I pursed my lips in answer.
“That’s just the way Greyson is. He doesn’t stick around for long. You’ll be lucky to get more than one night from him.” She shrugged. It wasn’t cattiness or nastiness that brought the words forth from her mouth. No, this was something else. Sympathy, maybe? “He might come back to you like he does me, but it doesn’t mean anything. That man is the coldest, most heartless thing I’ve ever known.”
No, not catty. Not competitive. She was honest. She might take on a persona of a catty wanton woman for his sake, but it was only part of who she was.
“Still,” her eyes flashed. “If you wanna bring him by after the dinner, I’m sure we can all have a good time.”
There it was, the Claire I was expecting.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were more afraid of us showing up, then if we didn’t,” I said, my words bold. She knew who I was, now. What I was about.
She grinned, “You just might be right. Here, take my number. Maybe we can hang out sometime? Just us girls.” Was that hope in her voice? I stuck it in my little wristlet. “Good luck with that one, though. He can’t be tamed.”
Claire slipped away, and I was left standing there alone, a little stunned. I mean, I knew that about him. I expected it. But the man had a reputation.
“Drink?” he asked as he handed me a wine glass. I took a deep sip and was pleasantly surprised when a sweet, yet dry, Riesling hit my lips. I took a deep breath of the wine then looked up at him.
“Thank you,” I said as I assessed him.
“You seem like the kind of girl who likes her drink a little sweet, but not overpoweringly so.” He grinned. “Did I get it right?”
I nodded.
“Know what else I got right? This dress. It hugs you just right,” he bent down and whispered into my ear, “though I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you I’ve been fantasizing about getting you out of it all night.”
“Sure you don’t want to go up to Claire’s room? She offered again while you were away.” I tried not to let sarcasm drip from my lips, but my brain was full of it. She’d soured my mood with her truth. A truth that I didn’t want to think about, or even admit. Though I knew it was correct.
Greyson’s eyes narrowed as he looked me over. “Is that what you want?” he asked. “I didn’t take you for the type, but if that is what you desire-“
“Stop.” My embarrassment was overwhelming, but my need was even stronger.
“You stop, little girl. Or I won’t be slipping you out of that dress. I’ll be ripping it off you so I can beat your ass.” He growled the words into my ear, and they sent a shiver through me. f*ck
. I was so powerless against that big angry voice. “I think that’s what you need. All while I tie you up with pieces of that silky blue number.”
Would he really do something like that? A part of me, a twisted, masochistic part, really wanted it. God, I hated to admit it, but a vision of myself tied to his bedposts while he drove himself into me filled my mind.
Not here, I chastised myself. Not where people could see me blushing furiously. He knew exactly what he was doing to me.
“Get through this and I’ll give you exactly what you want, and then some.” He gripped my hip, his fingers digging into the flesh of my curve, reminding me just how strong he was.
I wasn’t sure how I was going to get through the night. I just had to.
Then I would be putty in his hands.
Greyson
The smell of her. The feel of her body against mine. It was almost too much to bear. I bit back a growl and gripped her just a little tighter. If I could hold her tight to me then I could remind myself of exactly where I was then I knew I would be alright.
In a den of f*ck
ing snakes.
“Come on, we need to find our table,” the low growl of my voice gave me away. I know it did. I could smell the musk of want on my breath.
I wanted to pull her to me and slip my hands under her dress right there. Wanted to see how wet she was. I knew she was. I could tell by the flush of her cheeks and the look in her eyes. All I could do was eat her up with my eyes.
Well, f*ck
. I’d happily do that.
“Who do you think they put us with?” she asked.
“Oh, I know exactly who. Your uncle is here, and so is my father, and he likes to have his princeling close. Do you want me close too?” I kissed the tip of her ear while I whispered it in her ear.
That shiver. That was exactly what I was looking for.
“So I get to meet the man who raised you?” she asked again, her eyes dark. What was she thinking? Did she know what kind of monster he created? Surely she couldn’t tell. At least not yet.
I swallowed. Hard. The walls were starting to feel like they were shrinking. Strangling me. I imagined all the ways my father would f*ck
this shit up, and I just couldn’t have it. He was a f*ck