“Cole,” I said, my voice barely audible.
“That’s three times in one day.” His eyebrows lifted slightly.
I nodded politely, rambling in my head, trying to come up with any possible thing to say.
“Hunter, aren’t you going to introduce me?” Her annoying fake voice matched perfectly with her fake tan and fake breasts, which were out for the world to see in her revealing silver sequined dress. Who wears feathers to a charity event?
Green with jealousy wasn’t a feeling I was used to, but I couldn’t help it. I couldn’t have him, but I didn’t want anyone else to, either. There was no other way to put it.
“Katherine . . . and I don’t think we’ve met.” He extended his hand to Ben.
“Benjamin Ortiz,” Ben answered, shaking his hand. I wrapped my arms around Ben’s elbow, holding him closer for support.
“Pleasure. This is Mandy.” He directed his head toward the bimbo.
“Sammie,” she quickly corrected.
I tilted my head slightly to the right and looked at Cole. He didn’t even know her name. A small smirk appeared on his face, and he shrugged, not caring that he had given the wrong name. He didn’t correct himself or apologize to her. He continued to stare at me as his eyes traveled down to my left hand, which was now intertwined with Ben’s. He lifted his eyebrow, silently questioning who Ben was.
“So, how do you know Cole here?” Sammie questioned. Her arms traveled higher on his bicep before she leaned her head on his shoulder. Claiming her territory. A part of me wanted to claw her eyes out with her own fake fingernails. My eyes met Cole’s, and I returned the same questioning look he’d given me moments before.
“Katherine is an attorney for a case I’m working on. And I just learned that her best friend is Caleb’s girlfriend.”
“What? What do you mean a case? A case of what?” Sammie batted her clumpy eyelashes at him. Ben chuckled under his breath.
“It’s work-related,” Cole expressed, barely concealing his annoyance.
“Well, we should really find Lila and Caleb. It was a pleasure meeting you, Samantha. Cole,” I said, pulling on Ben’s hand.
“It’s just Sammie.” She tilted her head.
I smiled at her, and then turned toward the silent auction, letting Ben lead the way. I was pulled back by Cole’s hand on my elbow. I released Ben’s hand and turned slightly to Cole’s bright eyes.
His lips grazed the side of my earlobe, his heavy breathing tickling my neck. “I don’t like to share,” he said in a low whisper.
I don’t like to share either. “Good thing you don’t have to. Sammie looks very content having you to herself.” I pulled my arm out of his hold and smiled.
Ben tugged me next to him, placing his hand on my lower back and guiding me through the crowd. I left Cole where he was and didn’t look back, my heart racing a mile a minute. When I knew he could no longer see us, I stopped and grabbed two glasses of champagne. I handed Ben one and downed mine in three large gulps. Then he handed me his, and I downed that one too.
“You okay?” Ben asked, taking the empty glasses from my hands and setting them down.
“I’m fine. He just does things to me.”
He grabbed two more drinks from a passing waitress and quickly handed me another glass. “Seriously, the sexual tension between you two . . . I felt horny just standing there.”
I inhaled deeply before polishing off my newest glass of champagne as my mind caught up with an errant thought. “Why did you call him the Rhodes heir? Lila didn’t tell me he was an heir.”
“You don’t know?” Ben asked.
I shook my head in response. I had no idea who the Rhodes were, let alone who their heir was.
“You Google every person possible, but you haven’t Googled him?”
“No, Ben. Lila showed me some pictures of him and Caleb, but I was freaking out at the time and didn’t want to dwell on someone I can’t have. Spit it out already.” I exchanged my empty glass for a glass of water as another waitress passed by. I needed to take a break. I was probably drinking a tad too much, but I only knew how to calm my nerves with ice cream. Since there wasn’t a freezer I could attack, champagne would have to do.
“That’s Coleman Hunterton Rhodes, well that’s his birth name, but he goes by Cole Hunter Rhodes, Rhodes, Hunter. His family has their hands in everything from hotels and casinos to real estate. They have businesses in Dubai, Italy, New Delhi, Rio, and I think he was featured in Forbes as one of their ten most eligible billionaire bachelors.”
