Chapter Eight
Yasmin reached for the doorknob to Carver’s apartment, but Jake beat her to the punch. Given he didn’t listen when she repeatedly insisted she could open doors herself, she let him do it.
“Thanks,” she told Jake, who gave her a nod before closing the door.
Carver’s apartment. She still couldn’t bring herself to call it theirs yet. Carver had insisted numerous times that she could do whatever she wanted with it, redecorate the whole place if she chose. Yasmin had been looking at some colorful furniture online to spruce it up. In the bedroom, she discovered a white box and a note attached to it with her name scribbled on top. She recognized Carver’s messy handwriting.
Curiosity made her flip it open. Its contents spilled out, taking her breath away. Why would Carver buy her a dress? She took it out, laid it across the bed, and sighed. Yasmin had never owned anything so fancy. She didn’t even attend her own prom, because she had to pick Larry up from the bar that night.
The dress would bare her shoulders and had a plunging neckline. She’d look like she was dipped in red ink. Yasmin didn’t doubt Carver had all her measurements down, that she’d look amazing in that dress. She always felt self-conscious about her body as an awkward teenager and even as an adult. Lately, that started to change the more time she spent with Carver in the bedroom. He couldn’t seem to get enough of her, teaching her that he loved her body just fine. Thinking of him made her curve her lips to a smile.
Who was she kidding? This past week with him had been wonderful, and the passion between them only continued to be explosive. Sex didn’t define their growing relationship. Yasmin also loved the quiet moments, like how they spent evenings on the couch, binge-watching TV shows, or an afternoon at the park.
Large hands squeezed her shoulders from behind, and she immediately knew who it was. She leaned against him, loving the possessive way he automatically tugged her close. Their bodies always seemed to be a perfect fit. He bit her earlobe and pressed a kiss to her quickening pulse.
“What do you think?” he whispered in her ear, his breath warm.
“I’ve never worn anything like this. Are we going somewhere?” she asked.
“There’s a charity gala hosted by the governor tonight.”
She opened her mouth and closed it. “Carver, I’ve never been to one of those either.”
Carver turned her gently by the shoulder so they now looked at each other. “Angel, I don’t want you to be a secret. I want the entire world to see you on my arm and know you’re my woman.”
She shivered at those words and bit her bottom lip. Yasmin had never really done well in social situations. Carver started rubbing her back, his touch calming, addictive. “What if I end up disappointing you? Important people will be there, right?”
“That will never happen. Most of them are too scared of me.”
It took her a second to realize he made a joke. With a huff, she gave his shoulder a punch. “Don’t tease. I’m serious. I always screw things up in social situations.”
Not that she’d had any semblance of a social life before she started living with the kingpin.
He kissed the top of her head, then her nose. She lifted her head to receive his next one on her mouth. Yasmin shut her eyes, letting herself be swept away as she forgot where she was. He took her lips, all bite and heat, and she wanted to rake her hands down his expensive tailored suit and hear all the buttons pop. Carver had unearthed this wild and secret side of her she never knew about, but Yasmin kind of liked this new her.
“You’ll do fine. I need you there, as support, or I’ll end up tearing someone to shreds.”
It struck her that was the first time he said he needed her. Yasmin looked at the gorgeous dress on the bed, imagining herself wearing it and on the arm of her sexy kingpin.
“We’ll make an appearance, then make an excuse to leave so I can fuck you in the car with that dress on,” he said.
“Oh, now that’s definitely incentive,” she said. Then she nodded. “I’ll do my best.”
****
The moment Jake opened the doors for them, cameras starting going off like mad. She squinted against the bright flashing lights, relieved when Carver offered her a hand and helped her out of the car. The silken red fabric pooled to her ankles, and she self-consciously closed her legs. When Carver planted a proprietary hand around her waist, she became even more aware of the fact she had no underwear on, because he demanded it. The thrill of discovery sent a shudder down her spine although she knew he’d never let anything happen to her.
“Smile, angel,” he whispered in her ear, sliding a hand over her bare shoulders.
Feeling the heat of his solid body eased the tension in hers as she smiled for the photographers.
“Carver, who’s the sweet lady on your arm?” one of the paparazzi yelled out.
“Is she anyone famous?” another called out.
More questions were hurled at them, but Carver ignored them, wolfish smile still plastered on his face. She recognized that look. He was getting impatient. Mercifully, Jake and two other guards carved a path for them.
Carver spirited her away from the red carpet and into the doors of the art museum. She barely recognized some of the people in the room and felt a little out of place. Some of the politicians, actors and actresses, she knew from the TV or from the magazines she read. There were murmurs at their arrival, and she didn’t miss the curious gazes on them, on her.