A drunk Raya? I'd love to see that.
"I guess so," she says, exciting me more.
There's no telling what truths I could get out of her if she gets drunk. The mystery shrouding her might get squashed. I look forward to this.
"Good. You need to loosen up."
After retrieving her empty cup, I take her hand in mine and start leading her through the crowd. She needs a refill. Now.
I realize I haven't even complimented her tonight, and I silently chastise myself for such a lapse.
"That dress looks good on you. I'm glad I didn't let you bypass the dresses you'd never wear," I say with a small grin.
Her giggle is so sweet and rewarding, but it also tempts me more. When I smile, she giggles a little more. Hell yes. She's already close to being drunk.
I hand over her cup to the keg master, and look back at her.
Shit. She's staring at Brock? Really? I won't allow that. I'll have to keep a closer eye on her if she's getting drunk, because Brock isn't touching her.
"Don't tell me Brock's your type," I groan.
"No," she says, bringing her eyes back to mine.
Thank God.
"Good. I really don't want Brock hanging out and making your room sound like a carnival."
Though I'm smiling, I'm serious as hell.
"No worries. I can promise you won't be hearing anything like that coming from my room. What about you? Are any of these girls part of your business?"
A touch of jealousy, perhaps? Good. I pretend as though I'm looking around to make sure, and then I shrug.
"Not in that way. I'm friends with them, but I draw the line at those sorts of personal relationships with anyone you see in this room. I don't need the drama later on in life. This group—these people—have some of the most influential parents I've met, which is why they're the hardest partiers. Let's say I hook up with one. Later on, she or her husband could be the hitch in a major business arrangement."
Again, I'm telling her too much. I need to learn to keep this stuff to myself.
"You plan really far ahead, don't you?" she asks while shaking her head.
"I have to if I want to be successful. Considering it'll be my grandfather's business I take over, I want to be very successful. It's what he deserves."
Those eyes hold a depth of adoration I wasn't expecting, and for a second, I almost say to hell with us playing any game and just kiss her. But I can't. I don't know what I want from her, but I do know I can't let anyone else have her. Could I try a relationship? Would she be ready for that step? How many shots of tequila have I had?
"Do you ever do anything just for fun?" she asks, looking up at me with those beautiful, innocent eyes.
"All sorts of things. I'm driven, but I'm not a robot," I say while trying not to picture all the fun things I'd like to do with her.
"So?"
"I'm talking to you right now for fun. I have no business interest in you."
I'm rewarded by her sexy grin, and I can't stop myself from smiling back. I really like this version of Raya.
"Now, let's dance. For fun."
I pull her, and she comes willingly into the thick of the dancing partiers. I struggle not to be a perv and grab her ass when my hands slide down her back, but I manage to stop before I get too far.
When her hands start running up my chest, the blood rushes through me, and I move in closer, wanting to feel as much of her body as I can. She moves like a sex goddess against me, and I wish I was a man without control right now. I'd love to throw her against the wall and have my way with her.