Page 96 of To Tango, with Desire

“Do you need anything? Is it broken?”

I pulled the peas away, testing my nose. There’d be swelling alright. It was already feeling puffy.

“Not broken. Just tender.” I squeezed her hand. “I’m impressed, Amira. You’ve a mean kick.”

“Yeah, well, you grow up with brothers, you learn a few things about scrapping.”

“Thank God for my handsome face that they all live interstate.”

She brushed back my hair, her fingers light as a feather. The gesture was soothing, and if it weren’t for the throbbing pain in my nose, I might have drifted off. “Can I do anything?”

I propped my feet up on the table. “Show us yer tits.”

“Zane!”

“C’mon, Amira. I’m an injured man . . . One tit?”

“I think you’ll make a full recovery.” She shifted back, hugging the pillow.

“Half a tit. I’ll even take a nipple.” I glanced down at her breasts, pressed so damn sexily against her tank top. My mouth began to salivate.

“Hey.” She clicked her fingers. “Eyes up here.”

I sighed as dramatically as I could. “Can’t blame a man for trying.”

TWENTY-SIX

AMIRA

“Gorgeous event, isn’t it?”

I was staring up at the ice sculpture—one of many—that decorated the large ballroom, when the blonde woman approached.

I smiled, catching a glimpse of glassy blue eyes before focusing my attention on the intricate ice fixture. It was an ethereal carving of a woman, naked, with what looked like falling flowers covering her genitals. It was an odd choice, but then again, these events were usually organized by some wackily wealthy people.

“It’s certainly something. I’ve only been to a handful of these, but I have to say, this one takes the cake,” I replied.

“The Ellington Charity Ball is always ostentatious.” She hiccupped, covering it with a giggle. “Bob just can’t seem to help himself, but the Champagne is first-class. It’s the only way to get through one of these things.” She lifted her glass, downing it.

“Ah well, if you’ve the money to burn, I suppose it all goes to a good cause.”

“With the amount of charity events on the social calendar, you’d think we’d have solved all the world’s problems by now. But no, there’s always some desperate orphan or world disaster needing money. And between you and me, Bob Ellington organized tonight just to impress his new wife. She’s a lot younger and very easy. Found her in a gentleman’s club.”

The stranger’s smile was meant to be mischievous, but it looked downright mean. There was something in the way she studied my outfit that made me want to squirm.

I glanced around, hoping I’d spot Zane in the crowd. I'd been relieved when the swelling on his nose had gone down in time for tonight's event. A faint bruise lingered, which of course, only made the man look hotter. And just a little dangerous. It had taken all of my self-control not to jump him before we left.

“I’m not really familiar with all the goss,” I confessed. Nor did I want to be.

Zane was invited to hundreds of these things and only chose a few to attend, citing the people there as wealthy wankers he didn’t want to socialize with. I didn’t blame him.

He was busy with his own charity, making sure he had the right people working across countries in the Middle East that needed support the most. But he wanted to raise awareness, which meant more events like these to garner support from others and further his humanitarian agenda.

Since being married, I’d learned so much about his kindness and generosity. It was a far cry from the careless playboy I’d initially thought him to be.

We’d grown closer since last week’s confrontation about his ex and I found myself constantly checking my phone for messages while at work or needing to be close to him when we were at home. I was hot for my husband. Positively dreamy when I thought about him.

I wondered what he’d do if I whispered in his ear all the things I wanted to do to him this evening. I was finally ready to go all the way. No more fooling around. I needed to feel him inside me, to be joined in the most intimate way as husband and wife. The thought made my heart bounce around my chest.