Chapter 16
Chapter
Sixteen
ADRIANNA
My hands shake as I place them on my stomach and look in the mirror.
When I saw this dress, I knew I had to have it.
It’s black and has long sleeves that slightly puff out, so they don’t stick to my skin.
There isn’t a single sparkle on it, and it was probably overlooked on the rack because it covers me from the collarbone all the way to the ground, not an inch of skin showing, not until I turn around at least. I turn and look at myself in the mirror as I check out my exposed back.
Biting my lip, I can’t help but wonder what Elijah will think.
I suck in a breath when someone knocks on my door.
He’s here.
Slowly I breathe out as I make my way to the door and open it. Despite the conservativeness of the dress, his eyes darken in desire.
Interesting.
“Hi, give me one minute.” I spin around to grab my clutch.
I can’t help but smile when I hear him suck in a breath.
“You look…” He trails off.
I slide my phone in my clutch and turn to face him, and I raise a brow. “I look…”
“Downright sinful,” he murmurs.
I hum as I approach him. “You don’t look so bad yourself, Mr. Samson. Are you ready to go?”
“After you,” he says as he steps aside, letting me pass.
I step out onto the porch, locking the door once he closes it behind him. Once my keys are safely tucked away, he rests his hand on my lower back. I can’t help but suck in a breath when his cool hand touches my exposed skin.
I know it’s wrong, but I fucking love the way his skin feels on mine.
“You okay?” he asks as he leads me to the waiting car.
“I’m fine, why?”
“You’re just looking a little flushed is all,” he says smugly.
I roll my eyes but bite my tongue.
The walk to the car is a short one, but with his eyes on me the entire time, it feels like an eternity. He opens the passenger door for me and waits until my dress is safely tucked inside before shutting the door. As I put on my seat belt, I watch him round the hood of the car.
He looks fantastic tonight in his suit. Like normal, my eyes are drawn to his ass, and I have to bite my lip to stop myself from moaning.
I really should ask him how he got it so bubbly. I could sell his workout plan and make millions overnight if I just attached a photo of his ass.
When he slides into the driver’s seat, he smirks.
“What?” I ask.
He reaches over and rubs the corner of my mouth with his thumb. “You had a little bit of drool.”
“I did not!” I yell, feeling completely mortified.
Elijah chuckles and puts on his seat belt before starting the car. Once he pulls out onto the road, he reaches over and rests his hand on my thigh.
For some reason I can’t look away. I like the way it looks. I’ve never had someone touch me like this, at least not this early into the night when neither of us knows how the night will end. I love and hate how it makes my heart race, and I want to ask him what this means.
Is he doing it because he wants to have sex again? Is he just a touchy-feely guy, and I didn’t know until now? Is this normal behavior for him?
“Have you ever been to a Humane Society event before?” he asks, breaking me from my thoughts.
“No, have you?”
He shakes his head. “Can’t say that I have.”
“Bob and Doreen will be there.”
“I look forward to talking to them again.”
I don’t know why, but I believe him.
“I’m sure he will appreciate it. I got the feeling that they don’t get a lot of positive interactions with people. Which is probably why they love animals so much.”
“Animals are a good judge of character and don’t care about anything as long as you treat them right. It’s fucked up, though, that people don’t give him the time of day based on something he can’t control.”
“Humans are assholes,” I say absentmindedly as I watch his thumb start to stroke my inner thigh. It takes everything in me not to hike up my dress and spread my legs so he can explore.
Jesus Christ. What is it about this man that sets my blood on fire when I know he shouldn’t? He’s fifty shades of all wrong for me, but for some reason, I don’t want to stay away.
Finally we pull to a stop outside of the venue.
“Stay right there,” he says as he jumps out.
He hands the keys off to the valet before he opens my door.
“Thank you,” I murmur as I place my hand in his.
Thankfully no one pays us any attention as we head inside. The last thing either of us needs is for us to be photographed together. I could just see the headline now.
Assistant Sleeps With the CEO
Just to Keep Her Job.
I cringe at the thought. While it’s the truth, it’s also partly a lie. Yes, we’ve had sex, but it had nothing to do with my job.
No, I know exactly why he hasn’t fired me, and it has nothing to do with the fact he’s seen me naked.
“Are you ready?” he murmurs into my ear.
“Sure,” I say absentmindedly, my thoughts spiraling.
“Put on your game face, Ms. Baker. It’s time to impress some people,” he says quietly as someone says his name.
He’s right. This isn’t the time or place for this line of thinking.
I take a deep breath and roll my shoulders back. “Let’s do this.”
“That’s my girl,” he whispers before turning a charming smile onto the businessman approaching us. “Mr. Murphy, great to see you again. Have you met my assistant, Adrianna?”
ELIJAH
I look over at Adrianna and see that she’s standing a little stiff with a plastic smile.
Shit.
I should have warned her what it’s like when I come to events and how I can hardly get through the door before someone is approaching wanting something.
I know she’s been to events before, but I’m sure she was always more like a shadow.
People don’t know her, so they aren’t likely to pay her any mind.
It’s a shame, really. She’s so fucking beautiful that I’d be surprised if she hadn’t been propositioned at an event before.
Still, I’m sure all this wealthy talk isn’t what she is used to.
