A knock at the door cut her off.
“Come in,” called Scarlett as she disentangled herself from Brayden’s arms.
Charlie appeared in the doorway. “The boat’s ready.”
“Thanks,” she said, trying her best to look grateful.
Charlie disappeared, and she turned back to Brayden. “All I want to do right now is undress you. I think you’ve had a much easier time this week than I have. I’maddictedto you.” Scarlett said the words like they were nothing, but deep down, insecurity had crept in. They were still so new, and she didn’t know what their normal was. She made to leave, expecting him to make some lighthearted joke, but he overtook her, slamming the door and planting himself firmly in front of it.
He put his hands on either side of her face. “You think this has been easy for me?”
“You made it look easy.”
Gripping her wrists in his large hands, he leaned down and whispered in her ear. “Eating you out was the only thing that kept me going this week. Being this close to you…” He let out a groan that was half-growl. “I saw that lace thong you left sitting out. Are you wearing it now?”
“Yes,” she whispered. Of course she’d left it out to tease him. To make him imagine her in it, like he was right now.
“I want to take it off with my teeth and spend the rest of the night finding new ways to make you come.”
Lightness filled her chest, and her heart raced as she tried to break his grasp to touch him. “Good—”
“I’m pretty wound up, Scarlett,” he interjected, holding her firmly in place. “If you push me now, I’m going to ruin your hair and this ravishing dress before we even make it to the event.” He leaned closer, and his tongue traced her earlobe. “Still think I’ve had an easy time this week?”
She gasped as he licked her, the last of her frustration meltinginto pure need.
“I’m tempted to do the wrong thing right now, but I think you’ll regret it if you don’t show tonight. So let’s go to the event, and when we get home, I’ll show you exactly what the inside of my mind looked like this week. Can you wait until then, or do you want it now?”
He sounded so on edge. Had this been lurking beneath his control all week? Her cheeks flushed thinking of it.
She took a shuddering breath and forced herself to think clearly; to remember why tonight mattered. The heat in her dropped away as she pictured the box reserved for her and what a letdown it would be for Otis Garfield and his charity if they didn’t show. She wanted Brayden, needed him, but she could wait a few hours. Then, tonight, they could be together, and all day tomorrow.
She bit her lip and then smiled. “I can wait till tonight.”
He kissed her briefly but forcefully. “Good.”
Scarlett practically floated as they walked arm in arm through the marble lobby of the National Theater. She couldn’t have been prouder to be on Brayden’s arm as they made their way to the bar. She was also grateful Cass was trailing behind them. She did have a mental countdown till the time they could graciously leave, but she was still happy to be here. With him.
Many of the peers of Parliament loitered nearby in the lobby. Otis Garfield had done his part to fill the theater’s seats. As she looked around the room, Scarlett bumped into someone while she was looking the other way.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” she said, turning to offer her apologies.
It was Moira Ashworth, looking devastating in a floor-length, long-sleeve black dress.
“It’s quite all right, Lady Heroux.” Moira looked Braydenup and down, and inwardly Scarlett seethed at the way she studied him. “Lord Maddox. We haven’t met, but I’ve seen you in the papers this week. I’m Lady Ashworth, Scarlett’s aunt by marriage.”
The words “aunt by marriage” irked Scarlett. She wished she could reject the connection.
“Good evening.” Brayden’s expression was inscrutable.
Moira crossed her arms. “How have you been finding Soleil? It must be tough for someone likeyouto get by without magic.”
Brayden looked amused by the obvious insult and answered calmly. “The people of Soleil are friendly. When I’m on the street, I swear someone stops me at least once a day to tell me they think it’s great Scarlett married someone from Clair de Lune.” He looked down at Scarlett, his adoring gaze giving her butterflies. Then he looked up at Moira. “Some say magic will be legal here in our lifetimes, so maybe I won’t have to live without it forever.”
Moira’s eyes flashed. “I don’t know what part of town you’ve been hanging out in, but I assure you, the majority don’t see it that way.”
Brayden shrugged. “I guess we’ll see.”
“The medical healing alone would sway a lot of people,” added Scarlett.
