Chapter 23
Shannen
I’m staring at myself in the closet mirror, fighting with the clasp of my necklace, when my eyes are drawn to the tattooed god walking up behind me.
A couple of buttons are undone on his white shirt, exposing dark ink that disappears beneath the fabric, and his hands are buried in the pockets of his gray slacks that cling to him like they were tailor-made.
And I just stand there like a fucking idiot.
If it’s possible to come just from looking at someone, then I’m two seconds away from a full-body meltdown.
Fuck me, he’s so hot I might cry.
He takes over and clasps my silver necklace, his fingers brushing the nape of my neck. I feel his lips lower to my bare shoulder, pressing an affectionate kiss there, lingering as he breathes me in.
“You’re so beautiful.”
Holding my stare in the mirror, he runs his hands down the sides of my dress, stopping at my waist.
“Problem?” I tease, and he visibly inhales, his neck twisting as his hands lower and he gathers my dress, lifting it higher and higher until the lower half of me is exposed. He stares at me, bare in the mirror, his eyes darkening to something feral.
He moved almost everything into my apartment the night I asked him to, and there’s not a single part of my body he hasn’t touched, kissed, or fucked like it was made only for him.
But right now, he’s looking at me like he’d rather spank my pussy raw for walking around uncovered than drop to his knees and worship her.
“Hold it.”
I take the dress from his hands, bunching the fabric and holding it above my waist, knowing exactly what he’s searching for.
He finds a black thong—matching my dress—and lowers to the floor, one knee down, one foot flat.
I lift each foot slowly, stepping into the underwear that he leaves around my ankles.
He rises slowly to his full height, his mercury-silver stare holding me in place as the sharp clank of his belt buckle echoes in the room. I clutch my dress tighter, and his fingers slide up the column of my throat before he grips my jaw and turns my head toward the mirror.
“Watch,” he orders.
He spits into his palm and wraps his hand around his cock, and I can’t look away. He fucks his fist like he’s fucking me, every stroke dragging heat across my skin even though he hasn’t really laid a hand on me.
“You see what you do to me?”
He’s grunting, groaning, and getting close. His grip tightens on my face, his thumb brushing just beneath my cheekbone as he drops his lips to my neck.
“Hold your dress higher.”
I gather the fabric and lift it, exposing more of myself to him.
“Fuck, look at that pretty pussy. You’re already dripping for my cock, and I haven’t even touched you.”
The muscles in his forearm flex with each brutal stroke, and I can see the veins standing out along his length, the head already glistening.
With my name falling from his lips, he comes hard, and I watch him drag the thick head of his cock through his release, smearing it all over my pussy until I’m marked the way he needs me to be.
“You’re gonna wear me under that dress all night because this is how you’re mine.”
He crouches down, his eyes still on mine as he slides my underwear up, adjusting the black lace until it sits perfectly in place, sealing everything against my skin.
“There, perfect.”
“I’m good to go now?”
“Now that your cunt’s covered in my cum?” He presses his mouth to mine while fastening his belt. “Yeah. You’re good.”
The smile that breaks across his face is devastating—boyish innocence mixed with something dark and everything I love about him. His arms wrap around my back, pulling me flush against him, and I lace mine around his neck, my fingers threading into the soft hair at his nape.
“You’ll be pleased to know that once tonight’s out of the way, I’m passing the Lawson job to someone from my team. The design’s done, and I’ve got enough people who can take it from here.”
“Baby, I know this project matters to you.”
“Nothing is more important than you. And honestly, I don’t want to have to spend any more time with him. I’ll nod and smile tonight, then I’ll have a meeting on Monday and see who has the most time… a guy, obviously. I’d never pass it on to another woman, all things considered.”
“You’re serious?”
“Completely. The project’s basically finished anyway. Someone else can handle the final touches.”
“Please,” he whispers against my lips, his forehead pressed to mine. “Can we stay here?”
I almost say yes. Almost.
“Sorry, baby,” I whisper, brushing my nose against his. “Lianna bought a new dress, and she’ll have your ass if she doesn’t get to wear it.”
“Is she meeting us here?”
“No. We’ll swing by her place and grab her.” He nods and holds me tighter, his hands sliding up my back. “Are you sure you’ll be able to get into this thing tonight?”
“Yeah, the security cameras are trash, and if you don’t use the front entrance, it’s easy.”
“So you’ll be watching me tonight?”
“Tonight, tomorrow, always… Is that okay?”
“Do you care?”
“Not really.”
“Asshole.”
