Chapter 6
At the crossing point of the two wings of the house, Evelyn could tell Michael had passed through recently. She paused at the top of the curved marble staircase to breathe in the erotic scent of him. Clenching her legs together, she reminded herself of every derogatory remark he’d ever made toward her and all the times he left her vulnerable at the hands of someone else, whether it was his father or a predator like the previous week.
She gripped the highly polished dark wood and wrought iron railing, willing herself to continue with the charade for which she had volunteered. Hearing the heavy steps of a man’s shoes, she observed Michael walking across the foyer. He adjusted the sleeves of his tailored black tuxedo. It amplified his already well-proportioned physique, drawing the eye from the broad shoulders to the narrow hips. She started to salivate at the thought of removing each layer to see if he was still as well-toned as he used to be.
“If you could stop daydreaming, we can depart on time.” Michael’s sardonic tone was like a scratch through a concerto.
“Nice watch,” she commented as she descended the steps and met him in the foyer. He adjusted the timepiece that his father had always worn before offering his arm to her. It was a glaring reminder of why she was in this situation in the first place.
“Interesting choice of attire for this evening. Very fashionable, if not a little scandalous.” He traced the buttons attached to sheer, navy blue lace down the length of her back to her cleft where the solid matching silk flowed to the floor. His finger lingered, sending a wanton thrill through her.
“Shall we go?” He shook himself out of his reverie and offered his arm once more.
She placed her hand on his arm, highlighting perhaps the most shocking part of her design. Michael couldn’t keep his eyes away and she was secretly pleased. The front mirrored the back, the sheer fabric plunging almost to her navel. Where the opaque material draped around her breasts, it was taped to the sides, leaving just enough exposed to see the start of the undercurve.
“Good evening Mr. and Mrs. Harding.” Stevenson stood at the ready, car doors open.
“Thank you, I’ve got it.” Stevenson’s offered hand of help was bypassed as Michael guided her into the back seat. After easing into his own, he stared out the window in silence. She was content to enjoy the quiet and watch the street lights become a blur against the darkness as they entered the highway.
“It really is another lovely creation, Lady Catherine,” he finally broke the silence. She had contemplated how long it would take him to say something.
“Thank you. I’m sure you don’t mean it, but I think your French counterparts will.”
“Meghan told you?” he guessed.
Meghan had come crying with her confession immediately after it happened.
“It doesn’t matter. You would have found out eventually.”
“The real question is how you managed to conceal this from your background check. What else are you hiding?”
“You sound just like your father, or maybe Heath. Hard to decide which one thought he was more domineering.”
“You hardly exchanged two words with either of them. Don’t change the subject.” Did he really not know how they came after her time and again with the most colorful, degrading vocabulary they could imagine?
“It’s not like the information wasn’t easily accessible. It’s simply not under my name since technically I am not the owner.”
“Then what’s the angle?” He shifted closer to her as he got more animated. “Is this a way to use me to promote your work and make even more money?”
“How much do you think I’m making from this?”
“Meghan said you’re barely breaking even. I can imagine you’re spending quite a bit of your allowance on the materials for each of these dresses.”
“Do you see this lace? Does it look familiar?” She asked, running her finger down her chest.
“Should it?” Michael blatantly stared.
“It’s the overdress from last week, dyed dark. The other materials are re-used from wherever I could get them.”
“If you’re ripping people off for a profit, then you should be making bank.”
“I offer my clients the finest new materials I can afford. I am always upfront about what I am providing.”
He scoffed, “We all know that’s not true.”
“You’ve always been so ready to think the worst of me. If you can’t put the past behind us, can you at least believe that I’m a different person now?”
“If you can promise me you’re not hiding anything else, I will try to let it be bygone.”
“I swear there is nothing more to know about Lady Catherine Designs. By the way, I hope you don’t mind, but I put a ring together so people wouldn’t ask about it.” She counted on the detail to distract him from the specificity of her assurance.
“I should have thought to take care of that,” he caressed the skin around the ring, making her a little lightheaded. “It’s better than anything I might have found. Where did you get the jewels?” It was the first time she had heard a hint of admiration from him since the ceremony.
“They’re not real. Just bits of colored glass. I have to make sure no one looks at it too closely.” She babbled as he brought her hand closer to his face.
“Thank you for doing this.” He kissed her fingers next to the wedding band.
If she wasn’t careful she was going to fall for him all over again and she couldn’t risk that. Not releasing her hand, he turned to look outside again. She watched their reflection in the window until the brightly lit Residence of the Ambassador of France took its place.
