<3
The brief contact reassured her. Addie was there if needed, but so far, everything was going marvelously.
All the way up to, and including, getting ready for their show.
Fingers trailed over her shoulder as she put the final touches on her makeup.
“Did you buy this today? It looks great.” Jim pressed his lips to her skin and sent goose bumps rising.
Lillie hesitated. She didn’t want to tell him too much, but she didn’t want to lie either. “No, I had this with me.”
He glanced in the mirror, adjusting his tie as he spoke. “Oh, in the bag you picked up from the valet.” He was deliberately not looking directly at her, she could tell. “I meant to mention. If you have a room booked for tomorrow night, why don’t you go ahead and cancel it. May as well save the money.”
Her cheeks were flushed. “I didn’t want to assume. I mean, I know you guys are taking off on Friday, but I’d like to stay with you, only any time if you don’t want me around anymore you have to let me know—”
He caught her gaze in the mirror and held her pinned in place with that alone. He didn’t speak for long enough she began to get squirrelly.
When he finally did say something, it was in a low, careful tone of voice. “I’m not making any demands. No expectations. You’re welcome to stay with me, that’s all I was saying.”
She nodded vigorously then turned away, cursing her situation.
“Did you have any other bags you need to rescue?” Jim asked. “I won’t ask any questions, just letting you know you can tuck them in a corner here so they’re safe.”
He was getting closer to discovering the truth every moment, and Lillie’s confidence wavered.
Maybe this wasn’t a great idea, hanging out with a man like Jim. He inspired her confidence and made it all too tempting to spill the beans. And yet, it wasn’t as if she were headed into a terrible situation. She was okay with what her future held.
Time to focus on the shining moments she had in the here and now. “My things are in storage. They’ll be okay until I go get them.”
Thank goodness, he changed the topic, dropping it completely as he brought her hand to his knuckles to make her body light up with desire.
“We’re sitting in a more private section for the show,” he informed her as they skipped the main entrance, and a side door opened before them. Uniformed servants slid out of sight as he walked her forward. “I thought it would make it easier for you to not have to deal with the crowds.”
“I’m getting more used to them,” she insisted, squeezing her arms as he guided her toward a loveseat in a private alcove. “And it’s easier when I’m with you. I feel safe.”
She didn’t get a chance to admire their surroundings, because the instant they were both seated, Jim leaned over and kissed her. She responded eagerly, hungry for more of his touch. He’d been a complete gentleman the entire afternoon, stealing small caresses but in a way that she didn’t feel pawed or owned.
She felt cared for. Valued.
So as they waited for the show to start, Lillie curled her fingers into his hair and soaked in the pleasure he offered. And when the lights went down and the curtain went up, she was sad all she had was his hand in hers.
Lillie snuggled against his side, pressing her palm to his chest as her gaze remained glued to the stage. He laid his hand over hers, outlining her fingers one at a time. A lovely caress that rooted her in place and let her relax from the small bit of tension that had come from having all those people around them.
She caught herself stroking him, and as the music rose in the performance, a contented rumble escaped from the man beside her.
“You keep doing that, and I’ll think you want me to pet you as well,” he warned, his lips brushing her ear.
Oh. Well now.
Temptation waved a set of pom-poms, and suddenly far more important than any of the acrobatics happening before her was discovering exactly what type of petting Jim had in mind.
She stroked in circles, twirling her fingers until she discovered his nipple under the dress shirt. She kicked off her shoes and adjusted her legs so she could reach better, undoing the center button on his shirt and slipping her hand under the fabric.
This time when she touched him she had fingers to bare skin. Brushing over the wiry hair on his chest to tease him, tweaking the flat disk of his nipple until he rumbled.
Up on the stage the dancing grew wilder, the music a heavy drumbeat, and her courage rose. Lillie made quick work of his next two buttons, leaving his collar and tie in place, his shirttails still tucked in, but now she had room to stroke and caress his muscular abdomen. To drag her nails over his skin.
What she really wanted was to undo his zipper and pull his cock free.