her the ticket. “I’ll be right there.”
Corinne looks confused, her stare bouncing back and forth between Duke and me, but she nods. “All right.”
A hostess opens the door for her and the Hawaiian evening swallows Corinne up. She’ll start getting recognized in public soon, so I don’t dare leave her alone for long.
I turn back to Duke. “Do you keep surveillance footage of that private room?”
“We have to. Video only, no audio. But we’ve hosted corporate parties where drunk executives get handsy with the waitstaff—”
“Understood. But this was my fiancée and me…spending time together.” This footage being leaked would bolster our story, but it would also embarrass Corinne. I’d like to spare her that.
Duke’s plastic smile returns. “Naturally, I’ll make sure your privacy is protected.”
“Send me that footage and delete your copy.” I don’t want it in his spank bank, either. I reach in my pocket and peel off a few hundred dollars. “For your trouble.”
He shakes his head. “Nothing that camera captured is worth ruining my business. Tell me where to send it. I’ll purge mine immediately. You have my word.”
That’s the best I can do. I tuck my cash away and hand him my business card. “I appreciate your discretion.”
And if Duke doesn’t follow through, I’ll come down on him like a house of bricks.
“Of course. You’ll have it in your inbox before you reach home.”
“Thank you.” I make my way outside where Corinne is thankfully standing alone as the valet pulls up with my car.
“What was that about?” she asks. “Everything all right?”
We’re no longer on display, but that doesn’t stop me from taking her hand after I tip the guy and help her into the passenger’s seat. “Just buttoning up some details. We’re good.”
“Tonight went well, right?”
“It couldn’t have gone better.” I mean that.
As I toss myself behind the wheel and take off, I try to focus on our next steps, on managing the narrative. If I don’t get in front of the messaging, Parker will—and we’ll have an uphill battle. But all I can think about is whether Corinne will let me give her another orgasm tonight.
She sighs in relief. “Thank goodness it’s over now. All those people staring was nerve-racking.”
