“Hey, I’m the one who was making out in the stairwell with my boyfriend, remember?”
“Ah yes, I remember.” His eyes twinkled mischievously at her, recalling that night in the hot tub.
She stood up and smoothed out her dress and hair. “How bad is my lipstick?”
Duncan squinted as he got up from the bench. “What witchcraft did you use on it? It’s perfect.”
“It’s from that direct sales makeup company. I don’t usually go for those, but this stuff is worth it.” She grabbed his hand. “Now walk slow, like nothing happened.”
They strolled back into the ballroom and slipped into the crowd while a slow song played. Thirty seconds later, as she had predicted, two men in black suits wearing hotel IDs went out onto the terrace. The two offenders swayed away in each other’s arms in plain sight, averting their faces. When security came back inside and left the ballroom, Duncan tapped Aurora on the shoulder. She looked up, and they both stifled a laugh.
The slow song faded into Jamaican dance hall beats. Oh man, she loved to dance to this song. And this tight dress was perfect for winding and grinding while Sean Paul told all the ladies to get busy. Picking her hair up off the back of her neck with both arms, she gyrated her hips and looked seductively up at Duncan through her long black lashes. She wasn’t even fully aware of what he was doing, just that he was next to her. She lost herself in the music and turned around, grinding her ass into him. She threw her head back when his hands came down around her and deliciously slid down her undulating sides to her hips. His hot breath was on her neck, and she was sure his eyes were seeking a glimpse of her breasts in the darkness. She hadn’t felt so free, so alive, in years. Finally, she was starting to feel like her former self. Before the chemotherapy treatments, late nights at the hospital, and blood transfusions … She smiled as the evidence of his feelings poked her.
After the second chorus, he pulled her hips even tighter to him, and growled into her ear. “If you keep this up, I may throw you over my shoulder and carry you up to my room.”
She unleashed her sexiest smile as she turned her head to answer. “Let’s stay for the rest of the party, then you can have me all to yourself.”
He raised an eyebrow at her, intrigued, and spun her around to face him. “Oh, ho! Whatever happened to Roar the goody-goody?”
She ground herself into him, delighting in the effect it was having. His hands gripped her ass as she purred into his ear.
“Haven’t you figured it out yet? Good girls are just bad girls who don’t—get—caught.” She punctuated each word with a slide of her hips. Yes, this was the Aurora she knew in college. The one Jeff had met and fallen for. The one who wore corsets and leather and didn’t give a damn about her strict upbringing. It was good to see her again.
His eyes smoldered into hers as he pressed their bodies together, all the way from their foreheads to their hips. For a moment, she thought she would combust from the heat, then he spoke again.
“Fine, but you’re not getting any sleep.”
“Promises, promises.”
Jen spied Duncan and Aurora from where she danced with some friends on the floor. She couldn’t make out what they were saying, but they were so wrapped up with each other that there was only one direction this was going. When Duncan put his hands on Aurora’s ass, she excused herself and went to find the other committee members in conversation near the entrance.
“You guys!” she interrupted with an excited squeal. “You have to see this. Duncan and Aurora are all over each other!” She waved at them to follow her.
“Oh my God. That is borderline obscene!” Britney giggled.
“That is not what I meant by dance with her, Duncan.” Mike shook his head, but he was smiling.
“Looks like your friend is going to need some of these later.” Jerry opened his jacket to reveal a box of condoms.
“Donotgive him those in front of Aurora, sweetheart. She’ll get embarrassed.” Dave pushed his boyfriend’s jacket closed.
“Yeah, we can’t mess this up for him,” Mike said.
“Well, I hope he remembered some,” Jen said.
When the song ended, as Aurora headed to the bar, Duncan made his way to the men’s room.
Mike held his hand out to Jerry. “Let me have some of those. I’ll take care of it.” Jerry discretely handed Mike the box, who in turn tucked it into his jacket. “I’ll be back.”
“I need to go be nosy for a second, babe.” Dave kissed Jerry on the cheek and headed for the bar.
“Nice job with the song request, Duncan.”
Duncan looked up from washing his hands. “Thanks, Mike. I got inspired.”
“You might need these,” he said, opening his jacket so Duncan could see what “they” were.
Duncan shrugged. “Can’t hurt to be prepared.” He slipped the condoms into his jacket pocket, checking himself in the mirror and patting it to be sure the condoms were secured and sealed away.
