Page 76 of Tomorrow Belongs to Us
An electric charge fizzes between us. It’s so strong that I can feel it even out here in the dark night, out in the open. The voltage sparking between our bodies.
I wish he'd kiss me. I wish he'd make a move.
I wish he'd forget what I said to him about not wanting a second chance.
“We should get back,” he says, quickly taking hold of my hand and leading me back the way we came.
Chapter 28
LANCE
Knowing that she once kissed that asshole makes my blood boil.
But who am I to judge Megan? I have my own baggage with the woman I married.
Megan doesn't want to go back inside just yet, but I can't stand out here any longer with her stroking and touching me the way she is.
I am in danger of getting a hard on whenever she’s close by. It doesn’t help that she’s so forward. I wish she wasn’t, but I feel it too—the chemistry between us. It’s a heated, heavy ball of want and desire—a culmination of the feelings I tried to hold at bay all those years ago, emotions which festered and simmered. Now that she’s in my life again, how am I supposed to resist her?
It’s impossible.
She’s had too much wine, and she's in a gilded little bubble of happiness, though maybe she’s also a little jealous of the attention I'm getting from her colleagues. These people are something else, nothing like the academics I work with. They’re loud and rowdy, but I had a mission to accomplish, and I took note of what Megan asked me to do. I’ve been attentive to her and I haven’t left her side. I hope I’ve convinced people that I’m in love with her, that she’s the only woman for me, because she is.
Because I am. There’s no pretending on my part. I only had to do that when I needed to put some distance between us just now. I needed to show her that it was just a ruse—like she wanted—but I’m the one who’s suffering. I want to show her what she's missing, what we could be, and what I see, from this evening, is that we could be pretty good together.
I think she sees it too because her expression sobers when I tell her that we are faking it.
There are many young guys here. Loud, confident, good-looking. I’ve been watching them all. Watching them watching me, with her. She hasn’t noticed the looks she’s gotten. The way these men stare at her, with longing and lust. But she’s mine. She was mine first.
“I'm not even hungry,” she complains, as I take her hand and lead her back to our table. Her skin is soft and velvety. I can feel this pull between us, but she's looking to move away, find another job in another state. She’s already putting up another barrier between us. She wants a quick fling, not a future. I've got a messy divorce situation. I have a daughter. It’s complicated.
Heads turn once more, and I nod at people. I catch Preston’s eyes and give him a yeah-that's-what-we've-been-up-to smile, even though we've done nothing. Even though there are things I want to do to Megan. My mind hasn’t stopped racing with ideas.
She is a temptress of the worst kind; she doesn't value herself. She puts it out there, her body, her suggestions, what she wants. I was in trouble from the minute I saw her in that dress.
She looked amazing.
And all I could do was just stare and shut my mouth. I had to hold back because she's only asked me to be a fake boyfriend. It’s a favor, just for one night, so I can’t get my hopes up.
I can't do a thing about it. I can't show her. I can't make a move. I'm not calling the shots. She is. All evening I've wanted to tell her she looks gorgeous, but I’ve managed to keep my mouth shut.
~~
MEGAN
Lance leads me back, but I’d much rather have stayed outside with him alone.
At least most of the speeches and awards are over with. Preston looks at me expectantly, but I don't owe him an explanation. Dinner is soon served, and Lance is deep in conversation with the person on his other side. I eat quietly, preferring that to talking to Preston.
People start mingling by moving to other tables once dinner and dessert are over with and Lance is soon surrounded by a group of women.
“Jealous?” Preston asks me.
“He doesn't stray.” But something in my gut twists. Mara, a friend from another department waves me over, so I go to her. She wants to know all about Lance; how long I've been hiding him, why I’ve been hiding him, and how we met. She wants all the gossip, so I slowly and carefully make up a story. She keeps looking over my shoulder at him, and I get to witness first hand the effect this man has on women.
They all think I'm lucky to have him.
If only I could be so lucky ....
