“Grayson,” I try to warn, but my voice fails me, and it slips out as a whisper.
His body is now closer to mine, the step bringing his face just inches from me.
“Emma—”
“Your name will be on the list. It starts at eight p.m. at the Plaza.” I quickly pull the thermos out of his hand and step back from his touch, already feeling the cold sting there, but I need to get away from him before I give in.
“I’ll see you then,” he says from down below. After three minutes of shutting the front door, I walk to the corner of the window facing the front of our house and see Grayson with his head down. He then seems to take a deep breath, stand straight, and hail a cab.
I made the right decision, I can feel it.
Let’s see if he does.
Chapter Forty-Four
GRAYSON
The Grand Ballroom at the Plaza Hotel is unlike anywhere I’ve ever been. It’s kind of breathtaking, given that I expected it to be tacky. It makes the ball from last summer look cheap.
I stare at the room from the entrance for a while, unable to believe that six months later, I’m in a very similar position to when I first met Emma, except now I want and need to be with her forever.
I fucked up. I should have handled things differently, but she needs to understand why I didn’t contact her directly. It was for her own good, and I’m not going to let tonight end without her knowing it. I would have preferred to do it yesterday and would have loved to make up last night if she had accepted my explanation, but Emma is making me work a little harder for it. Not that it should surprise me—the woman’s stubborn and strong-willed, which makes me love her all the more.
Walking in, I pass by the tables surrounding the large dance floor and head directly to the bar, desperately needing a drink before looking for my girl.
The bartender hands me a whiskey on the rocks as I scan the room, searching for my stubborn blonde princess. Even withthese masks on, I’ll recognize her body—the way it moves when she walks—so sexy yet elegant, just like her.
I’m starting my second drink when I notice her standing up from a table across the room for just a moment. Unlike her, I didn’t plan on having dinner and was seated at a random table I wasn’t interested in. I need her and only her. Preferably right this very fucking second.
I turn my head from side to side, unable to see her properly because of these rich fuckers dancing to what sounds like a foxtrot. My feet move of their own accord, and I try to dodge the people on the dance floor, but it’s a coordinated dance, and the whole space is packed.
Trying to move as quickly as possible, I spot Emma heading my way. She hasn’t noticed me yet, so she’s probably grabbing a drink too. Knowing her, it’ll be a vodka soda or a tequila shot if she’s really stressed, but the last damn thing I need right now is a drunk Emma.
She’s wearing a champagne strapless gown that hugs her body snugly enough to show every single one of her curves, but loose enough to fit in with the crowded room. Someone blocks my view of her, and now all I can see is the slit on the left side of her dress that runs all the way to her upper thigh, making my mouth fucking water.
After the guy moves, she’s only a few yards from the bar and still hasn’t seen me, but boy, do I see her. All of her now, as if the floor parted like the Red Sea for someone of royal authority. Every couple dancing turns their heads to her, and I can’t blame them. Emma captures everyone’s attention in every room with her beauty and confidence. A blend of new and classic beauty she doesn’t realize she has.
My love’s eyes finally catch mine and widen, her lips parting once she’s six feet away, andfuck.Her hair is half up, half down, with her new tight, curly, long curtain bangs framing her face in the perfect heart shape. She’s not wearing a mask like last time. Instead, she’s holding one of those masks people bring up totheir face, but it’s currently hanging at her side, and thank fuck because it would only get in the way of me seeing all of her…well, notallof her.
Emma, the woman I love, comes up to me with her chin held high as always and stops next to me at the bar. She keeps her gaze fixed on me as she orders a vodka soda. I try to give her that smirk that always drives her crazy, but my chest constricts at her being near me again after so long, and I’m not sure how convincing it was.
“You came,” she says, sounding semi-surprised. I almost flinch at her doubt, but I understand why it’s still rooted there. She needs an explanation and to know how I feel, everything I’ve been doing…
“You asked me to come.” I shrug and adjust my black mask. “More like demanded, but I’m more than happy to do anything you want, Princess.” I can’t help but add a sultry smile and wink to try to lighten the mood.
Her eyes heat and darken for a moment, awakening my cock, then she sobers just as quickly.
She gives me an evil grin, and I prepare myself for what she’s about to say. “I know I can make you do anything I want you to. I’ve heard you beg and whimper for me, Grayson. To suck you, to fuck you, to make you come again, but…” She looks down at my cock, which is hard against my slacks, whimpering all on his own. “I don’t think you deserve that tonight.”
Closing my eyes and clenching my fists, I nearly throw her against the bar and fuck her right there in front of everyone to see.
If she’s trying to torment and punish me, it’s working too damn well.
The sensation of a fingernail sweeping up and down my arm against my suit coat only makes it worse, but I risk opening my eyes, which I know are now heavy and hooded with lust.
“Are you going to let me take you away from here? To tell you everything I need to?” My voice is strained from how hard Iam, and her proximity and teasing me for her own amusement. But there’s still anger, bitterness, and hurt behind her beautiful blue eyes. Those eyes always betray her, and it breaks my heart that she was doubting me for two weeks. I missed her every single second of every single day, and for the entire month I had a way to reach her, but all she could do was wait and hope.
Fuck,I need her to understand.