I sipped on my water before looking back to where Cole was. “But he has his own law firm, and he’s very hands-on with his cases. If you were that loaded, why would you work close to eighty hours a week?”
Ben kissed my forehead. “Do your homework, Katherine. He’s a pretty good guy and donates a lot to charity. This one is run by his mother. He has a big heart when it comes to helping kids.”
Of course he was perfect. Of course, the one man that had made me feel anything since forever was off-limits. I took another sip, wishing my water was another glass of champagne, hating even more that I couldn’t be with him. I needed to stay far away from the perfect, wealthy, charity-supporting heartthrob. Men like him were interested in casual hook-ups with girls like Mandy/Sammie. He was too much of a trigger for me. Not to mention that my career was on the line.
“Come on, let’s go find Lila and Caleb.”
Ben and I walked toward the silent auction. With each step away from Cole, my heart ached with both fear of being away from him and fear of being in the same room with him. Every opportunity I had, I looked around the room to locate him and Sammie. I couldn’t help myself. I only needed a glimpse, a quick fix for my addiction.
“You know, if I were your boyfriend, I’d be really jealous since you can’t stop looking for him,” Ben whispered to me right before we approached Lila. I shoved my elbow into his ribcage, and his hearty chuckle brought a smile to my face.
“Did you guys find anything that caught your eye?” Lila asked.
“Katherine did. Well, not something, but someone,” Ben teased.
“Benjamin!” I pulled away from him.
“Who?” Lila questioned, enthusiasm lacing her voice.
“Cole is here with someone, and I’ve asked Ben here to act as my boyfriend so that he backs off,” I said as her eyebrows furrowed together. “No lecture, okay? Let’s enjoy our night.”
“Got it. No lecture.”
“No lectures about what?” Caleb asked.
“Katherine and C—”
“Ben and I are feeling tipsy from too much wine. We’re going to take our seats.” I interjected. I did not need Caleb knowing anything about Cole and me.
We made our way to the next room and found our seats. We shared pleasantries about work with Caleb’s friends and coworkers while the first course was being served. Ben pulled his chair closer to mine—he had the overprotective boyfriend act down pat. Every once in a while he placed his arm around my back, or lifted a loose strand of hair from my face and kissed my temple or my bare shoulder. Being friends for so long, it was an easy thing for us to be close and comfortable.
Before dinner was served, the band announced that the dance floor was open. When everyone at our table rose and wove through the crowd toward the broad expanse of gleaming parquet, I looked over at Ben.
“Don’t you dare object, Katherine.” Ben stood and pulled me right into his arms. He kissed my cheek before whispering in my ear, “Act calm. Cole is sitting at the table behind us and has been watching you all night. Don’t panic when you see him.”
I looked up into Ben’s deep brown eyes and brought my forehead to his lips. “Thanks, babe.”
Ben took me by the hand as I forced myself not to look at Cole. But the second I saw him in my peripheral vision, my heart pounded in my chest. I held my head high and reminded myself that no matter how much I craved his touch, he was off-limits. Ben twirled me around before bringing
me back to him. He rested his hands on the lower part of my back and led the way.
The dancing and music took my mind off Cole for a few minutes, but an unexpected tap on my shoulder startled me, and I whirled. An elderly woman was smiling brightly at me.
“May I cut in?” she asked. Her aqua-blue eye shadow was the same color as her dress.
“Of course.” I moved my hand from Ben’s shoulder. “Be careful with him. He likes to twirl.” I smiled before I walked away.
Not wanting to wait for the song to end, I decided to head back to our table. I was beginning to feel the effects of the alcohol, and my skin was tingling again.
“May I have a dance, or will your boyfriend object?” Cole asked.
Caught with my breath stuck in my lungs yet again, I looked for Ben, but he was too busy on the dance floor to save me. I looked for Lila also, but she was nowhere to be found.
