Chapter 45
CHAPTER 45
CHARLOTTE
I float through the crowd of people. Everywhere there’s exposed skin and beautiful silk or lace. Some people are in full pjs, others in little negligees. Mandy herself is in a fabulous red silk robe. I spent the earlier part of the night with her, chatting with her and her friends about their company.
I hadn’t realized how much more at ease I’d be with the “no-phone” rule.
But here, there is no risk of someone looking at me a little too long and then snapping a picture. Or pulling up Google and searching for me, finding out in a heartbeat everything I’ve tried to run away from for a decade.
There’s anonymity in that. Plus, there are far more famous people here. Logan? Again? I can’t believe this is their world.
I look over my shoulder, and another electric current passes through me. Despite the cool evening and my state of dress, I feel warm.
Aiden pushes through the crowd to get to me. His eyes are dark, eyebrows lowered. He looks angry. He’s also the only one in a suit.
Far too dressed, compared to everyone else in silk and lace. Shorts and T-shirts.
He catches my eye and mouths a single word. Stop.
I grin at him and turn back. This place is huge. A sprawling estate. And I wonder, do people actually live here, or is it one of those houses that’s always rented out—used for music videos, celebrities’ vacations, and parties?
I pass by the bar. There are small wooden trays of tequila shots lined up, ready for people to grab them. On impulse, I snatch one. The ornamental board is engraved with text on the side and holds four little shot glasses, a plate of cut lime, and a tiny pouch of sea salt.
Aiden is closer now. A glance back tells me he’s almost caught up to me.
I rush to the side, to where the dancefloor lies. Mandy is out there. I see her, blonde hair and red silk robe, and I wonder if it would be safer for me to be right next to her. Aiden wouldn’t dare then.
But maybe… I want to get caught.
I head inside, walking straight into the living room. The giant glass walls must have been pushed aside, allowing the party to spill easily from outside to the interior of the mansion. On the massive table at the center of the room is an array of products on display. Mandy showed them to me earlier.
Pocket vibrators.
G-spot stimulators.
Edible underwear.
A few are already in my goodie bag, slung over my shoulder.
“Chaos,” a voice says beside me.
I keep going, past a group of men with grins on their faces who are all collectively examining a set of beads.
An arm wraps around my waist, and then I’m pulled back against Aiden’s body. His voice is gravelly in my ear. “Charlotte,” he says. “Are you trying to drive me insane?”
I close my eyes. “Maybe.”
“It’s a dangerous game you’re playing.”
“Maybe I’m just conducting some research.”
“Here? Where everyone can see?” His mouth moves lower, lips feathering over my neck. My brain short-circuits. It always does when he kisses me there. “You’re very close to everyone seeing just what kind of professional relationship we have.”
“I thought,” I murmur, “you wanted to hide me away. My clothing is indecent, after all.”
He mutters something against my neck. It sounds like a curse. Then his mouth drags back up, lips against the shell of my ear. “You won’t wear my jacket, so stealing you away is my only choice.”
He pulls me down the hall. I almost spill the tequila, and he shakes his head, taking the tray from me.
“Get in here,” he says and pushes open a random door. It leads into an elegantly decorated bedroom that looks sparingly used. He shuts the door and stands with his back to it.
His eyes drag over me. “That dress is going to be the end of me, Chaos. I was ready to fight all the men out there.”
I feel ten feet tall. Eternal, ageless, and in complete control when he looks at me like that. Intoxicated by the magic that happens when we’re together.
“I didn’t think you were the jealous type.”
He sets the little tray of tequila down on a nightstand. “I am when it comes to you and the see-through dress,” he says darkly.
Aiden looks from me to the tequila shots. There’s a little engraving on the side of the wood that says body shots encouraged. I see him reading it.
I take another step back, excitement racing through my system. “What are you going to do?”
He looks at me. “I’m going to take a shot, and if you insist on walking around dressed like that, it’s going to be off you.”
“Oh.” My knees hit the edge of the bed, and I sink backward on the soft duvet.
Aiden grabs the tray, and suddenly it feels very real, here in this house, with the door closed and locked, and him standing in front of me.
