“Fuck off. You know you want to let loose. When was the last time? Before we got married?”
“I don’t need to loosen up.” I pawed his hands away. “I had my crazy teenage years already. Actually, they crept into my twenties too.”
Michael stared at me with a half-cocked smile. “Well?”
I rolled my eyes. “Fine, we’ll go, but if you expect me to snort cocaine off your dick, it’s not going to happen.”
I ran a flat iron through my hair, straightening the unruly waves. Smokey eyeshadow covered my eyelids, making my dark eyes look sultry and seductive. I longed for the beautiful confidence I tried to portray. This mask I wore wasn’t me, but for a moment, I felt like the woman in my fantasies. Sexy and alluring. Wanted.
“Wow, you look amazing,” Michael said as he walked into the bathroom. He stopped adjusting his tie and stared at me.
“And you look like you’re going to the party to do people’s taxes.”
Michael looked down at himself. “Too much?”
“Yes, too much. Take the damn jacket off. And the tie.”
Michael stripped off the garments until he was down to a maroon dress shirt and slacks. He draped the jacket over his shoulder, and I melted as he brushed his hand through his short golden hair. “Better?” he asked as he made a half-spin.
“Yes, much better.”
“Do you need help with that?” He gestured toward the back of my dress, still unzipped along my spine. I nodded. His familiar touch along my skin made me throb.
We gathered our things and headed out the door. We drove for what felt like forever, crawling along winding roads with the sun creeping lower on the horizon. Orange hues exploded across the windshield, making us lower our visors at nearly the same time. Pastures of lush grass sprawled on either side of the car, eventually giving way to thick forests. In the middle of fucking nowhere, we pulled onto a long gravel road that took us through the heart of the woods and up to a house.
My jaw went slack as I looked up at the huge home in front of us. It was basically a mansion, with arches and pillars everywhere I looked. The driveway wrapped around a circular fountain spewing a geyser of lit water into the air.
“Jesus Christ, Michael, they have fountains! We donotfit in here.”
Michael looked around with a similar expression. “He’s a down-to-earth guy, relax. Besides, we could get a fountain if we really wanted one.”
I put my hand on his arm. “No thank you. It would be one more thing to mow around.”
A man in a suit waited beneath the overhang. Michael pulled up beside him and slowed the car to a stop.
“They have a fucking valet?” I let out a dramatic huff as I unbuckled my seatbelt. “I’m beginning to hope there’s drugs here. I’m going to need them.”
We got out of the car, handed our keys to the valet, and headed toward the massive double doors. Michael let out a low whistle. “Rich people,” he said as he knocked.
“The party is toward the back of the house. Just go right in,” the valet said as he closed the car door.
Michael turned the handle and pushed the door. We looked around in awe as we stepped onto pristine marble floors. The click of my heels echoed through the hallway, and my eyes wandered along the walls, admiring the finely engraved wood that seemed to be everywhere—flourishes and designs had been etched into every surface. The dull sound of music drifted toward us from the far end of the hallway. No wonder the guy told us to walk in. No one would’ve heard us knock.
At the end of the hallway, a spiral staircase led to the lower floor. A nervous sweat collected on my palm as it touched the cool crystal railing. I gave Michael a sideways glance and he shrugged.
“Michael Edwards, is that you, my friend?” came an excited voice as we reached the end of the stairs.
“Sure is,” Michael called back.
“I worried you weren’t going to come.” Atall figure came into view, and he brushed his hand through his long, well-kempt hair.
“I wouldn’t miss it!” Michael said, feigning excitement. He gave a broad, believable smile as he held out his hand and they greeted each other.
The man turned and set his gorgeous brown eyes on me. “And this must be the lovely Zoey?”
“Sure is. I don’t think we’ve ever met,” I said as I held my hand toward him. His hand grasped mine, his skin warm and sweaty.
“I’m Mr. Roderick. That’s all you have to worry your pretty little head about.” He touched my cheek. “Come, come, follow me.”
