Nice. I don’t mind a little jealousy. Not at all.
I stand. “Skye, meet Laurie Simms.”
Skye holds out her hand and glues on the smile once more. “Skye Manning.”
Laurie takes Skye’s hand and gives it a strong shake. “Braden was just telling me about you. You work for Addison Ames?”
“I do.”
“She’s a doll,” Laurie says.
I resist an eye roll. “Doll” is not a word I’d use to describe Addison Ames.
“Please have a seat,” Laurie continues.
Except Laurie is sitting in the seat Skye vacated only minutes ago. I hold out the chair on my other side, and she sits. The extra bourbon I brought for her is within reach. She grabs it.
“Addie and I go way back,” Laurie says. “I used to work for her father.”
“Oh?” Skye says. “What do you do?”
“I’m an attorney.” She slides a card toward Skye.
Nicely done. Skye probably has no need for a corporate attorney, but Laurie’s thinking bigger. She’s getting her name out everywhere she can. I admire that.
“I interned with Brock Ames when I was in law school,” Laurie continues. “He got me set up with my current firm.”
“So how do you two know each other?” Skye asks sweetly.
“We don’t, actually,” I say.
“Oh?”
“Shameless self-promotion.” Laurie smiles. “Of course I recognized Braden and had to come introduce myself.”
“As I said, Ms. Simms, I’m happy with my current representation.”
She stands. “Can’t blame a girl for trying. Nice to meet you, Skye.”
“You too.” She smiles back. This time it seems more genuine.
Skye has a beautiful smile. Her whole face lights up, and her lips… I resist the urge to cup her cheek right here in the middle of the MADD Gala.
“Thanks,” I say.
“For what?”
“For getting back here. Seemed like you were gone forever. When I’m alone, people pounce. Laurie is the umpteenth person who came up to me while you were gone.”
“Were the others beautiful females as well?”
I smile. “Does it matter?”
She looks at her drink. “I suppose not.”
“One was Peter Reardon. Apparently he was waiting outside the ballroom, and when he saw you and Tessa leave, he came back in and sought me out. He apologized for dancing with you.”
“Oh, for God’s sake. That’s ridiculous. He had a perfect right to dance with me. I enjoyed his company.”
“I’m sure he enjoyed yours as well. He just didn’t know you were with me.”
“I wasn’t with you.”
“You are now, and I aim to keep it that way.”
She squirms in her chair. I can’t tell if she’s angry or turned on by my comment. Most likely both, which is exactly what I was hoping for.
“Have you thought any more about coming back to my bed?” I ask.
“I don’t want to talk about that here,” she says.
“Why?”
“Why? Because we’re nearly screaming at each other to be heard above the band.”
She’s exaggerating a bit, but I’ll indulge her. “Let’s go out to the lobby, then.”
“I can’t. I have to watch Tessa’s bag.”
“Tessa’s bag will be fine. If it’s not, I’ll replace everything in it.” I rise. “Come on.”
“She’d never forgive—”
“For God’s sake.” I reach for her hand and tug her behind me.
We walk along the outer edge of the ballroom to the entrance and then through the hallway into the lobby.
“Why did you come here, Braden?”
“I already told you. To keep you from getting into someone else’s bed.”
She tilts her chin upward. “Why is that any of your concern?”
“Because I want you in my bed, Skye. Haven’t I made that clear? And I’m not very good at sharing.”
“What about what I want? Has that occurred to you?”
“You seemed to have a good time in bed with me.” I’m tempted to mention her first orgasm, but I keep that to myself.
She doesn’t reply.
“You’re not denying it,” I prod.
“No, I’m not. The actual act itself was…acceptable.”
I let out a boisterous laugh. Acceptable? Given her responses and reactions, I’d wager it was way more than simply acceptable. I’ve got to hand it to Skye, though. I’ve never met a woman yet who can hurl it back at me as well as she can. I never realized I’d find that trait so attractive.
I finally curb my laughter. “Acceptable? You’re something else, Skye.”
She crosses her arms. “Making fun of me again?”
“No, I’m not, actually. You are a challenge, Skye Manning, and I never back down from a challenge.”
Never have I meant words as much as I mean the ones that just left my mouth. I will have Skye Manning. She will submit to me.
It’s just a matter of when.
“The act itself was acceptable,” I continue. “Are you saying something else about our time together wasn’t acceptable?”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying.”
I smile. “Don’t leave me in suspense.”
She clears her throat. “Fine. I didn’t like how it ended.”
“I seem to recall it ended with both of us climaxing. What was wrong with that?”
“That’s part of the act. The act was acceptable, as I’ve told you. I’m talking about after the act.”
Interesting. I didn’t behave any differently than I ever do when I’m done with sex. I said goodbye and I contacted Christopher to take the woman home.
“I believe you left,” I say.
“That’s not how I’d phrase it. You didn’t say a word to me other than to tell me Christopher would take me home. You left me alone to get dressed—”
“Did you want help dressing?”