I let my palms glide over the fabric. Velvet, maybe? Something soft and decadent.
“Lie back,” he says, “and be a good table for me.”
I smile and do what he says. “I’m just an object to you.”
He shakes his head and reaches for a shot. “You’re far, far more than that, but for the sake of rule one… sure.” He runs his free hand lightly over my body. Across my bare upper chest, between my breasts, down the center of my stomach.
He pauses at the hem of my dress. Grips it, and tugs it up to expose my midriff.
I’m breathing fast.
“Calm,” he murmurs and slides his hand over my waistline before pouring the cold tequila into my belly button.
His fingers glide upward, coming to rest by my jaw. “Open,” he murmurs and fits a slice of lime between my lips. I grip it gently with my teeth and watch him grab a pinch of salt. He deliberates for a single breath before leaning down and licking a stripe across my left nipple. It dampens the thin, sheer fabric, making it stick to my skin.
“There.” He sprinkles the salt on the spot.
Keeping his eyes on mine, he leans down again and kisses my lower stomach.
A shiver races through me. I feel like I’m holding my breath.
He kisses up another inch, and then he’s by the tequila. His lips are warm and so is his tongue as he drinks off my skin.
Aiden moves up, and then he’s only inches from my mouth. He tilts closer, our lips almost touching as he takes the lime from between my lips. He sucks for a second and then tosses it away.
Finally, he lowers his head to my left breast and fits his mouth around it. He sucks and then licks the nipple with a twirl of his tongue that sends warmth through me.
He looks up at me with eyes that are nearly black.
“I think that was the wrong order.” My voice comes out a little breathless. It’s usually salt first, tequila, then lime.
But Aiden just shakes his head and straightens. “No, this is the right order. There’s no way I was not finishing at your tits.”
He reaches for the other shot and repeats the process. Pouring, licking, salting.
There’s a dull ache at the apex of my thighs, and I press them together to try to soothe it.
Aiden runs his hand up my inner thigh, and when he bends to my belly button again, his hand slides up to press between my legs. He runs his finger down my seam, over the fabric of my thong.
My breath catches. It’s hard to draw air with another slice of lime between my lips.
“I know,” he murmurs, kissing his way up from my stomach to my lips. His thumb keeps moving, stroking me up and down. “You’re not meant to lie still.”
His lips close around the lime, just barely touching mine in a brief kiss before he lifts his mouth. He removes the citrus with his free hand and then bends to my right nipple.
He pauses, an inch from the wet, salty peak. Between my legs, his fingers start to circle my clit.
“This right here,” he says, eyes dark, “is what I can’t wait to taste. You’re soaking through the lace, and I want you to know just how badly I want to have you on my tongue.”
My stomach tightens at his words, and my hands dig into the comforter. “Aiden.”
“I know. All in good time, sweetheart.” He looks down at my nipples, like they are everything he’s ever wanted. Like I don’t have tiny breasts, barely A-cups that have taken me years to be okay with. “These sweet tits need my attention now. But Charlotte… I want you to imagine it’s your clit I’m sucking on instead.”
He licks the salt off me and presses his thumb down on my clit at the same time. My back lifts off the bed at the sensation. His mouth sucks my entire left breast into my mouth, and I can’t think around the pleasure.
He slides his hand beneath the rim of my thong, and then it’s all him, cupping me. He pushes a thick finger inside and keeps pressing down on my clit.
His tongue laves my nipple.
How would that feel? On my clit?
“I’m close,” I whisper, my hand raking through his thick hair.
He uses his teeth. Bites down around my stiff nipple, and my orgasm sweeps through me like a soft summer rain. Trickles through my body. My toes curl inside the painful high heels, and I drop to the bed, panting.
I slowly come back to myself. To Aiden’s head resting against my breastbone, his heavy breathing. His middle finger, still inside me, and the rigid set of his shoulders.
His delicious weight.
“Fuck,” he mutters and pushes onto his elbow. There’s a fire in his eyes that makes me feel ready all over again. “I need to be inside you. And when I do, Chaos… this won’t be a one time thing. Once we start, I’ll need you all the fucking time.”
I reach for his suit jacket. “What makes you think I’ll only need you once?”