Soft.
Warm.
Completely devastating.
For half a second, I froze, shock flooding me, then instinct took over. My hands moved on their own, framing her face as I deepened the kiss. She made a small, surprised sound, but didn’t pull away.
If anything, she leaned closer.
Her lips parted willingly, allowing my tongue to brush against hers. The taste of her lipstick mixed with something sweet—maybe she had some fruit or juice earlier—whatever it was, it went to my head immediately.
My grip tightened, hungry for more, as I pulled her closer across the seat. She melted against me, her hand splayed against my chest while our mouths moved in a slow, incendiary rhythm. The rest of the world vanished—leaving nothing but the electric heat between us.
There was nothing but the kiss, the fierce ache of her body against mine. Her trembling breath fluttered against my lips. Her fingers tightened in the fabric of my jacket. I was just about to pull her fully into my lap when the car slowed.
A second later, it stopped.
Reality returned with brutal timing as the engine shut off. I heard Charles open the door. I pulled back from the kiss, though I didn’t move very far. Her lips were still curved slightly as she looked at me, her eyes searching mine, a nervous glimmer sparking in them. I leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss against her cheek, feeling her breath catch before she smiled again.
“We should do that more often,” I murmured.
"Definitely," she grinned, reaching into her purse to pull out her lipstick. I watched as she reapplied it using the small mirror in the case, her fingers shaking slightly as she did so. I held backa smug smile, thrilled at the thought of her being as affected as I was by that kiss.
When she finished, she glanced at me and offered a small makeup wipe.
I frowned slightly. “What’s this for?”
She nodded toward my mouth. “You’ve got lipstick on your lips.”
I took the offered wipe, slowly cleaning my lips, letting the memory of her lips linger as long as possible. I wanted nothing more than to kiss her again, but a sharp tap against the window stopped me.
Duty called, and tonight it involved celebrating one of my biggest investors’ birthday.
I opened the door, the cool night air helping to clear my head. I walked around the vehicle and opened the passenger door for her. She beamed as I did, placing her hand in mine again so I could help her out.
The moment she stepped onto the pavement, my eyes betrayed me again, immediately landing on her ass. The dress hugged her perfectly as she straightened. Then she started walking toward the restaurant. Every step made the fabric shift just enough to drive me insane.
My hands itched to reach forward and grab two handfuls.
Two perfect handles.
But I stopped myself.
Barely.
Instead, I stepped beside her and linked my arm with hers. I reached forward and opened the restaurant door for her, gently guiding her inside.
The moment we walked in, I immediately noticed how empty the room still was. Only a handful of people had arrived, which meant the quiet murmur of conversation carried easily through the large room.
My eyes swept across the space out of habit.
In one corner, my mother stood with Emily and Theo, their heads bent together in quiet conversation. My mother’s posture was rigidly elegant, chin tilted just slightly higher than necessary, as if she were silently reminding everyone in the room exactly who she was. Emily stood beside her with that polite smile she wore like armor. While Theo leaned casually against the wall, looking far too relaxed for a gathering like this.
Across the room, several investors and familiar names from society had already formed their usual groups. Wealthy men discussing business as though they were doing the world a favor by existing, their wives gathered in smaller circles exchanging air-kiss greetings and thinly veiled insults.
Exactly the kind of event I’d spent my entire life attending. The only difference was the stunning woman at my side.
Instinctively, I slipped my arm around her waist, pulling her slightly closer to my side as we stepped inside. Her dress brushed softly against my leg as we walked, the fabric smooth beneath my fingers. She looked calm—far calmer than someone attending her first high-society event as my wife should have been.
