“You. Are. Trouble.”
I pout my bottom lip and bat my eyelashes. He licks his bottom lip and moves in to kiss me once more, slowly caressing my cheek with his hand. Pulling back, I look at his lips with a laugh.
Raising his eyebrow, he chuckles. “Why are you laughing?”
“Nice lip gloss,” I tell him as I wipe it off his plump lips with my thumb.
“Pink is my color,” he teases, taking my hand and pulling me away from the shelving.
I can’t help the smile from lighting my face. “Where’s this dress you arranged for me tonight?” I ask curiously trying to change the subject before I’m the one to push him back against the shelving this time.
Aiden gestures, tilting his head toward a room off the main living area, and he walks with me to it. “It’s in here.” He slides open the door. “You’re going to look so fucking sexy in it, Jeni.”
I bite down on my bottom lip as we walk inside the master bedroom. My eyes widen with the opulence of the space. The walls are off-white with one side painted a rich burgundy, making the room come alive with a glow of warmth. The king-size mattress is filled with black and mahogany pillows and has a soft, black silk comforter cascading over it like a waterfall. I fight the urge to jump on it and smother myself in the tempting silk. The room is large with a walk-in closet and an ensuite bathroom the size of my bedroom. I gaze around this romantic, beautiful room in awe when I notice a gorgeous full-length black gown on a hanger encased in a clear protective cover.
Excitement floods over me as I look up at Aiden. “Is this it?” I ask, pointing at the dress.
“Can’t wait to see you in it.” He beams with a very cheeky smile. “I’ll leave you to get changed.” He heads out of the room and slides the frosted glass doors shut, leaving me with my thoughts.
I feel like a little girl on Christmas morning opening her presents as I rip off the cover to reveal my dress—it’s black silk with a fitted bust and empire waist that flows down my hips to the floor. It has a single shoulder strap, encrusted with sparkling diamantes which also flow down onto the top part of the dress. It’s beyond elegant, beyond beautiful, beyond anything I’ve ever owned.
“Thank God I wore my strapless bra,” I mumble to myself as I gaze at the elegance in front of me.
In the bottom of the clear plastic cover, I pull out a pair of black heels with a red sole which have a small, delicate diamante bow. I take my dress and Louboutins to the ensuite bathroom so that I can see myself in the full-length mirror. I slide into the dress, trying not to get any makeup on it or mess up my hair. I straighten out the dress before looking in the mirror and inhale at the sight.
I’m elegant—I look surprisingly eye-opening.
I’d even go as far as to say I’m pretty, which is something I never give myself credit for. The shoes are about the same height as the ones I wore yesterday, and instantly, a wave of panic washes over me as I relive falling onto the deck. Gathering my nerves, I try to walk steadily to the living room where Aiden’s standing watching the television while tightening a black tie around his neck. This time, his shirt is buttoned and tucked into his suit pants.
That’s a damn shame.
“What do you think?” I ask, gaining his attention.
Aiden glances up, and it’s like time stands still. Pausing to look at me, his breathing catches in his chest as his eyes narrow with such lust that it makes my insides shudder. Biting my bottom lip, I walk over to him slowly, concentrating on each step I take, looking straight into his eyes—those smoldering, bright blue eyes—which are staring back into mine seductively. When I reach him, he holds out his hand for me to take, and without warning, he yanks me to him, catching me off guard as he holds me in a tight embrace.
“You’re intoxicating, Jenifer Taylor.” He softly nuzzles against my ear.
My insides flame with desire as his deep voice is laced with such lustful intent it makes me quiver with want. I don’t think we’ll make it to the dinner at this rate. He moves the hair from my bare shoulder and places a tender kiss on my skin, sending a shot of tingles straight down my spine.
A lump begins to form in my throat. “So, I look okay, then?” I ask jokingly, trying to rid myself of images of us fucking against the wall.
“Smokin’, baby,” he replies with a grin, leading me to the sofa.
I glance up and down his suited body. “You don’t look half bad yourself,” I chime.
He smirks at me while shaking his head. “You’re one of a kind, aren’t you, Jeni?”
We both laugh as we sit on the sofa. “Should I leave my bag and clothes here?” I ask, wondering what the protocol is for this kind of thing.
“You can either bring them or leave them. It’s totally up to you.”
I think for a second or two. If I leave them here, it means we will have to come back to his apartment before he takes me home, giving me a chance to spend a little more time with him.
“I’ll leave them here.” I grin at my mischievous plan.
He moves closer to me on the sofa. “You’ll be meeting my family and co-workers tonight.”
I tense slightly at the thought. “I know. I’ll be on my best behavior,” I tell him genuinely.