“It’s one dance, Katherine, in the middle of a dance floor filled with people. I won’t bite . . . this time.” I met his perceptive eyes, and he smiled devilishly at me.
Oh, what the hell. When my hand met his, an electrical charge rushed through me. “One dance, Cole.” I felt like Cinderella dancing with Prince Charming at the ball.
He led me toward the swaying crowd and pulled me tightly to him. “I was very fortunate that someone cut in between you two.”
I looked up at him and a sly grin curled his lips. “Did you have that old lady do it on purpose?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” His lips spread apart, and for the first time I saw a beautiful smile on his face.
My eyes glued to his beautiful face, I licked my lips. “Why are you everywhere?”
“Fate.”
“Bullshit.”
His smile faltered, and I could see desire in his eyes. “You have no idea how badly I want you,” he growled low in my ear, and goose bumps rose on my body. “Cold?” he joked, his fingers circling my bare skin above my dress.
We swayed side to side, his intoxicating cologne invading my senses. I attempted to hold my breath, so I wouldn’t accidentally bring my nose to his neck and sniff him, but it was pointless. I wanted his scent spread all over me.
Wanting to focus my wandering mind, I broke the silence between us. “Coleman Hunterton Rhodes?”
“No, that’s my family’s name.” He pulled me closer and slid the tip of his nose across my cheek.
“Why does Caleb call you Rhodes and Howard call you Hunter?” The skin on my cheek tingled from his proximity. “It’s kind of confusing to keep with all the personas.”
Why didn’t you tell me you had a boyfriend?” he countered, pressing on my lower back and bringing my chest flush with his.
“You first.”
He moved his hands lower on my back, just above the curve of my ass. “You negotiate like a lawyer.” He laughed. “I changed my name when I turned eighteen. I didn’t want my family’s legacy to help me get into Yale or shape my future. I wanted my grades to stand for themselves, to be my own person and become successful on my own. And since my father doubted I could, I worked harder to accomplish it. And Howard is the only one that calls me Hunter. ”
“So, you’re the Rhodes heir?”
“Yes, as well as my younger brother and sister, but enough about me. Your turn.”
“Ben and I have known each other for a long time. We met in college.”
“I don’t care about that, Katherine. I asked if he was your boyfriend. I don’t like to share. I won’t share. I want you just for me and I need to know if he’s your boyfriend?”
“Why does it concern you? You’re here with someone else are you not?” I pulled away from his grasp, stepping back so I could stare straight into those captivating eyes. “Let me make myself very clear to you, Cole. I’m not yours to share. We are working on opposites sides of a case. This thing between us won’t ever happen. The quicker you wrap your head around that, the better.”
His hand lifted, coming up to push my hair behind my ear, but he stopped short, letting it drop to his side without saying a word.
“Kat?”
I snapped my head up and looked over to Ben. “Yes, honey, I’ll be right there.” I turned to give Cole one last look, raising my eyebrow at him. “Thank you for the dance.”
Ben and I walked back to our table with my legs wobbling. “Thanks for the save,” I managed to breathe out. The few minutes I spent with Cole were enough to have my core aching with desire. It was so intense, anyone looking at us could tell. That I could lose out on furthering my career didn’t even cross my mind. When his hands were on me, the only thing that mattered was Cole Hunter.
“At first, I thought about not doing it. You two were so into each other that I felt like I was intruding,” Ben said as he pulled out my chair for me.
“No, it was a good thing you did. Nothing can happen between us.”
I washed away my nerves with a glass of wine. Lila was so happy to be around Caleb that she didn’t notice my distress. Not that I wanted her to. It was rare for her to be so publicly affectionate with Caleb. Plus, with all the long hours she had been putting in at the hospital, the last thing I wanted was to have her worry.
Ben made a quick stop at the bar and returned with two vodka and tonics. “Something a little stronger to get the party started.” I didn’t tell him I was already feeling way more than buzzed from the champagne and wine as I took the vodka tonic and sipped it from the delicate crystal. I tuned the rest of the table out as I enjoyed the lemon butter sauce on my halibut.
