I wanted all of her. Every smile, every laugh, every sharp retort. I wanted her nights and her mornings and all the moments in between. I wanted her to choose me, not because I'd backed her into a corner, but because she wanted me as desperately as I wanted her.
And tonight, I would show her a part of myself I'd never shown anyone. The darkest parts of my desires, the places I went when the world became too much. If she rejected me after that, at least I'd know it was the real me she was rejecting.
"We should go back," I said, glancing at my watch. "Before they send a search party."
"This isn't over," she warned, smoothing her hands over her dress one more time
"I'm counting on it." Taking her hand, I twined our fingers together. "In fact, I'm looking forward to it."
The weight of her lace underwear in my pocket was a reminder of what was to come, and the hunger in her eyes was a promise that, whatever happened next, neither of us would emerge from it unchanged.
Chapter 20
Cece
Walking back into Liam and Evie’s living room felt like entering a spotlight with a guilty secret tattooed across my forehead. Every step was an acute reminder of what I was missing beneath my dress, of Rafe's fingers exploring me minutes ago, and of his damn pocket where my underwear now resided like some kind of trophy. My skin buzzed with leftover pleasure and fresh embarrassment as Rafe guided me back to our friends with his palm against the small of my back.
Izzy's eyes locked onto us the moment we rounded the corner and her wine glass paused halfway to her lips. Her gaze slid from my cheeks to my hair, then to Rafe's smug expression, and I watched understanding dawn across her face with horrifying clarity.
“Well, well,” she drawled, loud enough to make Kate and Tristan turn toward us. “Looks like someone had fun during their little... break.”
Heat crawled up my neck and spread across my face. I opened my mouth, but no clever retort emerged, just a strangled sound that might have been the death rattle of my dignity.
Rafe, the bastard, just chuckled. “We were just discussing breakfast options for tomorrow.”
I shot him a sideways glance, both grateful for the save and irritated by how composed he appeared while I was practically vibrating with leftover adrenaline and arousal.
“Right,” Izzy said, drawing out the word. “And I'm the Queen of England.”
“Your Majesty,” Rafe replied with a slight bow that made everyone laugh.
Everyone except me. Because all I could think about was the slide of his fingers and the maddening emptiness he'd left me with. To add to that, the absence of my underwear made me hyperaware of every movement.
“Dinner's ready,” Evie announced, emerging from the kitchen with a dish that smelled divine. “Sit wherever you like.”
I slipped into an empty chair, hoping Rafe would sit beside me, but Izzy claimed that spot with a mischievous wink. Rafe ended up directly across from me, and I couldn't decide if that was better or worse. Better because I wouldn't have to deal with his hand potentially wandering under the table. Worse because now I had to stare at him throughout the entire meal.
“Wine?” Liam offered, holding a bottle of something expensive-looking over my glass.
“Yes, please,” I said with perhaps too much enthusiasm, earning another knowing smirk from Izzy.
Conversation flowed around me as plates were filled and wine was poured. Kate was discussing some K-Pop concert she, Tristan, and Millie—their ward, who was really more like their daughter— attended. Tristan added occasional comments, his hand never straying far from his wife's. Liam kept Everlee's glass filled with sparkling water, his protective hovering so obvious it was almost comical. Normal people doing normal couple things.
Meanwhile, I was sitting in an elegant dining room without underwear, watching my fake husband periodically slip his hand into the pocket of his pants where said underwear was hidden.
The first time he did it, I nearly choked on my wine. He made it look casual, almost absentminded, but his eyes flicked to mine for the briefest moment—dark, knowing, and so freaking hungry. I felt a fresh rush of wetness between my thighs and shifted uncomfortably in my seat.
“You okay?” Izzy asked, her voice low enough that only I could hear.
“Fine,” I managed, stabbing a piece of roasted vegetable. “Just... warm.”
“Mmm-hmm.” She wasn't buying it. “Nothing to do with whatever happened between you and Mr. Tall, Dark and Broody over there?”
I shot her a warning look, but she just grinned and took another sip of wine.
Across the table, Rafe was engaged in conversation with Liam about some business deal, looking for all the world like a man who hadn't just had his fingers inside me. He laughed at something Tristan said and the sound rolled through me before settling low in my abdomen. Even his laugh turned me on now. I was so fucked.
“So, Cece,” Kate called from the other end of the table, dragging my attention away from Rafe. “How's the fake married life treating you?”
