"I entered a competition recently, and I've been selected for the next round. There's a gathering to include the semi-finalists, and it's on the same night as your party. Please believe me when I say if this wasn't the opportunity of a lifetime, I'd be there by your side, schmoozing the hell out of everyone."
I feel so bad, I'm considering not attending the party, or Ball, or whatever the hell they're calling it, but I know I shouldn't decline.
"Ash, it's okay. I've been to many of these on my own. It's fine."
"It's not. I can see you're disappointed."
Xander puts his hands on either side of my face and tilts it up.
"Baby," he says before placing a soft kiss on my lips. He's been using the term of endearment more lately, and it wakes up the drunk butterflies every time. "I have to be somewhere. You have to be somewhere. Why don't we each go where we need to be and then meet after?"
"Ugh, stop being so adult and reasonable, and a comer-upper of good ideas," I huff, while also feeling the relief that Xander is really okay with it.
"Comer-upper?"
"It's a thing."
He smiles and I have an idea.
I unzip his coat and slide my arms inside and around his waist. He quirks a brow to ask me what the hell I’m doing, and I give him an innocent smile. The innocentest of smiles.
Fortunately, his winter coat is long enough, so it's sure to save him any embarrassment.
Anyone looking at us will only see a couple embracing in the chilly December weather, and the market is a little quiet, which affords me my boldness.
I pull his shirt out from the back of his slacks and slide my hand in, finding the smooth satin of his panties.
Xander gasps. His pupils dilating as his gaze locks with mine.
I whisper, "What color are they today?"
"Red," he says, his Adam's apple moving up and down as he swallows.
I pretend to get even closer and slide my hand further down, glad his slacks aren't super tight. I squeeze his delicious butt cheek and press my hand in an attempt to find his hole. I know the fabric of the panties won't allow it, but the tease of it is all that matters.
"Baby, you keep doing that and I'm gonna take you to my apartment right now and have my way with you," he says, his voice raspy and needy.
"Is that a promise?"
He sighs, "Fuck, Ash. I need to get back to work and this erection isn't going to go down any time soon."
"I can help you get rid of it...on Friday."
He opens his eyes wide. "Friday? Baby, I'll have exploded by Friday. If I don't take care of this, I may come just from seeing your name written down on a piece of paper."
I kiss him again and remove my hand from his pants, leaving his shirt untucked.
"Then you better take care of it, and then send me a photo. And if that photo includes a certain pair of panties, even better."
He buttons up his coat and takes one step back from me, shaking his head.
"You, Ashton Cinder, are a dangerous man."
I shrug and give him an innocent look, taking a step forward so I'm close to him again.
"I'll meet you at your place after the party. I'll be wearing the panties I stole from you this weekend, if you wear the nice pink ones you had that first time."
"Ash...” he sighs. “Oh Ash..."
