Page 56 of Yours, Unexpectedly

He pulls me closer and I can feel the hard line of him pressed into my belly. With a low growl, he says into my ear, “Don’t tempt me, woman.”

I lean my neck to give him better access. “Maybe I want to tempt you.”

“As much as I’d love to throw you over my shoulder and walk out of here caveman style, the night is young and I have plans for us. But keep up this teasing”—he angles my chin so I’m forced to look him in the eye—“and you will be punished, understood?”

A jolt of heat zings down my spine. I don’t think I’ll mind being punished by Anders at all. In fact, I love his dominating side that comes out in the bedroom. He’s confident and carnal, but still playful and sweet.

“Yes, sir,” I reply, laughing as his head falls back with a groan. “Oh, you like that do you? Good to know.”

“Good God. Alright, I’m going to need you to walk in front of me so I can go to the bathroom and adjust… uh, things,” he says as he maneuvers me in front of him, walking us toward the exit of the ballroom.

Before we can get there, a petite redheaded woman that I immediately recognize as Anders’ mom intercepts us. She gives me a dismissive onceover before saying, “There you two are. Come, we need to take pictures.”

“Hello to you, too, mother dearest,” Anders calls to her, even though her back is already turned to walk away. “That’s Alice Olsson, my mother. She’s about as warm as she seems.”

“How the hell did you turn out so normal?” I ask before realizing what I just blurted out and covering my mouth with both hands. “Oh my God, that was so ru—”

But Anders stops me with a booming laugh. “You really have a hard time keeping your thoughts inside that pretty little head of yours, don’t you?”

I shrug sheepishly. “Sometimes, things just pop out. Other times, I can’t think of a single thing to say.”

“The answer to your question is a lot of therapy, people like Gabe and the rest of your family, and teachers and professors that saw something in me. And I’m still not sure I would consider myself normal, but at least I’m not like them.” He grimaces, tipping his chin in the direction of his parents.

It’s been on the tip of my tongue all night, so I turn to him and tell him, “I’m proud of you,” before giving him a quick kiss on his cheek.

He’s looking at me with those lovey-dovey eyes again so before he can respond, I drag him toward where his mother ran off. “Come on, killer. Let’s go get our picture taken.”

The rest of the night goes pretty smoothly. Aside from the first interaction with Erik Olsson, he pretty much stayed away from us all night. Though, every time I looked over at him, I caught him leering at me, leaving a feeling of disgust wherever his eyes touched. I suddenly felt too exposed with my low cut top and thigh high slit.

Anders’ mom didn’t pay much attention to us, but I know she saw the way Erik looked at me too. When she requested a picture of the four of us, Erik was placed on one side and I was on the opposite. It almost felt like her silent way of protecting me from him.

I think Anders also noticed, and though he never said anything, he also was never more than an arm's reach away from me all night. I wonder if this is how Erik had always been, and again I have a hard time reconciling just how different Anders is from his parents.

After dinner, a full band came out to replace the string quartet. With plenty of liquid courage, the dance floor began to heat up. Anders pulled me back out a few songs ago, and I’m realizing this man is like the energizer bunny—he never gets tired. Which bodes well for me whenever he finally decides we can have actual sex.

I’m hoping that’s tonight. Dear God, I need this man.

He’s made fun of me for teasing him tonight, but has he seen himself in that tux?! He’s looking sexy as hell and I can’t wait to get him out of it.

I grind my ass into his lap as the band plays music more fit for a club than a gala at The Plaza, but I guess this is what gets people to donate?

“Careful, Baby Bardot,” he practically yells into my ear, trying to be heard over the volume of the music, his grip on my hip almost painful as he tries to stop my movement.

I turn to face him and our hips connect, moving back and forth to the beat a few times before he groans and presses his forehead to mine.

“Do you want to get out of here?” he finally says.

Hell yes.

“I thought you’d never ask.”

Mom gave me an awkward arm pat as a congratulations. Erik didn’t bother to show up. Gabe invited me out with his family to celebrate, but I think I’ll stop by the liquor store before heading home for the night.

I thought I’d be more excited to graduate.

Bex’s face scrunches up as I pull her past the elevators and out into the brisk New York night.

“Where are we going?” she whines. “I thought we were going upstairs to… you know!”

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