My chest swells with adoration for him. He’s so different from the women I’ve had on my arm at these events, the ones who just sought attention and admiration. Neo is the opposite of that. He’d prefer to work in the background, going unnoticed.
Thing is, tonight, I’m going to have everyone recognize the work he’s done for the program. Keeping it running, managing the slew of emails I get each day. And while I’m up there, I’ll announce the secret arm of the scholarship, which funds group homes in the county. I want more support for it.
I want the entirety of St. Dimas to recognize how much we need to help those who are less fortunate than us, and that we have the privilege of doing better for those around us.
My stomach flutters with nerves, and Neo squeezes my hand.
“You okay? You look…serious,” he says.
“Just thinking about you.”
He rolls his eyes again, but I see the flush on his cheeks. He likes that.
“You look hot in that suit.”
“Thank you for getting it for me, Mr. Buckingham.”
Oh. My monster likes that form of deference. “You’re welcome, Mr. Smith.”
He grins, and I lean down, pressing a kiss to his lips. He sighs as his tongue slips into me, licking against my own. My cock perks up at the feel of him, and when I pull away, we’re both breathing heavily.
Maybe I don’t need to stay here long. Maybe we can sneak out for a while and return.
“You know what I’m wearing right now?” he asks, interrupting my train of thought.
My breath hitches. Earlier this week, while opening Christmas presents with the family, I watched Neo’s eyes shine as he received presents from each and every person in the room. Afterward, he slipped away, and I held him while he wept. Happy tears, of course, but I’m so fucking glad I didn’t let Samson burn down the Christmas tree.
And later that night, I gifted Neo something else. Something personal.
A diamond-tipped plug.
He said it was far too expensive and that I needed to return it immediately. I refused. I had it custom made.
“Your gift?” I ask, and he nods. “So you can chase me down later and see it.”
My hand tightens on his, and he grins up at me just as someone approaches. They loom like a shadow, a stain on the otherwise perfect event.
A slow smirk lifts Neo’s lips as Candace appears before us. He doesn’t say a single word, no doubt remembering the legal repercussions if he does so.
It’s sweet that he’s holding his tongue for my sake. He knows I won’t allow him to go to jail or be sued, so anything he does will lead to a mess for me to clean up.
I love that he’s refusing to add to my plate, even if it means giving up the urge to take Candace down a peg or two.
“Wylder,” she purrs. There’s a man on her arm, someone I don’t recognize and don’t really care to know. “You’re here with your…friend.”
Neo stiffens but remains silent.
I put my hand on his as I glare at Candace, trying to see what I ever saw in her. “I’m here with my partner. A place you knew we’d be in attendance, so I’m confused as to why you are here.”
She waves a hand at Neo dismissively, and my monster growls. “How was I to know that you’ve started playing in the gutter? Really, Wylder, I expected better.”
Neo opens his mouth, but this is one battle I don’t need him to fight for me. “That’s where you’re wrong. I was playing in the gutter during my relationship with you. What I share with Neo transcends all of that.”
The tension leaves Neo as he smiles up at me, but I’m not done.
“Our lawyers agreed that you and Neo were to have no contact.” I drop my voice low, letting a hint of threat fill my tone. “I’d advise you to follow that at all times in the future. If I ever get wind that you so much as looked at him, I’ll make your life extremely difficult indeed.”
Candace pales under the thick layer of makeup. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”
