Page 30 of Someone Like You

“Thank you. You clean up very well yourself,” I remarked as Casimir held me close. Through the swath of silk fabric, I could feel his heated touch. His warm breath caressed my cheek as he held me close, and my thighs clenched.

The man was deliciously intoxicating in the sharp tuxedo he wore tonight.

“Thank you.”

“You still haven’t answered my question.”

“I was invited as a donor.”

“But of course, you are. Is . . .”

“No. She’s not with me. I came alone.”

“Oh.”

I hadn’t realized that I had breathed a sigh of relief until he chuckled.

“What’s so funny?”

“You. You’re so transparent, though you try to hide it.”

“Hide what?”

“Your attraction to me,” he stated.

I stopped moving and stared up at him. Casimir still held my waist with one arm, and my other hand was still clasped to his. People moved all around us, and though I saw them in my peripheral vision, at that moment, no one mattered except for him.

I licked my lips as I stared at his, wishing they would move closer and devour mine. He smelled so good. I wanted to lick my tongue along the pulse at the base of his neck and see if he tasted as good as he smelled. My hands wanted to run down the planes of his chest, underneath the white shirt he wore, and I wanted to rip him out of that tuxedo. I felt myself leaning closer to him.

“You might want to keep moving before people start to talk,” he whispered with a wink and a smirk.

I looked around and released a huff of breath. In that moment, I had been lost in my attraction and desire for a man who I knew was off-limits. I had wanted to kiss him so badly that I almost had.

If he had not spoken, I would have made a grave mistake right here in front of other people that I could not take back.

“Uhm, I need something to drink,” I replied and pulled my hand free of his.

I toyed nervously with the diamond choker at my neck, and he nodded. But he didn’t let go.

“Please,” I stated.

Casimir moved his hand from around my waist and took my free hand in his. He led me off the dance floor and to a table at the rear of the room. No one was sitting there, but there were place cards at the table, letting me know that the table was assigned to someone.

“I think we’re sitting at someone’s table, Casimir.”

“We are. Mine.”

“What about your guests?”

He smirked.

“Casimir?”

“I purchased this table tonight for you and me.”

“What do you mean? How did you know that I would be here?”

“My mother is on the committee that puts this gala together each year. When she invited me, I was at her house and happened to see the guest list.”

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