Mr Spencer (Mr. 2)
He takes a seat at the kitchen counter and refills his glass. “Top up?” he asks casually.
I nod and pass him my glass.
We stare at each other as we drink again, and it feels like he’s choosing his next words carefully because I simply don’t know what to say.
“We can just take it slow.” He shakes his head. “I don’t mean to rush you. I’m just so damn attracted to you that I can’t help myself.”
“It’s okay, Spence.” I pau
se, taking a moment to compose myself. “I’m attracted to you, too. It’s just… this is new for me. I’m sorry,” I whisper shamefully.
He leans over and kisses me again, as if he’s unable to help it, and then he runs his hand up my thigh.
“Ouch.” He winces. The crystals on my dress are sharp. “This dress is like a beautiful, yet very lethal crustacean.”
My mouth falls open. “A crustacean?”
He chuckles. “Yeah, you know… a soft little thing in a very hard shell. All lethal like a sea anen—” He pauses and tries again. “A sea amen-emey.”
I laugh.
“A sea anemone.” He laughs, too. “Fuck, that’s a hard word to say.”
“You sound like something from Finding Nemo.”
“What a great movie that was.”
“A classic.” I smile at him trying to lighten the subject. I love that he’s trying to ease my fears.
He takes a sip of his drink. “Dory was my favourite—by far the best actor of all time.”
I giggle. This is the last thing I thought he would talk about. “Mine, too.”
“I’ve watched this movie many times over the years at Masters’ house with Willow and Samuel. I think Sebastian knows every word of it by heart.” He drinks again and then scowls softly. “What was the kid’s name, again?”
My eyes widen. “You did not just say that.”
His grin is full of mischief.
“Nemo. The kid’s name is Nemo, Spencer.”
“Oh.” He laughs out loud, and raises his eyebrows in embarrassment. “Right.”
We both smile as we sip our champagne, our eyes lingering on each other’s. He takes his black dinner jacket off and hangs it over the back of one of the stools, loosening his bow tie in the process, too. Watching him do that feels strangely sexual. Spencer steps forward again, and the two of us embrace to kiss softly. It’s not a passionate kiss like before. It’s an affectionate kiss, one that feels natural, comfortable, just right.
“Can you answer a question for me, Charlotte?” he asks as he tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear.
“Yes.”
“Why do I feel like I know you?”
“I could ask you the same thing. I feel a familiarity with you that shouldn’t be there.”
He runs his hand up my leg again. “Ouch.” He shakes his hand. “This dress is fucking lethal. It has its own built-in security system. Did Edward buy it for you?”
I laugh. I’ve worn this dress a few times before but never realised the crystals were so sharp to the touch. Nobody has ever touched me like this while wearing it before.
“Is this where you tell me to slip into something more comfortable?” I smirk, feeling brave.