Forbidden Bride

Delicious problems.

The other thing I do it put little stickers over my nipples. Not the sexiest, but the dress I’m wearing more than makes up for it. It’s a red silk number featuring thin straps and a back that drops almost to my waist. The material is thin enough that any underwear would ruin the line of it. Pair it with a gorgeous pair of red high heels that I bought for it and I look hot as fuck.

And hopefully hot enough to fuck.

I do my hair and make-up, soft waves and a bold red lipstick that matches the rest of my ensemble. And finally, I’m ready. Looking in the mirror, I have both nerves and excitement in the pit of my stomach. I feel sexy with the plug in and the smooth brush of silk against my skin.

Now I’m just delaying the inevitable.

My parents have already left the house and people are already arriving to the ballroom when I get there. In fact, more people than I thought the room could accommodate. I love this event. The men in tuxedos and the women in gorgeous gowns. There’s not a lot of opportunity for this kind of thing in Leighton City, so I soak in every moment.

I hope that this year is the one that I remember forever though.

My parents are right inside the door to the ballroom greeting all the guests, and Mom wraps me in a hug. “You look beautiful, darling.”

“Thank you.” I hug her back. I hope that she’s okay with me and Tristan.

Dad hugs me too. “You ready for everyone to be awed by your new flavor?”

“I don’t need awe, I’ll settle for enjoyment.”

He grins. “It will be awe.”

They need to move on to the next people in line, and I need to see Tristan’s face once he gets a load of me in this dress. A few people here and there talk to me. Old friends and people who have been invited to the gala as long as I can remember. I’ve been coming to this thing long before I ever worked at Thompson’s.

Snagging a glass of champagne, I look around for my fiancé. God, I love that word. And I finally find him talking to one of our warehouse managers on the far side of the room. His eyes sweep across me and it takes a full five seconds before his eyes dart back to me in a double take. Slowly, I take a sip of my champagne, and then I lick my lips.

Tristan’s eyes drag down my body and back up again. I feel like I’m being consumed in flames, even from here. I walk across the room to him. We’re allowed to talk, though him keeping his hands off me is going to be a struggle, I think. He says goodbye to the person he’s talking to and meets me half-way. “Nicola, you look stunning this evening.”

“Thank you, Tristan. You look pretty good yourself.” And he does. The tuxedo he’s wearing is perfectly tailored to his body, and hints at the power beneath the fabric. If I didn’t know every scrumptious detail of what he looked like beneath that suit, then I would swear that this site is better than porn.

A hand on Tristan’s shoulder startles me. “Good to see you, Tristan,” my father says. “You ready to be the most eligible bachelor in town?”

“Dad,” I say. “I was actually going to ask you about that. We’re donating, right?”

He nods. The gala usually benefits the children’s hospital in town, and this year is no exception.

“How do you feel about me bidding on Tristan?”

He looks stunned. “You want to go on a date with Tristan?”

I smirk. “Maybe I just want to drive up the price. And if I win, Tristan is off the hook for an awkward date.”

Dad smiles. “Fine. No more than ten thousand.”

Tristan almost chokes on his drink which just makes Dad laugh. “Bruce, I’m not going for ten thousand.”

“We’ll see.” He heads off, and I grin at Tristan.

My fiancé takes another swig of his drink. “You’d better win.”

“If I don’t it’s still a good cause. But now I have ten thousand dollars to play with.”

Tristan leans close enough so that I can hear him and no one else can, but not so close to arouse suspicion. “I cannot wait to peel that dress off you.”

“I’m pretty excited for that part too. But I have to win you first.” A high chime of a bell rings, signaling that it’s time for the meal. “I wish I was sitting with you.”

“Soon.”

We go our separate ways. But serendipity has saved us a little bit. Where we’re seated we can see each other, so if he doesn’t think that I’m going to eye-fuck him the entire meal he has another thing coming. And that’s exactly what I do. I’m actually surprised when my dad stands up and goes to the stage.