I might have picked out the sexiest dress I could find that didn't show too much. She shouldn't have challenged me.
"Then you should have come with me," I say while heading up the stairs, smiling as I near her door. I've been dying for this reveal.
The second I walk in, her eyes hungrily rake over me, making me feel a little powerful, but she steals that power back when my eyes slowly take her in, savoring every inch of her body. Yeah... wrong dress. I'll be in pain all night. I'm such an idiot.
Oh damn, that split goes up much higher than I thought it did, and I'll be itching to slide my hand in places it can't go. The red fabric clings to her in a way that already has me thankful these pants aren't tighter. And her chest... shit. If her tits looked better, I'd have to throw all my hard work away and tackle her right now.
I think I just licked my lips.
"Damn," I say slowly, loosening my tie when it becomes too tight. I don't even try to hide the fact that I'm completely floored by her.
She doesn't need to be blushing right now. That's really not helping me at all. This thing between us is getting stronger everyday, and I know she feels it, too. Has to. But I refuse to ruin it by going too quickly. I want her to come to me.
I finally feel my own cheeks heating, and I can't wipe this stupid grin off my face. I really wasn't expecting the dress to look that good on her. But then again, at the rate I've been falling, she could probably wow me with a sheet on.
Shit. Don't need that mental image right now.
"So much for it not being you. It'll be hard to keep the eyes off you tonight," I say, barely exerting self-control.
Her shy grin just makes her all the more appealing. But she doesn't say anything.
"Come on. Let's go make some jaws drop," I say, proffering her my arm.
When her hand slides into place, she stumbles, and I quickly grab her to support her.
"You okay?" I ask, looking to make sure her dress isn't causing her problems.
"Yeah," she mumbles, looking embarrassed. "It's the heels."
I nod while carefully guiding her to the car, making sure to be ready in case her heels give her problems again. She didn't seem to have a problem the last time she wore heels.
"You'll get to meet some of my family tonight. Be warned, my mother is... someone you have to warm up to. She'll grill you at first, but she'll back off once she sees you're genuine."
Mom has two personalities when she drinks. She's either a super bitch or she's super sweet. I pray tonight is a super sweet night. If not, Dad better get her under control. He's the one who begged me to get Raya there.
I start to explain it to her, when I realize how tense she is. Shit. Now I've scared her. She's going to an event full of strange people, and she has a problem being around people with money. And I go and say something like that.
I'll just make sure my mother is on her best behavior.
"Relax, Raya. You'll be fine. I'll be there with you," I promise, and she forces a brittle smile.
I help her into the Range Rover, stealing a peek at the skin the split shows, and I groan inwardly after I make my way to my side.
The drive over there is torture. I can't speak because I'm too busy looking at her, hoping I don't wreck. Even when my eyes are on the road, I'm using my peripheral to scan every inch, making sure I'm not missing some delicious detail.
And she keeps catching me. I don't care. I'm a lost cause at this point.
I pull through the gate, park close to the fountain, and toss the keys to the valet, while making my way toward the belle of the ball.
The valet says something, but I'm too distracted. Assuming it was a cordiality, I nod toward him, hoping he didn't ask an important question.
Raya's eyes are wide with wonder as she gazes up at the house. She struggles to keep her jaw shut, and I watch with mild amusement as she wars with it.
"This... yeah... I wasn't expecting..." She finally stops speaking when words seem to evade her. Raya is a little hard to impress, considering glitz and glam sicken her under normal circumstances. I'm enjoying this little show.
I snicker quietly as the door is opened for us, and I watch as her jaw actually drops. It's fascinating to watch her so enamored by things I don't even offer a passing glance at anymore. It makes me feel a little spoiled and ungrateful.
"You lived here?" she whispers, acting as though she might break something with her voice alone.