She nodded. “Lead the way.”
We walked into a winter wonderland. The gala was a huge event to raise money for the library. A black-tie affair, all the men were in tuxes and all the ladies wore gowns and glittering jewels.
The decorations were classy and elegant, all silver and red. Clara looked at the décor with eyes wide. “I love it.”
“I like yours better,” I said. “This is nice, but the stuff you set up in the office has some flash to it. A little razzle dazzle they’re missing here.”
“Well, thank you,” she said, her smile beaming at me.
I walked us toward a tower of champagne. A little bubbly would take the edge off, especially after walking behind her and noticing the way her silver gown hugged her body. For the first time in my life, I wished I was a dress, it would be me doing the hugging. She looked delicious enough to take a bite of, and my hands itched to find reasons to touch her.
With glasses in hand, we clinked them together. “To relaxing,” I said.
She nodded and we drank. “Why are you so tense tonight? Don’t you do this all the time?”
I grinned like I had nothing to hide from her. Events like thiswerea regular part of my schedule, but I rarely brought a date with me, and none of them had compared to Clara. She had my head spinning and the rest of me vibrating like a tightly wound wire. I could barely tear my gaze away from her fiery hair, her emerald eyes, her shining smile.
“I just hate events like this,” I lied. “It’s so stuffy and fake. We’re here raising money for the library, but I doubt anyone here has a read a book in the last year.”
Clara smiled bashfully. “I’m guilty of that myself.”
“Oh, me too,” I agreed, smiling. “And that’s why I donate to the library. Other people can read books so I don’t have to.”
She laughed and put her hand on my arm. I took another drink, tensing up again. Every time she touched me, I wanted more.
We wandered over toward a crowd of people gathered around a dessert serving station. They were dishing out whatlooked like cake pops, which I hadn’t seen in a while. We got in line.
“Hasn’t world moved on from these?” I asked Clara quietly. “Or has it been long enough that they’re retro now and they’re making a comeback?”
Clara shrugged. “It’s cake on a stick. It never goes out of style. If you don’t want yours, I’ll take it.”
When it was our turn, the guy smiled at us and presented the treats. “We’re serving a special eggnog cheesecake bite, drizzled with a nutmeg glaze.”
Clara took hers. “That sounds lovely. Thank you.”
“Give me two,” I told the guy, and he gave them to me.
We walked away together. “I should have asked for two,” she said.
“This extra one is for you,” I said, and her smile made me wish I’d grabbed ten more.
“Well, let me taste it first.” Her tongue darted out to lick at the nutmeg glaze.
I knew I was staring and I couldn’t stop myself. A growl rose in my throat and I had to physically suppress it. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. “Just eat it before?—”
Clara glanced at me, an eyebrow raised in question. Were her eyes sparkling with mischief or was I just hoping they were?
“Before what?” she asked, a slight upturned curve to her lips.
“Before I eat them all.” I popped the cake pop in my mouth in one shot, then started chewing so I didn’t have to explain myself further.
I was having flashbacks to the Christmas Spectacular. Only this time, if she sat on my lap, I didn’t have a candy cane to explain away my aching cock.
She eyed me like she wasn’t sure what was going on, but eventually, her desire for sweets won out, and she ate her cakepop too. The groan of ecstasy that came out of her did not help the growing trouble in my pants.
Clara was driving me insane and she had no idea.
I was saved when Kerri came swooping over with another fancy woman on her arm. “My favorite couple!” Kerri said. “I’m so glad you’re here. I want to introduce you to someone.”
