A loud laugh brought me out of my daze, and I decided I’d waited long enough. Making sure everything was back in the correct place, I turned and headed out, highly aware that I no longer had my panties. It only added to the excitement.
Maybe it gave me a reason to approach him again and demand he give them back. Maybe he’d ask me to earn them.
I knew it was only supposed to be one time, but it’d been too good to not at least try for a repeat. Just enough to get me through my freedom before I was given to Camden.
The chandeliers, candles, and sparkling dresses shined too bright after the shadows of upstairs, and I blinked to adjust. I, of course, looked for my sexy stranger first, but I didn’t spot him. Not that I wanted to run to him as soon as we parted. I wanted to be the equally sexy stranger from upstairs. Not a stage five clinger.
No. First, I needed to find Raelynn. She’d know what to do. She’d help me be the vixen and not the good girl. Stepping around a few people, I spotted her across the room, catching her eyes. She was mid-conversation, but when she did a double-take, I knew she could see my flushed cheeks, heated eyes, and faded lipstick from where I chewed it all off. Her eyes widened, and a slow smirk tipped her lips. She made her excuses and walked my way. Before she could reach me, Camden stepped between us, blocking my view.
“There you are.”
I blinked, adjusting to the man in front of me. He smiled down, and for once, looked like he saw me, his eyes soft. Immediately, guilt flooded me, and I wondered if I’d made a mistake. The feeling was dashed when I shifted, feeling the tenderness between my thighs. Even with the guilt, I’d never regret what I’d done.
“Hey,” I said, trying to give a real smile.
“Dance with me. Please.”
He didn’t wait for an answer, not that I would have said no. He held my hand and led us to the floor, twirling me once before pulling me into his arms. His fingers splayed along my bare spine, and I tensed, not wanting to replace my sexy stranger’s touch with Camden’s.
“Have I mentioned how stunning you look? Red suits you.”
“Thank you.” I tried to keep the confusion from my tone. His comment sounded genuine and not cloaking some pompous meaning.
“So, your father said you went to Wharton.”
“I did.”
“Is Dr. Mulrooney still there? I always hated his class.”
“You went to Wharton?”
“Of course. It’s one of the best. I also got my MBA there.”
“Yeah.” I would have loved to get my MBA, but why bother when I wouldn’t even be using my bachelor’s for long. Add in my father’s lack of support, and it was a moot point. “And yes, Dr. Mulrooney is still there and still just as difficult.”
He let out a low chuckle. “I think I barely passed his class.”
“I managed to get out with an A, but it was a close call.”
His brows rose. “Wow, smart, and beautiful.”
For the first time with Camden, I blushed under his compliment. “Thank you.”
He spun me out and tugged me back in. Maybe it was the champagne. Maybe it was my loose muscles from being used so thoroughly. Maybe it was the fact that Camden wasn’t being a complete dick, but for the first time since I came home, and my father announced his plans, I didn’t hate them. For the first time, I thought maybe my mother was right, and this was the beginning of Camden earning my respect, and maybe our life wouldn’t be as hard as I kept imagining. Maybe my father knew what was right after all.
Despite being in my future fiancé’s arms and the positive feeling of hope for my future, I couldn’t stop looking for the man who’d just fucked me so thoroughly.
“What happened to your neck?”
His question doused me like a bucket of cold water. My hand shot to the tender skin where my stranger bit me, and I tugged the material of my dress back in place to cover it. “Oh.” I laughed uncomfortably. “Just this silly dress. It must be rubbing and leaving a mark.”
He studied it for a moment longer, like he could see through the material, and I held my breath. But he shrugged and offered a lopsided smile. “Women’s fashion always seems so painful.”
“Yeah,” I said on my relieved exhale.
“Let’s walk around and chat,” he said when the song ended. “I want to show you off.”
This time I didn’t hesitate to take his hand, and when I saw Raelynn standing off to the side with confusion marring her perfectly made-up face, I merely shrugged. I couldn’t quite explain it myself, so I’d just enjoy it.