Swept up in a feeling that was anything but just for show, she closed her fists on his tuxedo jacket, hanging on for dear life. He broke the kiss off and let out a shaky breath. “Maggie.”
She bit down on her lower lip. She still tasted him on her. “Yes, Benji?”
Pressing his mouth against her ear, he tugged her closer. His huge erection pressed against her belly, and he whispered, “When we leave here later and get to your apartment, you’ll have a choice. If you invite me in, I swear you’ll never doubt your welcome in my arms again, and you’ll see exactly how much I want you.”
A shiver swept over her, and she didn’t let go. She wouldn’t have been able to even if she tried. “Benjamin…”
“Yeah. I know. It’s a bad idea.” His nostrils flared. “Let’s go mingle. The sooner we get this night over with, the better.”
“How long do we have to stay?”
A muscle ticked in his jaw, and he grabbed the drink off the table. He swallowed it in one big gulp then set it down. “Until they all see us, and realize we’re engaged.”
He offered his arm, and she held him close to her body, stealing a quick glance up at him. His offer burned in her mind. Even if they only had a short romance, what was so wrong with seizing the moment…
And having a little fun with a man she was desperately attracted to?
She caught her breath, because if she did this, went through with fulfilling her desire, it would change everything. Tonight would decide how the rest of their relationship went, real or fake. Would she play it safe, like always, and tell him she wanted to remain friends? Or would she let him in, even though she shouldn’t?
Guess she was about to find out because, despite her inner voice jumping up and down and screaming no…
She wanted to invite him in.
Chapter Eleven
The night had been one tedious conversation after another, followed by endless snide remarks about his engagement to someone no one had ever heard of. Not even the open bar had helped dull the monotonous company. If one good thing had come of tonight, it had been Maggie.
She’d handled the night with grace and even managed to win over a few of the older members of society while she’d been at it. The younger ones had been too busy judging them from afar to actually talk to her, but if they were too blind to see how special she was, that was their loss.
After that odd encounter with his ex, and Maggie’s even odder reaction to it, the night had been fairly hiccup free. She had remained by his side the whole evening, and the few times she’d wandered off, she hadn’t hesitated to come right back and claim him as her own. Repeatedly. He was proud to call her his.
Even if she thought it was only for pretend.
In the car on the ride home, she shifted in her seat and fidgeted with her purse. She’d been a nervous mess ever since they pulled away from The Frick, probably because of what he’d said after that kiss he couldn’t stop thinking about. That had been on him. She wasn’t ready, but when she’d kissed him like that, he’d forgotten all about rules and patience. He wanted her. She wanted him, too.
Sometimes, when her soft lips were pressed to his and her hands were on him, it was hard to remember that she didn’t want to want him. That for her, it was all for show.
It killed him that he had to play it safe with her, when all he wanted to do was grab her, kiss her, and show her exactly how well the two of them would fit together. He’d never fought this hard to get a woman before, but the thing was, he didn’t even mind. She was worth every second he spent trying to prove she should trust him.
She might want him, but she wouldn’t act on those impulses, because she “knew” how it would end. He disagreed. She was all rational thought and consequences, and he had to respect that. No matter how badly he ached to make her cry out his name again…
With more than just his fucking knee.
He sat forward and rested his elbows on his thighs. “You did great tonight, darling.”
She startled before turning to him. The force of those gray eyes of hers stole the rest of his words out of his mouth. Her hair looked even softer than it had earlier, and he ached to touch it. “Thanks. I think it went fairly well.”
“It did.” He smiled. “Thank you, again, for doing this. There are more exciting ways to spend your nights than with snobs who have nothing better to do with their lives than gossip about everyone else’s.”
“It’s fine. I didn’t mind doing it…for you.”
That’s what made her so unique. His fingers itched to touch her, to show her just how special she made him feel, but he didn’t move a damn muscle. He’d already crossed the line once tonight, when he misinterpreted her kiss to mean she wanted something more. Mistaking her intentions twice would be unacceptable.