Still clasping her hand, Michael led her out of the car through the imposing brick and stone entry encasing a beautiful glass and iron double door that looked like lace.
“I wonder if I can find some sparkling water?” she whispered to Michael upon being greeted with trays of champagne. Soft music played nearby, helping to cover her comment.
“You seemed fine guzzling the champagne last week,” he hissed. His warm breath next to her ear made her swallow hard.
“It was the same warm glass of flat champagne the whole night. I wasn’t about to let my guard down around those leeches.” She was disappointed at the constant confirmations that he thought so poorly of her.
“Mr. and Mrs. McAllister, how good to see you again,” Michael greeted the couple as they approached. She could feel the heat of Michael’s hand on her back, which he kept near but didn’t touch, to guide her with him.
“It’s Hugh and Estelle now that we’re old friends. Oh! Look at that stunning dress. Spin! Let me see the whole thing.” Estelle exclaimed in the middle of the foyer. The pale yellow walls seemed to reverberate with her voice. People paused on the elaborately carved staircase and around the room to observe the sight.
“It’s another Lady Catherine Design. Isn’t it enchanting?” Michael showed off her work, turning her in a circle.
“C’est tres jolie!” a statuesque brunette with a friendly smile joined their little circle.
“Evelyn, this is my friend, Sabine. Oh, neither of you have champagne. Hugh, be a dear and find a few glasses?”
“Enchanté, Evelyn,” Sabine greeted in French, shaking Evelyn’s hand and kissing both cheeks.
“Enchanté, Sabine. This is my husband, Michael Harding.”
“Ah, have you met my husband yet? Laurent, un moment mon cher?”
“Ambassador, so pleased to meet you.” Michael was shaking hands with the man before he finished walking over to them.
“Champagne for everyone!” Estelle exclaimed on Hugh’s return with a server.
Tables were positioned throughout the downstairs of the mansion. Each was a different varietal with an expert to explain and pour. They made their way from the coral room to the dining room where a buffet of delicious bite-sized food was presented. A variety of desserts in small dishes were offered in the green room. Exquisite antiques and priceless works of art lined the walls.
“Are you ok?” she murmured, noticing a slight tremble in his hand.
“Hmm? Yeah, I’m fine. I didn’t realize there would be so few seats.”
“It looks like the older set has already snagged what seats there are. Shall we try another room?” She kept her tone calm, even though the paleness in his face worried her.
“WHAT’S WRONG?” SHE whispered as Michael grasped the window frame.
“I just tripped over the...uh...edge of the rug.” It was too hard to think through the pain, to come up with a believable excuse.
“Hold on to my waist. Clutch it as hard as you need to, and lean against me.” She put his arm around her and he followed the instructions, not having the mind to do much else.
Walking out to the terrace, the bracing air was reviving. Evelyn steered them toward a dark-colored rattan seating area made up of oversized sofas and chairs looking out over the gardens.
“Aren’t they the cutest couple you’ve ever seen?” Carole Williamson called out, making Michael search the area for the senator. “It’s ok, he’s inside. I promise I won’t tell him you were being human. Imagine, a senator being affectionate with his wife. What is the world coming to?” The crowd seated, laughed with her, putting him more at ease than he realized he needed.
“Can we scooch onto one of the sofas?”Evelyn asked, still making it look like they were embracing.
“Here, take my seat. I’m sure you lovebirds could find a way to fit. I need to go find the old coot anyway.” She winked at them, waving as she walked off.
“That is so sweet. Thank you!” Evelyn led him to the chair before Carole had gotten up. “How clumsy of me.” She pretended to fall into the seat with him but she choreographed it so he landed in the cushions with her standing beside him.
“Is that the Lady Catherine Designs dress we’ve been hearing about all night?” An elderly gentleman with a French accent asked politely.
“It is, indeed,” he boasted like it had something to do with him, but he was astonished at the buzz her creations were making. He put an arm around her hips and pulled her to sit on his lap. She resisted, settling for the arm of the chair.
“I don’t want to aggravate your pain.” She murmured to him. Positioning herself close, shoulder to shoulder, her crossed legs touch his. With his arm still around her, he trailed his fingers along the soft porcelain skin the dress left exposed.
“Here, take my coat,” he offered, seeing her shiver. She smiled at him, throwing it over her shoulders. He snaked his arm around her, under the jacket, and resumed his brushstrokes. When she leaned forward, more of her became accessible but unseen to their present company.