“Kat, you have to try this Madeira sauce.” Ben brought his fork to my mouth, and I opened for him. Lila said something that caught his attention, causing his head to turn and the fork to jerk. I couldn’t react in time to prevent the sauce from dripping onto my gown.
“Oh, my God, I’m so sorry!”
I patted my napkin on the spot, but it didn’t help. I couldn’t afford another dress like this, nor could I afford the dry cleaning bill to clean a dress like this. I pushed away from the table. “I’ll be right back. I need to clean this before it sets.”
I rushed to the bathroom, trying my best to hide the small blot on my upper thigh. The line outside the women’s restroom wasn’t moving, as if that was a shocker. There were only a few people in front of me, but I began to panic. I had never been in a restroom where the sinks were all inside the stalls. What if you only wanted to wash your hands?
“Ma’am, is there another restroom I can use?” I asked the attendant.
“Yes.” She smiled politely. “Go through the great door and up the flight of stairs. The restroom is on the right-hand side.”
I thanked her and darted out of the bathroom. I took the stairs, struggling to get up them fast enough with my gown. I saw the private door for the restroom, pushed it open, and headed straight for the sink. Taking a hand towel from the pile, I wet it before caressing the stain. Over and over again, I repeated this process until the dark smudge became lighter. Nervously, I applied a bit of soap to the hand towel and massaged it into the fabric.
“Please, God. Please don’t let this stain.”
I rinsed the towel and kneaded it against my dress one last time before walking over to the hand dryer and bringing my dress under it. I stood and waited, watching the round wet spot slowly dry. Ten minutes later my dress was dry, and the spot that was once a small brown circle was now completely gone. Thank goodness. I used the restroom and washed my hands, then took one last look in the mirror before deciding to head back down.
I opened the bathroom door and stopped dead in my tracks. Cole was approaching, fire burning in his eyes. I stopped short, but he wasn’t slowing. He reached for my hand, taking me with him as he continued to walk. I didn’t protest or object, my body willingly obeying his request. He continued to move, taking long strides down the hallway as I jogged behind him in my four-inch heels.
“Where are you taking me?”
He stopped walking and punched in a few
numbers on a keypad lock, then opened a door to a small conference room. The lights immediately turned on as we entered. As the door closed behind us, Cole pulled me to him.
He brought my body against his, and his hard erection pressed against my abdomen. “I don’t like being teased.” He brought his hand to my chin, pulling my face up to meet his eyes. “I don’t like sharing. I don’t like half-ass answers. But God knows I need to be buried deep inside of you more.” My lace thong dampened with arousal as he continued. “Making you squirm . . . making your body tremble as I lick the orgasm off your body . . . that’s all that is running through my head.” He lowered his lips to my neck, kissing it softly. “I want you, Katherine. I can’t get you out of my mind. Let me have you. Let me make you feel things you’ve never felt before.”
My conversations with Lila and Ben flashed through my head, but I couldn’t deny my hunger. My career didn’t matter. The case didn’t matter. My relapse be damned. All I cared about was how he would make me feel.
I nodded. “Take me, Cole.” My body was aching for his touch. “Please.”
He growled, firmly biting on my neck, and the pain only intensified my desire for him. He guided me to the table and grasped my chin, moving my face to the side and exposing my neck. My breath caught in my throat. Cole’s hand was on my backside, firmly cupping my butt, and his lips softly grazed my neck before his tongue left a wet trail. Unable to control my breathing, I gasped for air, which had apparently left the room the moment we entered. Moving his hands up my spine, he bit down on my collarbone, causing me to whimper under his touch.
Cole’s hand played with my zipper before he slowly lowered it, and my skin ignited as a draft hit my exposed back. I met his gaze, and his lips found mine, caressing my tongue with his as my dress fell to the floor. The thought of my expensive dress becoming ruined was no longer a concern. His hands on my body were the only thing I cared about.
He pulled away to look at me. “Fuck . . . You’re fucking gorgeous.” I thanked Victoria’s Secret for the black lace strapless push-up bra and matching lace thong.
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