Iris stands the moment Leo excuses himself.
“Where are you going?”
She can’t even look me in the eyes as she replies, “Bathroom.”
I rise and grab her hand, forcing her to glance up at me. “Is everything okay?” I hate asking the question almost as much as I hate the haunted look in her eyes. Desperation claws its way up my throat, beckoning me to keep her at my side.
“Sure.” She offers a tense smile. “Do you mind calling Harrison to come pick us up while you wait?”
I nod.
“Great. I’ll be back in a second.” Her body remains rigid, spine straight as an arrow as she crosses the ballroom and turns around a corner.
I consider what might have spooked her, and I can only assume it has something to do with what Leo said. She seemed fine before he went off talking about marriage…
Did it make things too real for her? It’s plausible, given her aversion to love. She has made her feelings on the matter crystal clear, and I’ve gone along with it because it’s what she wanted. It’s not like it is any easier for me. After watching my father destroy his family after my mother died, I didn’t want to put myself in a similar position. Everyone I love always leaves anyway. Why bother letting anyone close if there is no guarantee they will ever stay?
But are you going to spend the rest of your life alone because you’re too afraid to get close to someone? It’s still the same loneliness no matter how you paint it.
The back of my neck heats, and I turn to find Iris’s eyes focused on me. A few men stop and stare at her, and it takes everything in me to ignore them as I walk across the room.
“Is Harrison downstairs wait—”
Her question is cut off by me pulling her into my arms.
“What’s gotten into you?”
“Leo stopped by and asked if we were sticking around for the auction. I told him yes.”
You’re a bastard for lying to her.
I’ll feel bad about it tomorrow. Tonight, I’ll take advantage.
She groans. “Why would you do that?”
“Because I don’t want to give him any reason to think we only came here for him.”
She sighs as she wraps her arms around me. “Is there a specific reason you’re hugging me?”
“I thought I saw someone I know.”
Will you ever stop lying wherever she is concerned?
Only if I ever grow a conscience. Given the number of lies piling up around me, I doubt it would be during this lifetime.
“Did they go away or do you plan on holding me all night?”
Well, if I have an option…
You don’t.
I sigh as I reluctantly release her only to grab her hand. “Let’s dance.”
“Is this the vodka talking?”
I shoot her a look. “It was one glass.”
She laughs. “That’s all it takes. You don’t even like to dance.”
I don’t release her hand as I lean in and whisper in her ear, “Keep making a show in front of everyone and I’ll make you regret it later.”
A shudder runs through her, and I trace the goosebumps on her arm with a single finger. “That’s promising.”
Her mouth opens and closes repeatedly as I lead her toward the dance floor. I wrap an arm around her waist, and she responds by locking her arms behind my neck. Our faces are only a few inches apart as we rock in circles to the soft music playing through the speakers.
“If you wanted to dance with me, all you had to do was ask. No need to use empty threats to coerce me.”
“Your mistake was thinking they are empty.” I allow myself to smile.
She sucks in a breath, her eyes not leaving my lips. My fingers graze the soft curve of her ass. A groan gets trapped in my throat as she jolts forward to avoid my fingers, all to run right into my now hardening cock.
Her wide eyes blink up at me. “Please tell me that’s a phone in your front pocket.”
I throw my head back and laugh myself hoarse. By the time I come back for air, I find her eyes transfixed on me. Hers and a few others around us, all acting like they have never heard a grown man laugh before.
“It’s a shame you don’t laugh like that more often.”
I lift my hand and cup her chin. “Maybe I finally have a reason to.”
Her face softens, and her body melts into mine. “Stop looking at me like that.”
“Like what?”
She escapes my question and my grasp all at once. I let her get away with it, only because she presses her cheek against the front of my tux, bringing her body closer to mine.
When the slow song bleeds into a fast-paced one, Iris squeals. I move to escape the dance floor, but she tugs on my hand and drags me back.
“I love this song!”
“Why am I not surprised?” I pretend to rub my ears in pain.
She laughs as she begins jumping up and down like a madwoman. I’m nearly knocked unconscious when she throws up her arms and sways her hips to the beat. I catch a few men staring at her rolling her body to the music, and my glare scares them off.
“Let’s go sit,” I snap.
“Please. One more song.” She grabs my hands and drags them toward her hips. “Watch me.”
I can’t do anything but watch her. I’m entranced as she shimmies her body to the beat, keeping her lower half only an inch apart from mine. The way she dances isn’t meant to be erotic, but I find myself growing aroused.
She smiles up at me. “You’re not dancing.”
I’m not sure I’m even breathing.
She laughs as she wraps her arms around my neck and tugs me closer. “Move your hips to the music.”
I try and fail which makes her break out into another fit of laughter. If that’s the reward I get for looking like an idiot, so be it.
She turns around and places my palms back on her hips. “Copy me.”
Her rasp of a voice can barely be heard over the thud of my heart. I snap out of my trance and swivel my body like hers, matching her movement. Heat courses through my body as we both move to the music. Her ass grinds against my cock, and I groan into her ear.
“Now you got it.” She laughs as she steps out of my embrace.
My hands mourn the loss of her touch as she goes back to dancing. Her eyes shut, and she gets lost in the music. I don’t bother trying to dance. I’m far too immersed in the way she moves to care about anything else. Everyone around us moves to the beat of the song until the last note plays, and the crowd disperses, ending the moment all too soon.
“That was so much fun!” She takes a step toward the tables, but I pull her back.
“Not so fast.”
Her lips gape. “You want to keep dancing?”
