“I suppose that’s true,” I murmur and brush a piece of hair off my cheek. Honestly, I’m relieved to hear that he’s not here much. It explains the coldness of it.
It’s not a home.
It’s a place to stay now and again.
“When do we have to leave for the event?” I ask him.
“In about four hours.”
“I should already be getting ready.”
Vaughn laughs and then looks over at me in surprise. “Wait, really?”
“It’s a process, Vaughn. And I have to sew myself into part of my dress.”
“Hold up.” He faces me fully now, interest written all over his ridiculously handsome face. “You have to sew it on?”
“It’s a perk of designing the dress,” I reply and lean in to kiss his nose. “It fits me like it was made for me. Because it was.”
“You’re going to kill me, aren’t you? No, you’re going to send me to prison because I’m going to have to kill every single asshole there tonight for staring at you.”
“Oh, I think you’re safe. I’m sure there will be plenty of gorgeous starlets there for all of the assholes to gawk at.”
He shakes his head, then licks his lips. “No one prettier than you.”
I bark out a laugh. “Right. You’re sweet. I really should go get in the shower and get this show on the road.”
“Now, I can get behind a shower,” he says slowly, thinking it over. “Make sure you get all the nooks and crannies clean.”
“You stay away from my nooks and crannies,” I warn him and then laugh when he swings me over his shoulder and hauls me through the house to his bedroom suite. “I mean it, Vaughn, we don’t have time for this.”
“We’ll make time,” he says, and without setting me on my feet, reaches into the ginormous shower to turn on the water. “This is important work. I take my job very seriously.”
“No one hired you for this,” I say with a laugh and then squeal when he sets me down and starts to strip me out of my clothes. “I don’t have any of my things in here yet.”
“You didn’t unpack?” he asks and then clicks his tongue. “See, you do need me. It’s a good thing I have a fully stocked bathroom.”
“You’re going to make me do all of this twice, aren’t you?”
“Maybe three times, if you’re lucky.”
“We’re going to be late.”
“Isn’t that expected?” He nips at my shoulder, my neck, and then leads me into the hot spray that seems to be coming from at least six showerheads.
As quickly as a snap of fingers, we go from playful to hot and all-consuming. Vaughn’s hands roam over my wet body, his mouth covers mine, and it’s as if the god of lust has possessed us as he pins me against the cold tile, lifts me, and sinks into me.
“God, I can’t get enough,” he says breathlessly against my mouth. “I never stop wanting you.”
“Oh, God.” I hold on and ride the wave of desperation coming off him. His muscles flex and move under my hands, and with our mouths fused, we both come apart.
Hard and loud in the echoing shower, we succumb to the lust that never seems to fade when we’re together.
“Jesus,” he whispers and then kisses my cheek, gently lowering me to my feet. “You okay?”
“As soon as I can feel my legs again, I’ll be great.”
He chuckles and then swallows. “I’m here, in case you fall.”
“It should only take an hour or so.”
He laughs again and kisses my forehead. “You’re amazing.”
“And I’m going to be very late now, but that’s okay. I need my stuff.”
“I can get it. Just tell me where to look.”
“The suitcase is open on the bed. It’s a red travel case. The others are makeup and such.”
“You’re quite organized, aren’t you?”
“To a fault,” I agree as he steps out and reaches for a towel before hurrying away. Less than a minute later, he’s back with the case I need.
“You’ve got this whole suite to yourself,” he informs me. “I’ll be down the hall in a guest suite getting ready, but I have a couple of hours before I have to start. If you need me, I’ll be in my office downstairs.”
“Thank you. Really. I’m already having a great time.”
His smile is quick and genuine. “Me, too. Holler if you need me.”
It takes half an hour just to shower, with all of the shaving and washing and conditioning. I even use a pumice stone on my feet. I want to be sleek and smooth everywhere for tonight.
Two hours later, my hair and makeup are done, and I’m video chatting with Stella.
“Your brows are incredible,” she informs me. “How do you get them so perfect?”
“It took four tries,” I reply. “I’ve never taken this long to get ready for anything in my life, Stel.”
“Totally worth it,” she reminds me. Stella is the only one who knows where I am and who I’m with. “I know I wasn’t completely sold at first, but you’re going to have so much fun, friend.”