He chuckles, finally letting me go as I step back and grab my heels. Before I can slip them on, he’s already kneeling, taking them from my hands. He sets them on the floor and waits until I slide my feet in, then straps them on carefully.
“Let’s go, pretty girl.”
“Well, this is a bit fucking fancy, isn’t it?” Lianna says, craning her neck to look up at the chandeliers.
“We’ve done fancy shit before.”
“Yeah, but this is extra. And you know what? You’re rich, but this is like dirty rich.”
This is the powerful kind of rich you can practically smell.
Security is dotted everywhere. Earpieces, square jaws, no fucking eyelids, apparently—considering I haven’t seen one of them blink—and tailored suits that don’t hide the bulk of weapons underneath.
They’re trying to blend in and pass as guests, but I have no idea why they’re even bothering when they look like they’d choke out someone’s grandma if she so much as coughed too loudly.
I’d almost resigned myself to the fact that Phoenix wasn’t getting anywhere near this place—trash security cameras or not, this is another level. But I can feel him. I don’t know how I know, but he’s here. My eyes drift, tuning out everything that isn’t this pull in my gut.
My head turns just slightly, and there he is, the man of my dreams, leaning against the bar like he owns the entire building.
Something in me settles instantly, and whatever I thought I was bracing for tonight disappears the second those eyes find mine.
I don’t need words from him when everything in his face says, I love you, and I’ve got you.
We decided he’d stay hidden from me tonight—technically hidden, anyway.
He’s not supposed to be here, and the last thing I want is for him to draw attention to himself, which is hilarious, because the man is attention.
He walks into a room, and everyone suddenly forgets what the hell they were doing because he’s stupid hot, and the smug bastard knows it.
But only I get to keep him.
Only I know what it feels like to be chosen by that heart.
“Let’s get a drink,” I say, grabbing Lianna’s hand without looking away from him.
“Ugh, there he is, the bane of my life, looking annoyingly hot in that suit.”
“Please, you like him too much to find him an inconvenience.”
“Don’t tell him that,” she hisses.
I slot in beside Phoenix at the bar. We don’t touch or acknowledge each other, but I feel the heat of his body, and Jesus, it’s turning me into a puddle in heels.
Phoenix doesn’t move, his eyes fixed straight ahead.
The bartender appears and takes Lianna’s and my order—two champagnes, even though the room’s already infested with silver trays carrying the same shit. But I saw something I wanted here, and I needed to be close to it.
“Come on,” Lianna says under her breath, nudging me with her elbow. “You came here for a reason. Smile. Mingle. Pretend to give a shit. Then we can fuck off, because Phoenix is about three seconds from hauling your ass out of here by the hair.”
I turn to face her, putting my back to him like I’m not hyperaware of every single breath he takes.
“Phoenix isn’t deaf,” comes his voice, but I still don’t turn. “Now go before I drag both of you out of here because I don’t trust a single one of these power-hungry cocksuckers not to be seedy, deranged fucks with wandering hands.”
“You found the guest list, didn’t you?” Lianna says it loud enough for him to hear.
I hear the faintest chuckle behind me, then track Lianna’s eyes as she follows him across the room.
“So, how’s domestic life?” She looks at me over the rim of her glass with a smirk.
“The best.” I take a sip of champagne. “Shut up. I hate that I’m that girl now.”
“I’m not saying anything.” She lifts her hands in mock surrender. “I’m happy for you.”
My phone buzzes in my clutch, and the moment I see Phoenix’s name light up the screen, Lianna leans in like a nosy little gremlin.
“Jesus, I can literally still see him from here.”
PHOENIX: If I’d stayed beside you any longer, I would’ve had my hands on you. Knowing you’re walking around painted in my cum is making my cock ache with how much it wants to get inside you.
You’ve had me on edge since before you fastened my necklace. Stop fucking with me.
“Incoming,” Lianna mutters, and when I glance up, James is heading toward us with a stunning woman attached to his arm.
“Shannen Mitchell, thank you for coming… And who is this?”
Lianna reaches forward, holding out her hand. “Lianna Monroe, best friend and club owner.”
That’s my girl—power-thirsty, unapologetic psycho who doesn’t shrink from anyone, especially not men in suits.
“James Lawson, it’s nice to meet you.”
“And I’m Avery,” the brunette beside him adds. “James’s date, who he seems to have forgotten about during the introduction.”
“My apologies,” he says, not sounding remotely sorry, his eyes fixed on me. “This is the wonderful woman who’s redesigning my hotels, Avery.”