Ryder has a black button-up shirt with black slacks tailored to fit his ass to perfection; he even has on shiny black shoes. His hair is slicked back from his handsome face.
Dex has on a grey button-up that makes his eyes stand out with tailored black slacks; he has on boots which, for Dex, it’s to be expected. Someone has fixed his hair where it’s fluffy in the front and tamed in the back. I’d say that someone is Gage because Dex never fusses with his hair.
Ryder steps up, gently kissing my cheek, so he doesn’t ruin my makeup. He takes my hand and spins me in a circle, so my dress spins at the bottom, revealing my thighs through the splits. “You look beautiful,Il mio sole.”
I kiss his cheek back, thankful for the smudge-proof lipstick. “You look good too.”
Dex steps up, taking Ryder’s place, gently pecking my lips. “Baby girl,” he rumbles, “You look like a fucking queen.”
“You look good enough to eat.” He grins and steps back.
Gage slides his hand around my waist when he steps up. “Please let me fuck you in this dress.”
I hear Bridget bark out a shocked laugh. “My work here is done,” she says, color blooming in her cheeks. I feel bad that I forgot she was there.
“Thank you,” I tell her softly. “You always come through.”
“Anything for you,” she says and gives a little wave, heading to the door.
Gage’s hand tightens on my hip, bringing my attention back to him. “You do look like a queen.” He kisses my cheek. “Our queen.”
Holden stands up from his place on the couch, taking both my hands in his. “I…you…wow,” he says, mesmerized.
I kiss his lips. “Thank you,” I tell him, so he doesn’t have to form words.
“Ma’am, the Perez…” Shawna stops mid-sentence placing a hand over her mouth. “Alessa, you look gorgeous.”
“Thank you, Shawna,” I reply, getting misty-eyed because she never calls me Alessa.
Shawna clears her throat. “The Perez brothers have arrived outside.”
Leo steps up, holding his arm out for me; I link mine through his. “You look…wow. I can’t even put it into words.”
“You guys are good for my ego,” I quip, then look at Leo. “You look…damn.”
He laughs. “I guess we’re both at a loss for words.”
He leads me to the waiting limo, Evander and Mateo’s idling in front of ours. We want to arrive at this as a united front because these things are filled with paparazzi. They may not know who we are, but they treat us like celebrities.
Leo helps me in before the rest of the guys pile in behind me. Holden is standing at the door with his hands tucked into his pockets; he’s the only one I’m missing in this limo. I hoped he would start going with us more since I was dragging him out of his shell.
I end up between Gage and Leo, with Ryder and Dex facing us. Gage runs his hand from my calf up to my thigh, running his finger across where my body suit meets my leg. “I’m dying to know what you have hidden under here,” he murmurs in my ear.
“That’s a surprise for later,” I say, hiding a smile with a glass of champagne Ryder hands me.
“Just a peek?” Gage asks, grinning that full dimpled grin, running his hand higher.
I grab his wrist before he can see anything. “No. Hands to yourself.”
Ryder laughs when Gage pulls his hand back. “Serves you right, you little asshole.”
“Tell me you don’t want to know what’s under this dress?” He gestures toward me. I cross my leg over the other so the split falls open further, exposing my whole leg but still not showing him what he wants to see. All their eyes track the movement, and Gage’s head falls back against the seat. “This is going to be the longest fucking night ever.”
Leo chuckles and runs his hand down my leg, leaving his hand beside my knee. “You torturing us, Baby?”
“I would never,” I tease.
We pull in front of the hotel where they’re holding the gala. It’s massive with a huge ballroom, perfect for this. The outside is equipped with a red carpet, with cameras lining each side. I roll my eyes that these people have no idea they’re worshipping criminals.