“I could use a drink. What about you?” I murmur.
Relief flashes through her eyes, and her smile becomes a little more genuine. “Yes, please.”
I excuse us from the current conversation, thankful to have Adrianna with me.
With my hand on her lower back, we head toward the bar.
I can’t help but swipe my pinky along the seam of her dress.
At first, when she opened the door, I thought she looked beautiful but that her dress choice was a little plain.
Then she went and turned around, showing me that her back was completely exposed.
I had to fight off every desire to walk her over to the couch and push her over the arm and take her from behind.
Later.
If she will let me.
Fuck, I hope she lets me.
“I’ll take a whiskey, neat,” I tell the bartender when we step up to order before looking over at Adrianna.
“I’ll take a glass of red wine, please.”
“Of course,” the bartender says before getting to work.
Adrianna’s breath catches when my pinky dips below the seam.
“Elijah…” she warns without looking at me.
“What?”
She glares at me out of the corner of her eye. “You know what. People will talk if they see.”
“And what would they say? That my hand might be a little low, but I’m being a gentleman?” I tease.
She rolls her eyes right when someone says our names.
I turn and look over my shoulder and see the Whittakers approaching.
“Take a deep breath,” I mutter quietly before smiling at the couple. “Bob, Doreen, we were wondering if you would be here.”
Adrianna hugs Doreen and lets Bob kiss her cheek. I reach forward and shake Bob’s hand before I kiss Doreen’s cheek.
“It’s great to see you two. If we would have known you were going to be here, we would have made sure we could have sat together,” Doreen says.
“We were both invited last minute,” Adrianna tells them.
“Sir,” the bartender says.
I look over my shoulder and see that our drinks are ready.
“Thank you,” Adrianna and I say in unison as we pick up our glasses.
We wait for Bob and Doreen to get their drinks.
“How have you two been?” Bob asks after they place their order.
“Busy,” I say, making Adrianna nod.
“Your gala is coming up soon, is it not?” Doreen asks.
“It is,” I say, offering the woman a smile.
“Like I told Adrianna the last time we saw you two, it’s a beautiful event that you put on. You should be proud,” Doreen says.
I shake my head but smile. “I can’t take any credit for the events in the past, but hopefully people like what I’ve put together so far.”
Doreen shoots Adrianna a look that I can’t quite name. I go to ask about it, but Bob speaks up.
“Have you been to any hockey games this year?”
My hand flexes on Adrianna’s back as I remember the last hockey game I was at. It feels like a lifetime ago at this point.
“I went to one earlier in the season, but not in a while. We really should get to a Foxes game together. When are you available?”
Adrianna steps away from me, and I feel her loss immediately. It takes everything in me not to pull her back into my side as she and Doreen start talking quietly to one another.
When the hell did I become clingy?
“I’ve been a season ticket holder since they came to town. I go to all the games,” Bob tells me.
“My best friend Brantley will love to hear that since he owns the team. Next home game, we should go together. We can sit in the owner’s box.”
“You’re friends with Brantley Gibson?” Bob’s eyes widen.
“I am. I grew up with him and the Williamson brothers. They are practically family.”
Bob whistles. “That’s some company you keep, my boy. I knew you were close with the Williamson boys, but I didn’t connect the dots. I should have.”
If it were anyone else, I would be offended that he called me a boy, but I know that from him it’s not meant as an insult.
Before I can think of a response, he steps closer as his eyes shoot over at the women before coming back to me. I raise my whiskey to my mouth and take a sip, letting the alcohol burn a little bit of his onion smell away.
“Speaking of company, don’t think I didn’t notice the way things have changed between you two,” he says quietly.
I go to deny it but find that I can’t because he’s not wrong.
Things have changed between us. Yes, most days she drives me fucking mad and makes me want to pull my hair out, but when she’s not being a complete menace, all I can think about is feeling her body against mine and fucking her against every available surface.
It’s a conundrum that I don’t know how to explain.
We don’t make sense, but at the same time we do, and I don’t know how I feel about it.
Bob chuckles and slaps me on the shoulder. “Welcome to the club, son, welcome to the club.”
I swallow hard, realizing what he means. He said that she was the one. I didn’t believe him at the time, but the more I think about keeping the woman with me, the more I have to admit that she is perfect.
Perfect for me.
“Thank you?”
A bell rings, and we all look toward the stage.
“Bidding will close in fifteen minutes, if you could all start making your way to your seats.”
Wordlessly, Bob and I make our way to the women.
“If we don’t see you before the end of the night, you two have fun and be safe,” Doreen tells us.
“Of course. You two as well,” Adrianna tells them with a genuine smile.
“So, should we find our table?” Adrianna asks as we watch them walk away.
I look over at the woman next to me, and the only thing I want to do is leave and have her all to myself, at least for a minute.
“What do you think about getting out of here?”
She turns toward me and raises a brow. “What about the auction?”
“I already placed my bids and gave the organizer my payment information.”
Her face lights up. “What do you have in mind then?”
“I was thinking that tacos sound a whole lot better than tiny-ass portions that won’t soak up one drink, let alone two.”
She tilts her head to the side and hums. “I like tacos.”
Leaning down, I press a chaste kiss to her cheek. “Let’s get out of here.”