Chapter Seventy-Seven
SUNNY
I walk through my door ready to strip my clothes off. The grime of the work day makes me very ready for a shower. I’m stopped in my trek by a large white box with a single sunflower placed on it. Picking it up, I see a note accompanied with the present.
Can’t wait to see you in this. Thank my sister. See you tonight. Love, Tyler.
I sigh, because the idea of backing out of being Tyler’s date at the campaign sounds more and more appealing.
But he wants to make a statement by bringing me as his date.
For some reason, I agreed. I like the idea of him showing me off.
Especially in front of Shelby and Mitchell.
It’s the only thing that’s kept me from backing out entirely.
Glancing at my watch, I see I’m in a time crunch since he’ll be picking me up soon. He spent last night in another city on a business trip. A quick turnaround but he said he’d be coming straight from it to pick me up.
He’s been doing a lot of those lately, and I can see the exhaustion prevalent on his face, even when he tries to hide it. Every week seems like he is in a different city.
To cut my shower short, I decide to salvage my hair that I have and refresh my curls as best I can. Tyler likes it messy anyways. It’s his favorite look on me.
I pull the dress out of the box, the black satin material pooling on the floor. Different than what I’d choose to wear, but appropriate for the night. Sam not only knows how to dress well, but she knows how to do it comfortably, too.
When I put the dress on, I notice the slits on the sides that go too far up for me to even wear panties without them being exposed. Only Sam would. The v line plunge down my torso does nothing but reveal more skin, and I wonder if Tyler even has a clue on how his sister decided to dress me tonight.
I fumble with the strappy black heels that go with it, tripping over the dress while the straps hang loose since I’ll need Tyler’s help to fix it. I toss the shoes aside and continue my makeup at the mirror with my spot on the floor while I wait for his arrival.
It’s going to be a big night. And while it’s one thing for his friends to make appearances at his events, it’s another for someone to show up as his date.
It’s been a week since my phone call with Ryan. I hadn’t even thought about my phone until Tyler gave it back to me the next day to give to the local PD to try and trace the call. But unfortunately, the whole thing was too broken to recover.
With much deliberation, I decided to commit myself to my remaining time here. It’s not much longer anyways. And Tyler and I will just have to enjoy the time we are given. It’s all we can do. I just haven’t told him yet.
A knock sounds on my door, rising me from my spot on the floor and seeing Tyler standing casually through the peephole.
But nothing about him is casual.
He’s devastating in his tuxedo that’s tailored to him.
That lethal body packed full of muscles easily seen through the layers of material.
His face is clean shaved and his hair is groomed back neatly, showing off all the sharp lines of his jaw and nose.
He holds a sunflower in his hand, twisting it around and staring at it while he patiently waits for me to answer.
I open the door and his eyes flick up to me. His full lips part, and his face softens as he drinks me up. Those damn eyes roll over me, taking in every inch. He takes a fist to his mouth and bites it as if he has to hold back any urges he feels right now.
“Oh, Sunny,” he breathes. “Fuck.”
A smile plays on my lips. I look down to the floor and hook a piece of hair behind my ear. I never had a man look at me with so much love and admiration. If he keeps doing that, this dress isn’t going to stay on much longer.
“I need some help zipping up.”
A smile curves at the corner of his mouth. “I can certainly help with that.”
His hand finds the small of my back, guiding me towards my bedroom area. I’m worried if we go there, we’ll end up not coming out. With him looking like that, it’s hard to want to go anywhere.
He hands me the sunflower. “For you,” he gestures. “Now turn around.”
I swallow hard at the tone. It’s breathy. It’s low. It’s hungry.
Turning around, I hear him rubbing his hands together to warm them up so I won’t feel the cold from outside on his skin.
Considerate Tyler.
He grabs my hair and brushes it over my shoulder, so it falls over my chest. His calloused fingertips trace the back of my exposed arms leaving a trail of fire in their wake on my skin. I take in a deep breath, trying to keep my composure.
His hand finds the small of my back again while the other tugs at the zipper, pulling it up to secure the dress I so desperately want to be on the floor instead.
He grabs my hair and moves it back to its rightful spot down my back.
His breath in the crook of my neck is a prelude to the way his lips tenderly kiss the column of my neck where my scar sits.
The scar that matches his. They’re both still freshly pink in their healing process.
And a part of me hopes people notice the brand we have on one another.
“Let me see all of you.” He spins me around, giving him a full view and then I’m facing him. He thumbs my glossed lips. “Can’t ruin this masterpiece right now, baby. But believe me, I have big plans once I show you off to everyone.”
My skin betrays me as it releases goosebumps all over just by his words alone. Once I get my heels on, he leans back into the dresser and motions for my foot so he can secure the heels.
I place a heel right over his hard cock.
I love that I do that to him. He bites his lower lip, rolling his eyes at the contact.
He pushes my dress up, exposing my whole leg.
His fingers delicately tie the strings in place, securing my foot.
He takes those lips and presses them to my ankle and slowly starts making his way up my leg.
My breath hitches and I want to clench my thighs to give myself relief from the pulsing between my legs.
“Now the other.” He motions.
I bring my leg down, replacing it with the other with a little more aggression against his hard cock. A smile grows on his face as he lets out a small chuckle and shakes his head.
“You’re going to make this painful for me, aren’t you, little fire?” He starts securing my heel.
“It doesn’t have to be.”
“Well then what fun is that?” he whispers against the skin of my leg.
My body betrays me once more as my head tilts back at the feel. And I even let out a breathy moan. I feel him drop my leg and grab the back of my neck with his strong hand, making me look up at him.
“Soon,” he promises as his eyes search my face. “I need you looking your best so I can show them all the reason why this heart beats in my chest.” His hand guides mine over his chest. He takes a step back and observes me again. “A masterpiece.”
“You keep talking like that we won’t make it out of this apartment,” I taunt.
Shaking his head, he places his hands in his pockets and steps into me. “Keep that smart mouth up I’m going to have to find a way to shut it.”
“I’d like to see you try,” I challenge.
His grin widens and I bring my hands to his face, cupping his jaw between them and place a soft kiss on his lips. He lets out a soft groan and brings his hand to cradle my face.
This man may be powerful, lethal even, but he melts under my touch.
“Come on, Sunny. Let’s go piss off a lot of people.”