She catches me staring and I don’t look away. Fuck it. That’s my attitude tonight.
Fuck everything. I’m doing what I want.
And what I want—who I want—is Charlotte.
I let go of her hand and walk over to the right side of the window, pulling on the cord so the curtains slide all the way back, giving us an even better view. The Lancasters have owned a piece of this city for generations. The Constantines want their piece too.
Our merger is important. Life changing. It hasn’t hit me before, how our wedding is going to change things. Our lives, for one.
Forever.
“Charlotte.” I turn to look at her and she stands a little taller, straightening her shoulders. “Come here.”
She approaches me slowly, her heels clicking on the marble floor, her breathing still shaky as she makes her way to me. I grab her hand and lead her closer to the window, stopping right next to it. “Put your hands on the glass.”
A frown crosses her face at my command but she follows it, reaching out to rest her palms on the glass, turning to me as if she needs to be told what’s next.
“Face forward.” I watch as she does as she’s told, tugging on my lower lip with my fingers, heat rolling beneath my skin, making me want to shed my jacket.
So I do—tearing it off and dropping it onto the floor. The buttons at my wrists were undone from earlier at dinner and I roll my sleeves back up, my movements hurried.
Anxious.
Still Charlotte doesn’t move from the window, her hands braced on the glass.
I approach her slowly, an animal hunting his prey, her perfume lingering in the air, combined with her unmistakable unique scent. I stop just behind her, my hands resting on her shoulders, noting the slight tremble beneath my palms.
“You’re nervous.” My mouth is at her ear, her hair tickling my face.
She gives a jerky nod. “What are we doing, Perry?”
“What do you want me to do to you?” I bring my hands together just beneath her nape before I slide them down, spanning wide to run them over her curves, smashing all of those delicate pink petals on her dress. “Fuck, I should take this off.”
“No.” She shakes her head and I go still, fighting the disappointment that threatens to take over me.
Damn it, she wants me to stop. And I’ll stop. I don’t push women into fucking me, and I know one thing.
I’m sure as hell not going to force my wife.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Charlotte
Perry’s big, warmhands rest on my hips, his fingers gathering the fabric up subtly, cool air hitting the back of my thighs. My heart is beating so fast I can barely catch my breath and I know he’s waiting for me to explain my answer.
“You want me to stop?” he asks, his hands never moving from my hips.
I shake my head, noting the exhale of relief that escapes him. “If you take the dress off, I’ll basically be…naked.”
“Isn’t that the goal?” His voice is tinged with amusement, and I can’t help but smile.
“Not in front of the windows. Someone could see me,” I murmur.
“Ahh.” He steps closer, his hot body pressed against mine, and I can feel his erection nudge my ass. He’s so hard.
A tiny thrill moves through me at the realization. He’s hard for me.
Perry Constantine wants me.