She giggles, then replies while turning. “Hello, Mr. Goblin.”
There’s a thick crowd all around us. Dense enough for me to gently brush her side with my hand. She shivers, letting out a gasp that goes straight to my base. We’re playing with fire here, being so public, with so many journalists around.
One photo, and our worlds change forever.
I squeeze her hip, my body burning with heat. She shivers against me, then turns, batting her eyelashes. There’s nothing practiced about it. We’re both caught in the storm.
“Oh, it’s you,” she says, louder now, playing a role. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Cross.”
“And you,” I reply. “It’s DakkyDuck, isn’t it?”
She smiles. “Well remembered.”
“I heard you have some opinions about the Cove,” I say. “Perhaps you’d like to share them.”
She folds her arms, squeezing her tits together alluringly. In person, she’s even more attractive. There’s a confident quality in the glimmer of her eyes and her smile that doesn’t fully translate to the screen. “If you think you can handle it.”
I nod, then lead her away from the group to the quietest corner of the expo. On the way, I grab two glasses of champagne. As she takes it from me, our hands brush. Electricity shoots up my arm like a preview of the crackling release we’ll experience the moment we’re alone.
“So, it’s really you,” she says.
“It’s reallyyou,” I groan. “Fucking hell. Look at you, Dakota. I made a mistake with that dress.”
She turns slightly and wiggles her hips from side to side. “You don’t like it?”
“Look down—and you’ll see how much I like it.”
She glances down, then gasps. “Jack!” she exclaims, then covers her mouth with her hand. “You need torelax.”
I smile tightly. “Believe me, I’m trying.”
I knew she was hot, obviously, but being physically close is something else entirely. It’s her scent too. Perfume, or maybe just her.
“That’s right, don’t look at me,” she murmurs, voice breathy. “Or you’ll think about the Cove. About what we did there. You’ll think about doing it in real life.”
I look into her eyes, the empowered glee there. “You’re torturing me.”
She laughs. “Maybe just a little. Don’t worry. It’s difficult for me too.”
“Yeah, but is ithardfor you?”
My cock twitches. I might have to flip it up into my waistband if I can’t calm the hell down.
“This is weird,” she murmurs. “It’s like meeting a stranger… but also not.”
“I know what you mean,” I agree. “Kissing you would feel so natural right now.”
She bites her lip, eyes flitting around. “You can’t, can you?”
In my head, I step forward, pull her into my arms, crush her with a kiss, and don’t give a damn what people say or think. Let them believe I’m using my power to get her, that she’s only with me because of my position and my cash.
And I would, in a heartbeat, if I didn’t have all my employees to consider. One wrong move—even if it’s the right one to me, to us—could change everything.
“I want to so badly. You’re the most beautiful woman in here.”
Dakota looks around, shaking her head. “Some of these women could be on the runway.”
“And I’ve told you before, that’s because standards arefucked. You’re the only angel here, Dakota, don’t forget it.”