I was leaving myhusbandfor David. How could he not have even thought to reach out to Maria yet? “You need to . . . to . . .” I blanched, turning back to the counter. “Why do I even have to tell you to do this?”
“Hey. I’m sorry,” he said, coming up behind me and encircling my waist. “Maria and I have been friends for years, so I’d rather say something like that in person. But I’ll call her tonight. She won’t care. It’s not like she was my girlfriend.”
“Tonight?” I asked. “Promise?”
“Promise.” He inhaled and with a moan, said, “Goddamn, you smell amazing.”
I studied his eyes in the reflection. They’d always told me the truth, and they conveyed nothing but sincerity now. I relaxed in his grip.
He picked up my eye shadow palette and examined the rainbow of nudes, pinks, and purples. “Why bother with this shit anyway? You look perfect right now. Just go to the party as you are.”
“In my robe and no makeup?” I laughed. “I think I might get a few looks.”
“Jealous looks. This robe was the best purchase of the day.” He slid his palm over the front of it. His hands felt so fucking good on me, but I shook my head at him. He’d had his chance at sex earlier. Now that I was almost done getting ready, I wanted to wait until we got home.
Besides, each time we touched and reignited a spark, the harder it was to resist giving in to the burn. The tension building between us would make for an explosive first time as a couple.
“All right,” he said, releasing me. “You can put on your dress—only so I can take it off later.”
He stepped aside and pulled aftershave from a mirrored cabinet. The irresistible smell instantly transported me back to Lucy’s office, to the first time David and I had kissed after I’d done up his bowtie.
When he’d left the bathroom, I finished applying my makeup, then slipped into my dress. I stepped back to study my reflection.
I hadn’t realized how long my golden-brown hair had become. It now sat a few inches below my shoulders. I’d parted it off to the side and curled it into a soft wave. I turned to the side in a Versace column dress nearly the color of my skin—tight and long-sleeved, a slinky fabric that shimmered in the light. With a high back and a deep “V” that plunged down the front, I couldn’t wear a bra, but my small breasts didn’t need one. I opted for dark pink lipstick and rosy cheeks since I was otherwise colorless. Plum eye shadow and carefully applied mascara inNoirdarkened my green eyes. Despite my four-inch heels, the dress still grazed the floor.
David entered the bathroom, one hand fumbling with his cufflink until he looked up and paused in the doorway. In the mirror, I watched his eyes skim over me, and his hands dropped to his sides. “You’re beautiful,” he said. “Give me a spin, gorgeous.”
I smiled and turned against the counter. He whistled low and came to me, pinning my hips against the counter and taking my face in his hands.
“A nude dress?” he whispered. “Do you want me walking around with a hard-on all night?”
“That’s the idea,” I said between breaths.
He ran one hand down my neck and spread it over my right breast. As he slowly closed it, he squeezed my nipple in the curve between his index and middle fingers. “Not sure how I feel about this,” he said, as it hardened.
“You don’t like what you see?” I asked.
He raised his eyes. “I don’t like whatother mensee.”
“What other men?” I asked. “You’ll be the only man there as far as I’ll know.”
“Mmm.” He wet his lips. “As long as you and your perfect tits don’t leave my sight.”
I swallowed as arousal crested in me. “I don’t plan to.”
He brushed some hair from my face, and his forehead creased. “There will be photographers there tonight. They’ll take your picture.”
“I figured.” I sighed. “I don’t think I’m ready for that, David. It would be tasteless considering everything that’s happening.”
He frowned and brushed the pad of his thumb along the hollow of my cheek. “I was looking forward to showing you off.”
“Showingmeoff? Maria’s a hard act to follow.”
David released me suddenly and stepped back, a frown firmly on his face. “Don’t say that.”
“I’mteasing,” I said, half-rolling my eyes. “But, come on, David. Maria is like Gisele Bündchen 2.0 . . . she’s stunning.”
“Are youkidding?” Genuine shock crossed his face. “Olivia, you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. After everything we’ve been through, you must know that. Don’t you?”
