Thoughts I should’ve kept to myself tumbled out of my mouth thanks to the scotch. “I haven’t been able to get you out of my head since the first time I saw that video. And that first night.” I laughed. “I really believed you had no idea who I was. And it might’ve been the first time I’d ever actually wanted someone to be impressed by me.”
She lifted her head, smiling wickedly. “You were a smug bastard. I had to take you down a few pegs or I wouldn’t have stood a chance against your ego.”
“You were so mean to me.” I pouted, tracing my fingers along her ribs and tickling her.
She squealed and snatched my hand. “Whatever. You like it.”
The tension melted away and she felt relaxed in my arms again. I wanted to push her for an answer, but I knew better even in my inebriated state.
I mumbled, “You still owe me a question.”
There was a long pause.
“So ask it.”
“Not yet.”
41
Alex
Things returned to what had become our normal for the few days leading up to the award dinner, but our planned breakup was now a shadow looming over us. She hadn’t brought up my drunken confession, so I hadn’t pushed the issue, but we were running out of time.
We only had tonight and tomorrow if we stuck to the contract. Filming would start on our last day as a couple, but she was supposed to break up with me that night.
After she’d demonstrated her skills at the table read, the producers had negotiated to periodically have her on set as a consultant for the early weeks of filming. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to see Elena on set but not be with her anymore. I hoped I wouldn’t have to find out.
Our driver had arrived to take us to the dinner, but Elena hadn’t come down yet. A hair stylist and makeup artist had corralled her in one of the spare bedrooms, so I hadn’t seen her for hours.
When she finally appeared at the top of the stairs, I had no words for how stunning she was.
There was a goddess descending to me and I wanted to remember this moment for the rest of my life.
“My lady.” I bowed and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. Now that she was up close, I could see her dress was made of latex that was the color of her skin when she was flushed, but the whole thing was covered in a delicate black design that looked like lace swirling all around her.
The first time I’d seen her in latex, it was a tiny piece of material stretched over her curves that barely covered anything. This was the opposite. It was a dramatic floor-length gown with a flowing skirt that narrowed to her waist. It had long sleeves and elaborately flared shoulders.
She looked striking and powerful, feminine and alluring.
I wanted to tell her how beautiful she was, but everything I thought to say seemed inadequate. When I opened my mouth, what came out was, “You look like a Wicked Queen.”
She beamed at me. “Right? And you look every inch the Handsome Prince I’ll be luring to the darkness later.”
When we pulled up at the drop off for the red carpet, the cameras were already flashing madly as word spread that we were about to get out.
“You okay?” I asked.
“Yeah,” she said. “I won’t let go of you this time.”
I got out first, then reached down to help Elena stand up, slight smile fixed in place for the cameras. The assistant from Asha’s team rushed over to arrange the back of Elena’s dress, then we started to make our way down the carpet.
Elena leaned in and said, “This is a lot bigger than the one from the screening.”
I laughed. “This is a way higher profile event. Everyone will be here.”
We stopped at the designated spots for photos, but when the photographers asked us to separate so they could get pictures of us individually, we declined. Her hand never left my arm, and I felt her start to relax once she understood this was the more controlled version of the press. It could be loud and a little overwhelming, but these journalists had basic respect for personal space and were only shouting to get our attention, not to scream obscenities and get a reaction.
Our handler directed us to journalists along the way for a few quick interviews, and as usual, Elena performed beautifully. It felt like we made it into the dark calm of the theatre with relative ease.
