Chapter Forty-One
Luke
“Fallon!”
This is the third time I have called for her to come out of her bedroom, and she still isn't ready. It’s not that I'm bothered about being late, more that I haven’t seen her in days and I'm desperate to get my fill.
Tonight is my mother's charity gala. I got ready at my place, showering quickly and throwing on my tux, then rushed straight over here in the hopes of seeing my girl, alone.
You can only imagine the surprise on my face when I got here to Maya answering the door.
All the girls are in her room, helping her to get ready.
Why she needs so many hands, I will never know.
She is beautiful enough without all the added help.
But from all the giggling I can hear coming from behind her door, I know that she is loving every minute of it.
“She’s almost ready,” Blair calls back. “Trust the process.”
I roll my eyes. What bloody process? I have already seen the dress she picked with my mother, what else could there be?
Then the door opens, and I jump to my feet, eagerly waiting to set eyes on my girl.
Maya, Blair, and Gracie walk out first, mischievous looks on their faces.
What the hell are they up to? But the next moment, I fully understand.
My eyes widen as I take her in. Fallon is beautiful on a normal day, but today, fuck, she looks like an angel.
“Baby. You look…” My voice trails off, scrambling to find the right thing to say.
“Lost for words, Loverboy?” Blair smirks, one hand on her hip.
“Doesn’t she look radiant?” Gracie fawns over her, smoothing down a stray curl.
I step closer to her, needing those luscious red lips of hers on mine, when Maya shoots a hand in front of me.
“Uh uh,” she tuts. “No wrecking our masterpiece until after you’ve arrived at the party.”
Fallon laughs, walking over to stand beside me. I can't take my gaze away from her. Her eyes are like deep, ocean blue crystals, the darkness surrounding them making them pop more than usual. She is stunning.
“Let's get out of here before you combust,” Fallon smirks, pulling me towards the door.
“Wait!” Gracie demands, her voice a lot more commanding than I've ever heard. “Don’t you dare leave without me taking a photo.”
Gracie positions us, complaining about the lighting in the room, then snaps a few pictures as if this is our prom night. I’m trying with all my might to contain myself, but all I want is to get Fallon alone.
“Thanks, mum,” Fal winks at her, waving as we leave. “Lock up after yourselves.”
I keep my hands to myself until we're out of her building, but the moment we reach the car, I trap her between the door and my chest.
“Fuck, baby, tonight is going to be fucking torture,” I growl, dipping my head to the crease of her neck. “You even smell like heaven.”
“I wanted to impress you,” she whispers breathlessly.
“You impress me every day, but this,” I signal towards the curve-hugging dress, and the slit that shows most of her leg. “Is torture.”
“I’m glad you like it,” she giggles, pushing me away slightly. “Down boy, I want to make a good impression tonight.”
“Ah fuck it. They love you already.”
She smiles, biting that fucking lip of hers.
I groan as I back away and head to my door.
Once we’re inside, I take her hand in mine, lacing our fingers over the gear stick.
The drive is peaceful, listening to the playlist she made since it'll take us over an hour to get there. We plan to stay the night and spend the following day with my parents. Fallon wanted to book a hotel so we wouldn’t be intruding on their space.
I think she's in for a shock when she sees just how much space they have.
“Are you sure they don’t mind us staying over?” She asks again as their gates come into view.
“I promise there is enough room that we don’t even have to see them if we don’t want to,” I laugh. “Stop your worrying.”
“I can't help it. I…”
Her voice trails off as I pull up to the large black gates, driving slowly to the sensor that will recognise my cars reg plate.
After only a few seconds, they open automatically.
My family home comes into view straight away, the side all lit up like a magical fairy garden with twinkling lights and a marquee set up in the field.
“Luke,” she whispers. I turn to look at her expression, to find one of shock covering her features. Her eyes are saucers, and her mouth is open so wide I'm surprised her jaw isn't on the floor. “What the fuck is this? You grew up here?”
“It’s my home,” I reply. Should I have given her more of a warning?
“Home? It looks like something off Bridgerton!” She gasps, her eyes bouncing from the house to the land surrounding it. “No wonder your dad never wants to leave.”
“Nah, he's just a miserable old bastard that likes his home comforts.”
“Well, this is definitely more than comfortable. I feel underdressed,” she fidgets with the hem of her skirt.
“You look perfect, Fal. I promise.” And she does. She could be in a sack and still look perfect to me.
We pull up at the front door, and I hand my keys over to the parking assistant my parents hired. I have to admit, it is a little overkill, but it's just how my mother likes it. If you’ve got it, flaunt it, is her motto.
Taking her hand in mine, I notice the slight clamminess as her fingers squeeze mine.
“Hey, if you want to leave, just say the word and we're out of here,” I say. She stares up at me, her eyes bright as she shakes her head.
