Page 767 of One More Kiss

Nicholas

I purposely arriveat the fundraiser early to make sure they set everything up right. I want to see everyone as they arrive; mainly Riley.

People trickle in and like clockwork, Naomi arrives and makes a beeline in my direction. She saunters up to me in a skin-tight dress. “Everything looks amazing, right?” She doesn’t know when to quit.

“It’s suitable for the circumstances. Now we must see how the donors feel about it. I don’t think I need to impress upon you how important tonight is.”

Her face turns from sultry to business in a moment. “This isn’t my first fundraiser, or my last. Your brother hired me to do a job, one I’m very good at. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to make sure the mayor is being properly entertained.”

She moves off into the crowd, and I’m not sad to see her go. I’m only looking for one woman, and she hasn’t shown herself yet. I notice my pulse race as I think about what she’ll look like dressed in a gown. My cock hardens in my dress slacks.

The upper crust of Boston is here, greeting me with saccharine smiles and feigned interest. They all look to garner favor with a potential company that could bail them out, invest in their pipe dreams, or make them substantial amounts of money using our company name. None of them matter to me though, even when they should.

The doors to the ballroom open again, and the air in my chest stills as Riley comes walking in. Her emerald green dress highlights every aspect of her beauty. She’s beautiful on any day, but the way she looks tonight has my jaw nearly on the ground and my cock twitching in my trousers. It’s then that I notice him. The boyfriend. The date that she said she was bringing. He’s someone I couldn’t picture her with. He’s out of place, as if he’s uncomfortable with her arm tucked into his elbow.

I want to grab his arm and break it, snap his fingers for touching her at all, but she’s not mine. She finally catches my eye, and I have to hold myself still to stop from storming straight over to her and following through with my previous thoughts. A powerful surge of jealousy, and something else, courses through me. A part of me is disgusted, but the other part wants her no matter the cost—even my ego.

She walks toward me, a saunter in her hip, delicious pouty lips, and her dark brown hair cascading down her back. I want to sink my hands into it, holding her in place while she cries out my name. Fuck, I’m tempted right this second to pull her into the restroom and fuck her senseless. Boyfriend or not, I want to remind her of what we’ve shared, and who owns her.

“Mr. Brooks, this is my boyfriend, Ross. Ross, this is my boss and the head of the project, Nicholas Brooks.” She introduces us, her eyes darting from one face to the other. She sways on her feet, gripping Ross’s arm tighter.

“Charming,” Ross says, giving me a megawatt smile. He extends his hand, knuckles up, as if he expected me to kiss it. He slightly bows and then chuckles at his own actions.

I glare down at his outstretched arm and back at his face. “I’m sure you are.” I’m appalled by his behavior, but shrug it off. Jealousy burns deep in my gut. How can that be? I don’t even know this guy, and I’m jealous of him. Jealous of the fact that he has her. I’ve got to pull it together. Besides, something tells me he’s swinging for the other team.

He pulls his hand back and stuffs it in his pocket. “Well, Riley, would you like a drink? Cosmopolitan?”

She gives him a gigantic smile and nods. “Thank you, kind sir.”

A giggle escapes both of them, and I look on in confusion. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she’d started the party early. Ross walks away and Riley and I are left alone for the first time this evening.

“You’re a vision,” I say, not ashamed that I can’t keep my eyes off of her.

“I made it,” she hiccups and looks toward Ross, never fully making eye contact.

Taking a few steps closer, eating up the space between us, I reach out and pick up a piece of her shiny hair, rubbing it between my fingers. It’s silky and soft. I’d love to bury my face in it and inhale her scent. Her lips look soft, kissable, and my eyes trail down to her breasts, which are tucked perfectly into her dress.

“You made the dress?” I ask, eyebrows raised.

“Yeah, I couldn’t afford a new one, so I made this one out of an old dress.” After the sentence leaves her mouth, she groans and closes her eyes. “Didn’t mean to say that. Forget it, okay?”

She walks away, but I grab her by the wrist. She turns and makes eye contact for the first time all night. I fall into the depths of her blue eyes, getting lost in them. My heart is pounding out of my chest. I don’t know why I care, it’s not like anything can come of this, of what we’ve already done.

“Why are you not able to afford a new dress?”

She wiggles out of my grasp and stumbles for a moment before recovering. “Don’t concern yourself with business that’s not your own.” There is a bitter edge to her voice, but before I utter a word in response, Ross returns with her cosmopolitan. I work hard to keep my composure in place and not show my annoyance or jealousy.

“Here you are, my lady. Your drink, just as you like it.”

He seems to have a little sugar in his tank if you askme but, whatever.I smirk and gracefully bow out of their space.

“Well, you two enjoy the party. Riley, let’s not forget that this is business for you. Try not to drink too much.” Clearly, they’ve already had a few too many prior to getting here. I know my words are a low blow, but I’m angry over her bitter reaction. I give Ross a light pat on the arm and turn away.

I hear them snickering like school-age children as I walk away. The nerve.

I find a dark corner and stand, watching Riley and Ross from afar. They find a table to sit at, but instead of her sitting in her own chair, she cuddles into his side and hops right in his lap. I feel the big green giant inside me, growing, burning through my throat and bursting in my head.

They snigger and giggle at each other’s faces while sipping their cocktails. It makes me nauseous. She wiggles her ass back-and-forth, right on his cock. Why doesn’t she just sit in her own Goddamn chair?

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