AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What?” I glared at her flawless body. “When?”
“Last week,” she uttered, puffing out her chest in triumph.
Anger rippled through me. “Where?”
Her smile grew as she backed away from me. “I guess this dress can hide some things after all,” she said before twirling on her heel and making her way back into the exhibition.
My gut told me she was bluffing, but damn she knew how to rile me up.
* * *
The crowd had doubled by the time I returned to the main room, so I opted for another drink.
Flynn was deep in conversation with the women from earlier, while Daisy lingered beside Nicholas and his fancy friends. From the way she was fidgeting and searching the room, it was clear she was dying from boredom and planning her escape, and I couldn’t help but watch on in amusement.
As the auction was announced, the lights dimmed, and my painting glowed under the spotlight. While Adrian described the piece better than I could, Nicholas and all the other prospective bidders surged forward, leaving Daisy behind—and clearly relieved.
She moved to the back wall and leaned against it, easing the weight off her stiletto-strangled feet. I took a swig of my beer and joined her in the darkness.
“I’m surprised he didn’t ask you to hold his paddle,” I whispered, leaning beside her.
“He is perfectly happy holding his own paddle, believe me.”
I snickered. “So, all this money doesn’t excite you?”
Daisy raised a brow in my direction. “Do I look excited?”
“No.”
She let out a defeated sigh. “You and Flynn were right. I’m definitely not a party person.”
“So, what?”
“So, I’m lame. That’s what.”
I moved closer as the auction grew louder. “You’re not lame, Daisy. Your fuckwit ex held you back.” I slipped my arm behind her body and grazed her lower back with my fingertips. “You just need to figure out what you like.” My hand dropped to her firm ass and gave it a gentle squeeze. “And how you like it.”
Her back straightened as she sucked in her breath. “And if I don’t?”
My hand froze with my heart. “Then say something.”
Daisy pressed her lips together as she turned back to the auction, and when she took a sip of her champagne, I shifted my hand under the hem of her conveniently short dress.
As the bidding began, I took the opportune moment to graze my finger over her exposed seam, then slipped inside. After adding a second with ease, I slid them in and out as the auction grew more intense. Her fingers whitened around the stem of her glass, and her lips parted as her hips discreetly rocked with my rhythm until her eyes closed and her body shuddered all over my hand.
“SOLD to Nicholas Gibbs!”
My gaze shot up to the auctioneer, then Nicholas, then back to Daisy, who was busy adjusting her dress as I discreetly removed my hand.
When the gallery lights brightened, Nicholas spotted us in the back. “Looks like I won’t need that commission after all,” he uttered smugly as he sauntered over.
“Congratulations,” I said, grinning at Daisy as I shook his hand. “She’s a stunning piece.” I lifted my beer in salute. “Enjoy.” Without a backward glance, I disappeared into the crowd, praying like hell I’d scratched that risk-taking itch that was bound to get Daisy into a world of trouble.
6
DAISY
“Excuse me,” I muttered as I raced into the restroom to clean myself up. Why I let Ethan touch me like that, I didn’t know. I was really trying with Nicholas. He was nice, clearly rich, boring as hell, but after Vance, I wasn’t picky. I had to start somewhere. But after what Ethan just did to me in the middle of the crowded gallery, I couldn’t possibly go back. I had to get out of there.
