“Moment?”
“My ‘She’s All That Moment’, come on, Corey,” she says teasingly. She’s only five stairs above me, and at this angle, I can almost see up that dangerous slit in her dress. “That might have been after your time,” she jokes, as she continues to descend.
“I’m not ancient, Bex. Just don’t fall—”
No sooner than the words came out of my mouth did she slip on a step. I catch her easily in my arms and haul her up close against my body.
“Now, what did I just say?” I ask, cupping her face with a shaky hand.
Her eyes darken as she stares up at me. “I don’t listen very well sometimes, sir.”
“Bex,” I growl. “Ah, fuck it.”
With one hand on her waist, steadying her, and the other sliding into the waves of her hair, wrapping around the back of her neck, I lower mymouth to hers, our lips and tongues meeting in a passionate clash. She moans into my mouth, which causes me to grip her neck tighter.
I need everyone here tonight, everyone in the fucking world, to know… Bex is mine.
Chapter 26
Bex
Corey slowly releases the possessive kiss but doesn’t release me. He’s holding me tightly against his body as he presses his forehead to mine. A cacophony of murmuring voices surrounds us, and I turn my head to locate the source of the noise, but Corey tightens his grip on the back of my neck.
“Ignore them, Bex. It’s you and me,” he whispers, his breath hot against my face.
“I’m so sorry I’m late,” is all I can think of to say.
Corey chuckles. “I would have waited forever for you, Bex.” My heart clenches at his words, and the butterflies I’m so familiar with, so deeply associated with Corey at this point, flutter around my belly, down lower. Myclit is pulsing with need as I hold on to this man, the world around us falling away. “I am so glad you came. Thank you.”
I pull away slightly so I can stare into his dark, hooded gaze. “I could never miss this,” I murmur, stroking the sharp cut of his jaw. He’s grown a short beard, trimmed neatly, sprinkled with the same salt and pepper strands that cluster by his temples. “And this.” I place a kiss on his jaw. “This is so fucking hot.”
“Perks of retirement,” he mumbles almost incoherently against my lips.
I pull back again. “What?”
Corey whispers, “Can we talk about this later? We’re surrounded by press and I haven’t quite—”
“Of course,” I say, pressing a kiss to his lips. “Oh!” Realization dawns on me that the noise nearest us was the whispering and note-taking of the press pool. I drop my hands from Corey’s arms and step slightly away from him. “Sorry.”
Corey looks at me quizzically, and I nod toward the small group of people now pushing in toward him.
“Frank! Is this your new woman?” one of the journalists calls out, while the man beside her turns toward me, snapping a picture of me with his camera.
Corey steps forward, owning all six-foot-three of his height, and nudges through the small crowd to me. He engulfs my hand in his, squeezing tightly.
“Tiffany, you already had your three minutes with me when I arrived. I’m not taking any more questions tonight,” Corey says smoothly. His professional voice is like rich bourbon, and I’d be lying if I said my LaPerla thong wasn’t soaked right now. “The awards are about to start, so I suggest you make your way up to your seats.” He glancesup the stairs to where a security guard stands, ready to usher the press group to their seats in the balcony.
Tiffany rolls her eyes. “Whatever, Moro. Fair warning, we’re still publishing the pictures of her falling into your arms, with or without a quote.” There’s a teasing edge to her threat, but I don’t care.
For once in my life, I don’t care who sees pictures of me tonight. I don’t care that I won’t get to scrutinize each photo before editing it beyond recognition and posting it strategically online. Even if I wasn’t wearing this incredible custom dress by Jessica Blackwood, and even if my makeup wasn’t done by some incredibly talented friend of hers… I would want everyone to see these pictures.
Because, for the first time in my adult life, in Corey’s arms, under his tender gaze and possessive grip, I feel beautiful. I feel wanted and cherished like I never have before. And I would almost guarantee that if I had shown up here in my sweats lounge set and a messy bun, I would feel just as beautiful. Because that is how Corey makes me feel. It’s like the warmth of recognition, his soul and mine. Beyond the physical and into another realm entirely.
“Where did you go just now?” Corey asks as he guides me across the nearly empty lobby.
“Hmm?”
He presses a kiss to my temple. “Here.”