“I’m just a little nervous. I have never been to something like this before. I would hate to embarrass you.”
Is she joking?
“Fallon, I don’t need any help in embarrassing myself. I do it often,” I laugh. “You will love it. Also, my parents are dying to see you, so I wouldn’t worry.”
“I do love them,” she says.
“Good, because they love you,” I reply just as my mother's voice comes barrelling towards us.
“You’re here!” She exclaims, avoiding me and rushing straight to Fallon, throwing her arms around her. “Oh, my darling girl, you look absolutely exquisite in that dress.”
Fallon's cheeks flush, but her smile is so bright that it makes my heart melt.
“You look lovely, too. Thank you so much for inviting me. Are you sure you don’t mind me staying over?”
“Do I mind? I haven’t thought of anything else all week. I am so excited that you're here. I have even booked us in for a spa morning tomorrow, just you and me,” my mum grins, linking her arms through Fal’s and stealing her away from me.
I can't help but laugh. It was only a few seconds earlier that she was worried about coming.
Trust my mum to make her feel at ease so quickly.
I'm starting to think she likes Fallon more than me.
Not that I can blame her. Their heads are bent together as they make their plans for the following day, with me trailing along behind them.
Mum directs us straight to the gazebo, where the party is already in full swing.
I make a mental note to show Fallon around the house later.
I know her curiosity won't last the full evening.
The room looks fantastic. My mother has really outdone herself this time.
I'm quite sure she makes it her goal to do better each time she throws one of these events, and she always succeeds.
The room is dark but twinkling with warm fairy lights.
The rest of the room is dressed in gold, and she has even managed to get sparkling chandeliers.
All the men are dressed in various types of tuxedos, and the women in extravagant gowns.
This is the type of thing I'm used to attending, but looking over at Fallon, I can tell this is a whole new scene for her.
She bends to whisper in my mother's ear, which causes her smile to widen immensely. From the proud shimmy of her shoulders, I know Fallon just complimented her skills.
A group of people come over to steal her attention, but she doesn’t let go of my girl. Walking closer, I take her other arm.
“Mother, I'm going to get Fallon a drink,” I state, dragging her away.
“Of course, enjoy your evening,” she beams, then continues to host.
“Wow, this is something else,” Fallon admits as we both take a glass of champagne from the passing waiter.
“That is my mother for you,” I smile. “Are you feeling better now we're in here?”
“Yes. But there is one thing that’s bothering me…” she admits, her eyes gleaming with mirth.
“Oh? And what would that be?”
“That my boyfriend looks incredibly sexy in his suit, and I am dying to rid him of it.”
The way she narrows her eyes and bites that fucking lip of hers sends blood rushing to my dick. Down boy. There is a time and a place. Maybe that tour of the house would be better sooner rather than later. I wrap my free arm around her waist, pulling her close so I can whisper into her ear.
“Oh, baby, be careful what you wish for.”
“Trust me, right now that is the only wish I have,” she teases. “Since you won’t strip for me, will you dance with me? It’s the least you could do.”
Chuckling, I lean closer to kiss the crook of her neck. “I guess it is.”
I lead her over to the dance floor, which is already busy with other couples. It’s not exactly the way we would usually dance, seeing as most of the guests here are over the age of sixty, but I get to touch her and have her close, and right now that is all that matters.
Fallon lifts her arms, resting them on my shoulders as mine wrap around her middle.
My fingers flatten against her back, with the tips of my fingers being dangerously close to her arse.
Fuck, what I would give to move them that little bit lower.
From the gleam in her eyes, I guess she is thinking the exact same thing.
We are lost in our own world. She is staring at me so intently, it's as though she is seeing into my very soul. If only she knew how madly in love with her I was. Because I am, so much so that I'm scared to admit to her just how much, I’m lucky I have got her as far as I have.
“We are going to have to mingle at some point tonight, but I really don’t want to,” I say, pulling her body a few inches closer to me.
“Neither do I,” she breathes, before leaning to rest her face against my chest. “I could stay in this moment for a lifetime.”
It’s like she is reading my mind. But before I can say just that, my dad's gruff voice interrupts us.
“Excuse me, boy, stop hogging my future daughter,” he complains, yet I can see the smirk lighting his face.
My skin breaks out into sweat thinking about how Fallon will take what he just said, but she's giggling as she steps out of my embrace and straight into his.
“Hey,” she beams. “It’s so good to see you. I thought you would be hiding out in the stables.”
“Oh, trust me, I tried. But I knew my life wouldn’t be worth living if I did,” he smiles warmly.
Seeing how comfortable she feels in my dad's presence, I start making the rounds like the dutiful son I am.
Smiling the world's fakest smile, greeting people I have definitely met before, but have no recollection of. Yet, my eyes keep searching out Fallon. My decision is made, I’ll allow my father five more minutes to dance, then I'm stealing her away.