I clutch onto one of her hands while my other finds the small of her back. “Yes.”
“I thought you always hated dancing at these things.”
“That was before.”
“Before what?”
“Before I could do this.” I pull her against me and place a soft kiss against her lips before retreating.
Keep her wanting more.
Her sharp inhale makes me grin into her hair. My skin buzzes as she grips onto me and we find our rhythm, two bodies swaying to the music. The song changes and people pass us by, but neither of us dares to end the moment.
The only time we step away from the dance floor is to get more drinks and partake in the auction I have no interest participating in. All it takes is Iris squealing at the prospect of a trip to Mexico for me to become an active bidder, with me raising my paddle to outspend everyone in the ballroom.
Iris wraps her arms around my neck and kisses my cheek when the auctioneer announces our paddle number. I don’t have a chance to process her lips against my skin before she pulls away and settles back in her chair.
Fuck it. I become invigorated by the smiles she sends my way. Some people try to outbid me for whatever catches Iris’s attention, but I outmatch them every time. By the time the auctioneer steps away from the podium, I’ve spent over fifty-million dollars solely for the rush I get whenever Iris smiles.
It doesn’t take much convincing on her end to drag me back onto the dance floor once the auction ends, although I make a pit stop at the bar to get me through it. We keep dancing until the final song plays and we are the last couple in the room. I regrettably let her go, only for her to limp a couple feet. She doesn’t protest as I wrap an arm around her and take the brunt of her weight.
“I think my feet need to be amputated.” She flinches as she loses her footing.
I don’t think as I haul her over my shoulder, bringing her ass to my eye level. “Problem solved.”
“Declan!” she shouts into my back. “What are you doing?!” She rams her small fists into my spine, and I grunt.
“Being a gentleman.”
“More like a caveman! Put me down right now! This is so embarrassing.”
“No one is here to see you.” The lack of bags makes my job of finding her clutch that much easier. I pass it to her so she can hold onto it while I walk.
Her head lifts as she assesses the empty ballroom. “Where did they all go?”
“Home.”
“Then why are we still even here?”
“I lost track of time.”
She gasps as she checks her phone. “It’s midnight!”
“You’ll make it home before you turn into a pumpkin, princess.”
“That’s not even how the story goes.” Her laugh is muffled by the material of my tux as I carry her out the door.
“Close enough.”
“You’re a disgrace to your last name.”
I smack her ass for that comment.
“Did you just spank me?!”
My hand burns to do it again if only to hear that little gasp she makes when my palm collides with her flesh. She returns the favor and smacks my ass hard. I almost drop her from the shock of it all, but I recover with a laugh.
“Ugh! You weren’t supposed to like that!”
I collect myself before walking through the lobby with Iris hauled over my shoulder. The bellhop gives us a look as he opens the door, and I tip my chin in his direction.
A random passerby takes a photo as they catcall, and Iris flips them off.
“I hate you so much right now.” She huffs.
Harrison’s eyes widen as he opens the door of the car for me. “Sir. Is Mrs. Kane all right?”
Iris waves. “All good. Although I can’t say the same about my husband once we get home.”
She rarely calls me her husband, but when she does, it sends a rush of warmth through my body.
Harrison laughs as Iris pinches my ass.
“Do you mind? I’m starting to feel dizzy.”
I unceremoniously dump her in the back seat before circling the car and dropping into mine. Harrison takes off down the road. Iris stares out the window, watching the Chicago skyline pass us by as we drive out to the suburbs.
I spend the entire car ride playing out different scenarios of exactly what might happen when we get home. By the time Harrison parks the car, I am buzzing with anticipation.
My thoughts are dashed as I turn to look over at Iris. Her body leans against the door, and her eyes remain shut as she breathes deeply in and out.
She fell asleep.
After all that talk on her end about getting payback, she couldn’t even stay up to seek retribution.
“Should I wake her, sir?” Harrison peeks through my side of the car.
“I got her.” I step out and walk around the trunk. I’m careful to open her door slowly so I can catch her before she falls out.
She doesn’t stir as I tug her into my arms, cradling her the same way I did on our wedding night. Somehow, she remains fast asleep as I walk us through the house and up the stairs. I struggle to open her door without dropping her, but I am able to configure myself in a way so I can turn the knob.
Her door hits the wall with a soft thud. I make my way toward her bed and place her on the mattress. She tucks her hand under her cheek and curls into herself, uncaring about her dress or makeup.
I hate the idea of waking her up, but I doubt she wants to go to bed dressed like that. It can’t be comfortable.
“Iris.” I give her shoulder a subtle shake.
Her hand flies straight to my face. I release a whoosh of air as I duck, somehow missing her palm before it connected with my cheek.
“Iris. Wake up.”
She groans. “Shh, Declan. Stop talking and do that thing with your tongue again.”
My pulse thunders in my veins, matching the quickening of my heart rate. Is she…dreaming of me? I blink, trying to wrap my head around Iris having a dirty dream about me.
She lets out a soft whimper that I feel straight to my cock. I consider the consequences of waking her up and showing her what the real deal feels like, but I think better of it.
Start small and be strategic.
Making a move on her tonight would be anything but smart. No matter how much I want to, I need to go about this in a way that won’t spook her. Her previous failed relationships are proof of what happens when people come off too strong, too fast.
I didn’t spend this long chasing after her for me to squander it because I couldn’t control my dick. My patience will be rewarded soon. It is only a matter of time before she comes crawling to me, and I plan on making her work for it.
Starting tomorrow.
