I haven’t moved my hand as she grinds the last few timesbefore she’s coming herself. She shudders against me, vibrating as she comes.
Lifting my head, I try to catch my breath while staring into her mossy-green eyes surrounded by diluted light. My sinfully dark wallflower. I love seeing this side of her.
But then it hits me. I just fucking came in my pants, and we’re almost at the masquerade ball.
Selene must realize it, too. Her cheeks turn an even darker shade of red, and her eyes widen. “Oh, my God.” She slaps a hand over her mouth, then slowly lowers it. “I’m so sorry, Holt. I didn’t mean?—"
I chuckle under my breath and run my hand over her hair, tucking it behind her ear. “Yes, you did, but it’s okay.”
“No, it’s not. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“I like it when you show this side of yourself to me.” I kiss her nose. “I love it because it’s a side no one else gets to see but me.”
Her expression transforms into one of happiness, and I melt with her smile.
“Howard!” I shout, not taking my eyes off Selene. “Take us back home. I need to change.”
“Yes, sir,” Howard answers, immediately making a U-turn.
“Oh, no.” Selene groans, burying her head. “Now we’re going to be late.”
“I don’t care.” I hook my fingers under her chin, pulling her to look up. “If this is the reason we’re late, it was worth it. You’re always worth it.”
After quickly changing into a clean suit, Selene and I eventually show up to the masquerade ball over an hour past our original arrival time.
We make the rounds, greeting every single celebrity and guest in attendance in support of Scribe Magazine and my team in the anonymous article department. Photographers and reporters clamor for interviews with Selene and me. We answer a few questions, avoiding the most prying, but thankfully, Treena and Vanessa are in attendance, immediately pulling us away when there is any hint of a mention of Rome Montgomery.
Every year, my event team throws our annual masquerade ball at an old estate outside the city on lavish grounds in what looks like an old castle built out of pale gray stone, as though it’s plucked straight out of the English countryside.
It’s my favorite event of the year, mostly because it’s a nice break from the hustle and bustle of city life, fitting in with the romantic tones that come standard with a masked ball.
After making our initial greetings, I wander around to chat with some of my colleagues while Selene leaves to find our friendship group. We stopped to talk to them at the start of the ball but have barely spent any time with them since. Charleigh and Asher were inseparable, as usual, unable to keep their hands off one another. West and London were practically the same, too busy losing themselves in one another to notice the rest of us, or at least participate in much of the conversation. Which led us to making the rounds around the ornately decorated ballroom covered in silver and black roses. They slither along the walls like ivy while the floor is decked out in mirrored glass.
The event coordinating team at the magazine has outdone themselves this year.
Julianna, thankfully, didn’t coordinate this event, so she hasn’t been overrun with a million tasks. She’s been able to spend her time here relaxed, not worrying about keeping the guests entertained or failing to meet their expectations.
Once I’m finished talking with a group of investment bankers, I immediately begin searching for Selene among the shadowed crowd. We haven’t even had a chance to dance yet tonight, and my hands are itching to touch her.
I find West standing at the back of the estate, overlooking the expansive garden grounds. He’s leaning against the large, stone pillar, scrolling through his phone. The blueish-white light from his phone screen illuminates his masked face.
He looks up when he sees me approaching.
“Hey, man.” He grins, dropping his phone into his pocket. “London and I were wondering where you and Selene have been. Charleigh and Asher left a few minutes ago—something about Charleigh’s mom needing help with putting her new bed frame together.” He sighs. “Anyway, we were about to head out ourselves.”
“Oh.” I glance around the garden. “Is Selene not with London?”
“No.” He shakes his head. “She went inside to grab her coat from the valet. I stayed back to see if I ran into you so we could say goodbye.” He grins. “Looks like I ran into you.”
“Yeah.” I give him a weak smile, hoping I find Selene. I slap him on his arm. “Thanks for coming, man.”
“Of course.” His mouth lifts into an uneasy smile. “You okay?”
I nod, waving him off. “I’m fine. Just want to find Selene.”
“I know that feeling.” He chuckles. “We never stop searching for them, do we? We don’t feel complete.”
I laugh before shrugging my shoulder. “Guilty.”
