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“Me too,” he grinned at me.
Ivan and Stephen joined us. They stayed close, always within sight, but they tried to give Adrik and I room to mingle. Well, Adrik room to mingle. I didn’t know anybody. After like the 20th person came to speak to him, he walked to me. I felt his arm around my waist. He leaned down to my ear, “I need a break already. May I have this dance?” He stepped back and extended his hand to me. I took his hand, reluctantly.
“You know I don’t know how to dance, right?” I said quietly as I followed him to the dance floor.
He turned to me, holding one hand in his, wrapping his other arm around my waist. “Somehow, I think you’ll be a natural at this.” He pulled me close, so that my body was against his. “All you have to do, my love, is look at me and follow my lead.” He took a few steps, my legs following his motion instinctively. “And I happen to know for a fact, solnishko, that you are excellent at following my lead.”
I felt my cheeks flush as he effortlessly guided us around the floor. It felt like we were floating across the floor. Suddenly, everyone else disappeared and it was only he and I in the room with the music in the background. As the song came to an end, he slowed to a stop. We still hadn’t taken our eyes off each other. We heard clapping, breaking my daze. I looked around to discover we had been the only couple on the dance floor. The orchestra began a new song while people still clapped for us. I felt my cheeks flush. I looked down, not wanting to see everyone looking at me.
He leaned into me, kissing my cheek. “You’re the most gorgeous woman they’ve ever seen.”
I looked at his dark blue eyes, filled with so much love, and couldn’t help but smile at him. His lips to my ear, he quietly said, “Why do I want to rip that dress off you every time you smile at me?”
I coughed, not expecting him to say that. He laughed, pulling me toward the bar. “Let’s get you some water, my love.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Sephie
The first half of the evening turned out to be quite predictable. Several people would come talk to Adrik, thanking him for some various business deal or philanthropy, Adrik getting tired of talking to people and dragging me onto the dance floor, only to have everyone else stop and watch us. Lather, rinse, repeat.
After the first dance, he never let go of me, which meant I also had to talk to people that I didn’t know. I had to turn on all my charm and act the part, even though I think a little piece of me died each time I fake smiled at someone. I caught each of the guys’ line of sight at some point, doing something ridiculous without anyone else seeing us. They all laughed and shook their heads at my silliness. I would make a ridiculous face at one of them, then go back to straight face, completely engrossed in yet another boring life story. It wasn’t much, but it kept me entertained.
Eventually, I needed to visit the little girls’ room. Before someone else could walk up to us, I pulled Adrik as far away from people as I could. I told him what I needed and he was just about to walk with me, when someone caught his arm. He looked to Ivan, who was closest to us, nodding toward me. Ivan was quickly beside me, offering me his arm.
“Princess?” he asked.
I leaned close to him, so I wouldn’t be overheard, “I’ve gotta piss like a fucking racehorse and these people won’t give us two seconds alone.”
He laughed, walking me toward the restrooms. He stood outside the door, looking at his watch. “You have five minutes or I’m coming in after you.”
I rolled my eyes, but then said, “I can make it in three.”
I heard him laughing as I walked into the bathroom. There were two women already in there, talking to each other in the stalls. I tried not to listen, but they were somewhat tipsy and louder than they normally would’ve been. They were talking about Adrik.
“I heard he was gay because he hasn’t been seen in public with a woman in years,” the first one said.
“Well, either she’s a beard for him or he’s clearly not gay. I never believed the gay rumors anyway. One of my friends knows one of his former girlfriends. She said he was always an asshole to her. He would regularly call her the wrong name,” the second one said.
Yep, that’s my Adrik.
I heard them come out of their stalls, the water in the sinks running. The second one adding, “You know, he never even told her his real name. No one knows his real name. It’s like he doesn’t exist.”
The first one said, “Mysterious. And sexy.” I heard her sigh. “I’d even settle for one of his bodyguards. Have you seen the men he has protecting him? I’d love a ride on one of them.”
I was on a tight time schedule here, so I couldn’t wait for them to leave before I came out. I walked to the sinks, looking at both of their shocked faces. As I quickly washed my hands, I looked at both of them. They both looked like the type of woman that Max would regularly go for. The kind that Adrik said he used to date when he was younger. They probably spent hours putting on their makeup each day. I could almost guarantee that none of the guys would find them attractive enough for anything serious. They might sleep with them and then never speak to them again, but I was fairly certain it wouldn’t go beyond that.
As seriously as I could, I said, “I could introduce you, if you like, but I know for a fact they appreciate boldness, so you’ll get farther if you introduce yourself.” I turned and walked out. I opened the door wide enough to let them see Ivan waiting for me just outside, staring at his watch. He smiled at me as he said, “Just under three minutes, princess. Impressive.” He offered his arm to me as I glanced back at the two women in the restroom, winking at them as I slid my arm into his, just before the door closed.
Of course, Ivan noticed. “What was that, princess?”
I giggled. “So those two were talking about you guys. One of them wants to ride one of you. I told them I could introduce them to you, but that you guys appreciated boldness so they should introduce themselves.”
He looked down at me, a devilish grin on his face. “You’re a little evil. You know we can’t talk to anybody while we’re working.”
“I may have known that. That may be why I told them to come talk to you.”
He squeezed my arm in his and patted my hand. “I’m glad you’re back, princess. Life is more fun with you around.”