“I can imagine the fireworks display from here would be breathtaking.” She kept the conversation going with the others, while he pretended to observe.
He followed the seam down the fullness of her breast until he found the underside. Her breath was quickening but only he could hear it. He slid under the fabric, loosening the dress from the tape that held it in place. Now free of its confines, her breast rolled into his grasp.
“When I was a kid, we did Fourth of July on the M—” She stopped talking and bit her lip when he pulled and squeezed her nipple. “On the Mall,” she finished her sentence. Her hesitation went unnoticed, and the conversation continued to flow around them as they were lost in their own little world.
“We should probably get back to Micah.” She couldn’t help staring at him.
“You’re right. I didn’t realize the time.” Getting up, he winked, and they said their goodbyes along the way to the car.
“Thanks for the assistance tonight. I hope you won’t share what you learned with anyone.” He said while they waited for Stevenson to pull the car around. “DC isn’t friendly to people with vulnerabilities.”
“I’m very familiar with that,” she stated as he helped her into the car.
“Sorry you had to experience that. Do you want to talk about it?” Seated in the back with Evelyn, he laid a reassuring hand on her knee, where the slit of her dress parted.
“Probably best to put it in the bygones category.” She swallowed hard.
“Do you need anything?” He slid his hand higher. She nodded and gave him a little more room. Stretching his fingers, he brushed against her silken panties.
“Are you sure about this?” He rested his cheek against hers.
“Please...” she whimpered.
Her breath was hot against his neck, driving him crazy.
“This doesn’t mean anything,” he warned.
His fingers wove through her hair, clutching it, and he brought her mouth to his, crushing her lips. With a small moan, his tongue found hers and explored the long-forgotten sweetness.
He pulled her across his lap until she straddled him, fabric scrunched around her hips. His hands eased up her legs, around the curves of her ass, and up her back until he found the zipper hidden under the buttons. He savored the slowness, like opening a present. With her back completely exposed, he leaned back to enjoy the view while sliding the fabric off her shoulders.
When she tried to cover herself he was quick to move her hands away. “Don’t, you’re beautiful.”
She had never been self-conscious before with him. He was determined to ease her mind. Pulling her close, he trailed kisses down her neck to her nipple. He sucked until she gasped and pawed at his shirt for the buttons. Taking his time to worship each breast thoroughly, he massaged her clit through the fabric of her panties.
“Mmm,” she sighed, unfastening his pants and sliding her hand in to grab his cock.
“Fuck!” He thought he had been hard for her for weeks, but her touch was like fire.
“Oh god,” she cried out in ecstasy and clutched his shoulders when he rubbed her faster.
“That’s one,” he stated, proud of himself for accomplishing it so fast. “So wet for me already?” he teased, moving the cloth aside and sliding his fingers through her folds.
“You were working me into a frenzy in front of everyone, what did you expect?” she purred. Running her thumb over his tip, she eased it down the bulging vein and closed her fist around his shaft.
“Damn!” He growled and counted to ten in his head. “You felt too good to resist, nor did you stop me.” Thrusting two fingers inside of her, he reached for the magical bundle of nerves.
“Ah,” she gasped.
She squeezed him tighter, making him try to remember how to count. He slid his fingers faster, hitting her clit along the way. Evelyn pumped her hand at the same rhythm.
“Evie, you have to stop. I’m not going to last if you keep that up.” He grit his teeth to hold himself back. Adding a third finger to graze more of her sensitive spots, he slammed into her harder.
“Michael!” Bracing herself on the back of the seat, she moved at a frenzied pace, chasing her orgasm. He scraped his teeth over a nipple and sucked hard until she screamed with her release.
“That’s two,” he smirked, sucking on his fingers. “Still so delicious.”
Shifting their positions, he kneeled on the floor, spreading her legs wider. “I’ve been fantasizing about this moment for weeks.” Burying his face between her legs, he was pleased with the squeak in response. He licked and sucked every fold before plunging his tongue deep inside, curling the tip in pursuit of every bundle of nerves.
“Madam. Sir. Thank god you’re hom— Eeek!” They had been too involved to notice the car stop or if Stevenson had knocked on the glass to warn them.
“Close the door, Tilly!” he yelled, throwing himself over Evelyn to shield her.
“I’m sorry.” Evelyn had already put her dress back on by the time he turned around. She kissed him, wiping what must have been some of her from the corner of his mouth before running into the house.