A jolt of surprise went through her, but she softened into my kiss, molding her body to my frame like she wanted every inch of contact I was willing to provide. The fabric of her dress crushed against the ribbed front of my tuxedo shirt, and the heat of her breasts soaked through into my skin.
It was foolish to be doing this. However unlikely it’d be that someone would wander in and catch the two of us in such a passionate moment, it wasn’t impossible, and the consequences would be catastrophic. Warnings beat like angry drums in my head, but I ignored them. Her soft mouth was too enticing, and no matter how strong I was, I could not resist its pull.
She whimpered with pleasure when I teased her lips apart and slipped my tongue inside. The slow, lush slide caused sparks to cascade down my spine and race toward my groin. She tasted sweet, from either the champagne or the cake, or perhaps that was simply the flavor of her lips.
I let go of her hand, freeing it so I could cup the back of her neck and angle her head to give me further access to her mouth. And once she was released, she plunged that hand inside my tuxedo jacket and slipped it around my back, deepening our embrace.
It wasn’t a kiss I was used to delivering.
There was no reason or goal or benefit that could be quantified on paper as to why I kissed her, but the need to possess her was crushing. I was desperate to show her how powerful her effect was on me, and how it rivaled the power I held over her.
She was breathless, and her pulse roared, pounding in the spot on her neck beneath her ear, and I moved my mouth until I could cover it with my lips, sucking gently. Sophia wilted in my arms, and for a moment, I recklessly considered laying her down on the bench beneath the fountain and taking her right there.
Luckily, common sense won out.
I didn’t want a dangerous, quick fuck with her, and additionally—I had plans. I would extract both orgasms and information from her, and it was unlikely I’d be able to do either right now. When I had her under my control, neither of our focuses should be split with worry over being caught.
I lifted my lips until they brushed over the shell of her ear. “I know the other name.”
She didn’t believe me, and her smile tinted her voice. “Do you?”
“Yes.” I drew back enough so I could gauge her reaction. “Duncan Lynch.”
Like the first of the lanterns in the sky, the warmth of her flickered out and went cold, her expression turning hard and distant. “No.”
When I’d landed on the name, I’d expected she’d either reluctantly admit it or adamantly deny it to overcompensate, but . . . what was this? She shut down and stepped back out of my arms, eyeing me like she’d drawn a line in the sand and I’d just put one foot across it.
It left me with no choice but to surge forward with my assumption. “Why? What did he do?”
Bitterness stained her eyes. “Duncan? He didn’t do anything.” She said it like perhaps he should have, though.
Sophia had backed away from me, and I didn’t like her retreat. I grasped her waist and blocked her from putting space between us. On some level, I knew it was unreasonable to be demanding answers from her, especially after all she’d done tonight, but I was impatient and frustrated I couldn’t have her in any of the ways I wanted.
“Does Duncan’s secret have something to do with drugs?” I guessed.
She shook her head in anger and spat the words like bullets. “I said it’s not Duncan.”
“Then, tell me.” My order was curt, and Sophia cracked under the weight of it.
It was one thing to see her intimidated. The twisted part of me enjoyed when people cowered in fear, but when her beautiful face flooded with panic, it poured the same emotion into my stomach. Her eyes went glassy and wet, and she blinked rapidly to keep back the sudden tears.
“Don’t,” she whispered. “We can’t have this conversation right now. We don’t have the time, and I can’t. I don’t have the strength needed to tell it to you tonight.” Her long lashes fluttered as a single tear escaped, but it was quickly wiped away. “Please, Macalister,” she pleaded. “Don’t ruin this night.”
But I’d destroyed the magic between us, and I was certain I already had, so I stayed silent.
Her gaze moved away from me, and she sucked in a calming breath. “We need to get back before anyone notices we’re missing.”
I didn’t want to leave things so undone with her, but she had a point.
Reluctantly, we returned to the narrow hedges, and the walk back through the maze was slower, my feet heavier to move. The awkwardness I’d created between us flooded down the passageways, choking my breath, and I despised the sensation.
My eyebrows pulled together before we made the final turn that would make us visible to the rest of the world and lead us out past the walls of evergreen. “It’s my nature to push,” I said quietly. “I am relentless with myself, and it often affects the way I treat other people.”
Her face contorted, not understanding what I was trying to say.
I let out a breath. “I’m sorry. Usually, I am a patient man, but you . . . disrupt me.”
It was as if I’d just confessed I hated money. Sophia turned to stone at my admission. “Was that an apology?”
Discomfort settled in my chest. “It was. Did I not do it properly?”
“No, it’s—I didn’t think you apologized very often.”
My unease faded, and I lifted the corner of my mouth in a pleased smile. “I don’t.” She understood it was difficult for me to admit a mistake and appreciated that I’d been willing to do so. My apology was sincere.
“Thank you,” she answered.
It cleared enough of the tension suspended between us, and we pressed forward, emerging from the entrance of the maze undetected by the partygoers. Although it didn’t last long. We’d put a professional amount of space between us before Damon signaled to me and began to make his approach. He was grinning ear to ear with a million-dollar smile.
“Macalister, wow.” He held out his hand, and I took it, letting him give me a hearty shake. “Thank you. This whole evening has been incredible, and I don’t know how I’m ever going to repay you.”
“All I ask is that you win in November.” I tried to match his smile, so he’d interpret the statement as friendly, even though I was dead serious. “As for your gratitude, I can’t take the credit.” I turned and tossed a hand toward the beautiful woman standing to my left. “It’s Sophia’s. She suggested the event to me and planned the entire evening.”
In the past, I wouldn’t have said such a thing. As CEO, I was responsible for my subordinates’ failures whether I was directly involved or not, so this meant I was allowed to take credit for their successes as well.
It was my money, after all.
But my time away had changed me, even as I’d struggled not to let it in. My selfish thinking had contributed to my downfall, and I was determined to be a better man. Plus, Sophia had worked hard to make this event a success and exceeded my expectations when I’d given her zero support or guidance. She was due all the appreciation.
And yet, all Damon Lynch did was stand there and stare at her dubiously.
My annoyance flared, and I glared at him while issuing the command. “So, perhaps you should thank her.”