“What are you doing here?” I managed.
“In my apartment?” His eyes glimmered.
“I thought you said you were sending Gustavo.”
“I was, but then I thought, what if she backs out? What if she needs some persuasion?” He cocked his head as he looked at me. “I like seeing you in my bed.”
I swallowed. “I wasn’t going to back out.”
“Good.” He pushed away from the doorframe, bringing the garment bag in his hand around and laying it flat on the bed. “I’ll give you some privacy. No need to rush.”
He glanced at the Rolex on his wrist. I only knew what it was because my father had the same exact one, a silver and gold band with a gold face. Not obnoxious or overly expensive, my father had said once. I nodded at River, keeping my eyes on the garment bag. I didn’t trust myself to look at him again right now. When he left the room and shut the door behind him, I took a deep breath, feeling the air come back to my lungs once more. Further relaxation would be impossible, so I grabbed the garment bag and headed to the bathroom.
Chapter Fourteen
I couldn’t wear a bra, and the way the fabric plunged in the front and exposed my cleavage left little to the imagination. It fit beautifully, though, hugging me in all the right places while looking effortless, the way only silk fabric could. I smiled at my reflection. It took me thirty-five minutes to style my hair into loose waves and another thirty to apply my perfectly contoured makeup. The only thing missing was the red lipstick to match the dress I had on. I was afraid it might be too much, that I might look overdone if I applied it, though, so I was putting it off, wishing I knew what everyone else was wearing to the party, wishing I had more information—period. I’d tried texting Dee, but she hadn’t responded. I knew her well enough to know she’d dress to the nines and with that in mind, I applied the lipstick.
The bedroom door opened behind me and I watched as River walked inside and over to the threshold of the bathroom. His eyes met mine in the mirror, and I couldn’t help the way my heart reacted, thumping wildly with each loud tap his dress shoes made against the marble floor as he neared me. He stopped walking behind me and leaned against the doorframe, still staring, all nonchalant, as if he didn’t look like a walking wet dream.
“You’re not wearing the necklace.” His gaze raked over me slowly, growing darker with every inch of me he took in.
“I . . . I couldn’t put it on and then I didn’t want to break the clasp, so—” My explanation was cut short when he stepped forward and picked up the necklace, bringing it around my neck.
Our eyes met in the mirror once more as his fingertips grazed my skin ever so softly. I shivered visibly, feeling his touch spread through me like wildfire. He attached the clasp of the necklace, securing it on me, and even though I felt the weight of it on my neck, it was nothing in comparison to that of his gaze on mine. I couldn’t bring myself to look away.
“You’re beautiful.” His voice was soft, a mere whisper beside my ear. It wasn’t like it was something I’d never heard, but there was a reverence in his voice that made me shake even as I thanked him for the compliment.
He took a giant step back and it was that breathing room that pulled my gaze from his and made me finally look at myself again. A small gasp left my lips. The necklace glistened as if the sun itself was around my neck.
“It suits you,” he said. “The red, the diamonds.”
“I’m not used to it.” I let out a light laugh, glancing up at him again.
“That doesn’t mean you can’t get used to it.”
“I’m perfectly fine in my jeans. But I can see why some women like this.” I turned to face him. “My mother loved getting all dressed up. Loves.” I frowned, realizing that I didn’t know anymore. I hadn’t known for a while.
“We should head out.” He offered me his hand and I was surprised at how easy it was for me to take it and keep my hand in his.
This was definitely not the way a sworn enemy should behave. No. Surely, I should be a little more resistant toward him, but then, what would the point of that be? He’d already chosen me as his company again today and as much as I didn’t care for the townspeople talking about me or telling my grandmother all about this, I was less enthused to spend the night in jail. Besides, River Caliban was entirely too good-looking and magnetizing for me to not hold hands with. He locked the door behind us and led me downstairs, where Gustavo was waiting by the staircase. In the bar, there seemed to be triple the amount of people that there were last night. Everyone dressed in scandalous attire—bedazzled bras and thongs, the men in speedos and painted torsos, all of them wearing enormous masks that covered their faces and extended up to the ceiling. I let go of River’s hand.