“I just don’t know what to feel…” I said, and my voice sounded so childish. “I’m so excited, and so scared, and it means so much.” I squeezed his hand right back. “It means so much that you think I can do this.”
“I know you can do this,” he said. “Believe me, Faith, I know you can do this. I can’t fucking wait to see you up there, princess. I really fucking can’t.”
“Thank you.” My words were weak with the blub of my tears, and he was right on over to me, wrapping me so tight in such strong arms. I grinned against his shirt, my cheek pressed to his chest, and he smelled so much of him that my tummy did a flutter.
“Your mum and dad are going to be so fucking proud to see you up there too,” he said, and I let out a serious blub at that. “I promise you, Faith, you’re going to do us all so proud.” He pulled me away by the shoulders so he could meet my eyes, and I knew they were puffy and pink and a mess of tears, but I was laughing at how emotional I felt, trying to make light of it.
“Ignore this,” I told him. “I’ve got my period. Hormone city.”
He laughed right back at that. “I hope you don’t think that bails you out of the evening climax. I’ve got a whole world of pussy plans for you after we’re done with pussy cats for the night.”
I nodded. So happy. So insanely happy.
“We’ll need a new alibi,” I said. “I mean, cats will be over for good.”
His smirk was so him. “I’m sure we’ll find one. I’ll be sure to conjure up something convincing for the after party.”
“I am excited,” I told him. “I know it may not seem like it right now, but I really am.”
He kissed my forehead and I closed my eyes, savouring it so much.
It would have been the perfect time to say it. For me to come out with the three magic words, even if it was just once before university next week and my big goodbye.
“We need to get you home,” he said. “It’s a big night before the big day.”
I nodded, taking a breath. “A big night needing big sleep.”
He pulled me to my feet and held me close, and I wished this could last forever. Truly forever.
“Let’s get over and tell your mum and dad who the grand auctioneer is tomorrow,” he said. “They’re going to be just as fucking excited as I am to see their precious little girl up there.”
I wiped my tears away and let out another giggle, trying to imagine their faces.
“Let’s do it,” I said.Chapter Thirty-EightMilesI was so ready for this. So ready to see my princess shining so brightly up there at that podium where she belonged.
The place was bustling as the stream of guests took their seats, and they were all dressed so finely, so ready to enjoy the charity ball at the hall across the street once we were done with the auction.
I checked my watch from the sidelines, smiling at Edwina Lancett – one of our biggest clients – as she gave me a wave and walked on by with her husband. There were so many people here jostling and chatting amongst themselves with the listings sheets on their laps. So many people with the potential to donate so much.
We really had made a great job of it, Faith and I, even if I did think so myself. We’d really glorified both the auction room and the hall across street, putting up so many great cat pictures and charity banners, and having the hall dressed up as such a high class venue, with champagne flutes, and tables with fine tablecloths and a great live band performing for free.
I smoothed down my jacket lapels, feeling my best in my finest tux, and aching for her. Aching for my sweet princess at the peak of so many weeks of solid effort.
And finally there she was. Arriving at the back of the room, smiling along with her parents as they walked her on in.
Fuck me, I was bowled over with the marvel of that incredible creature. She was always so beautiful. Always so stunning. Always enough to get my heart racing and my dick straining in my pants for that pretty little sweetheart. But this was a whole other ballgame. A whole fresh bout of taking my breath.
Right there and then, stepping on into the sale room, she was absolutely. Fucking. Sensational.
She was in a ballgown, fitted so tightly before it flared. It was a dark teal satin, with a peppering of diamanté around the bust, and she looked like something out of some Hollywood gala, not a charity cat auction. Her hair was swept up beautifully, and she had a whole load more sparkles glittering in the twists.