Page 114 of Provocation
'Don't get excited,' he says, 'I need to take it back tomorrow.'
'What is it?' I ask.
'This was a piece from my mom's side of the family.' He opens an antique looking box, and I gasp when I see a beautiful necklace strung with rubies and matching teardrop earrings. My eyes widen.
'Wow,' I breathe. 'These look really valuable.'
He winks at me. 'Just don't lose them, or there'll be hell to pay.'
'Is this allowed?' I ask.
He nods. 'The safe deposit box is held by both me and Andy. I haven't asked him, but he's not here anyway. He's not gonna know. He hasn't come back from Harvard.' He shakes his head. 'He didn't last year either. I think once he's there, he just gets into the zone. Has his Harvard people, business stuff. There’s not much to come back for, is there? Some passive aggressive dinners, a gala or two. If Pop didn’t demand it, I wouldn’t go either.'
He nods at Lu and takes my hand, leading me into the hallway where both Mav and Blake are standing in their doorways watching for me.
'Fuck, Daisy,' Blake says, almost leaping forward.
He twirls me around, and I laugh.
'You look good enough to eat.' He steps closer and puts his lips next to my ear. 'Later.'
I shiver in anticipation, and then Mav, who's rolling his eyes, draws me away with his hands on my waist, picks me up to bring my face to his. He kisses my lips.
'You look absolutely amazing, Tulip,' he murmurs. ‘Sublime.’
I smile, my cheeks heating at their compliments.
'Thanks,' I say.
Mav’s arms don’t leave me. ‘When you get back later, I’m going to put on some slow music in the club and dance with you.'
'Okay, come on.' Shade says impatiently, looking at his watch. 'It's time. The car is probably already here.'
I wave goodbye to Lu, who gives me a wink but then her eyes find Shade, and she gives him an odd look I don’t understand.
I put a pin in it to ask him or her about it later.
We go downstairs, and every member we pass in the hall stops and stares at us.
Outside, a black town car is waiting. We get in, our hands brushing each other's as we go down the road.
'They'll be there tonight,' he says quietly.
I nod. ‘I know.’
My stomach twists.
'He'll ask you to dance with him, probably.'
I nod. 'Don't worry. I won't embarrass the Novelles.'
Shade cringes.
'Fuck,' he growls, 'my dad will be there watching as well. Just...it'll be fine. Everything will be fine.' He says more to himself. 'But you don't leave my sight. I was serious about the chaperone thing. Joe won't be allowed to take you anywhere, not even outside on the terrace alone. He can dance with you, and that's it.'
Just thinking of his hands on me makes me shiver. I don't even want that much, but I won't make a scene.
After all, I’ve been trained not to. I let the sneer take over my expression for a moment as I stare out the window.
