Page 111 of Tame Me

‘I’ll take the dress,’ I say to the assistant with a smile. My budget won’t stretch to the shoes.

‘Let me get the sandals,’ Simone says.

I hesitate. Accepting gifts requires grace and I know from Dain that I’m not so great at that.

Simone nods. ‘You’ll almost be tall enough to look Dain right in the eyes.’

He’sthe reason she wants to help me. She’s genuine and she cares for Dain and suddenly I don’t have the heart to deny her.

‘Thank you,’ I mutter awkwardly, fighting my instinctive reaction to reject her offer. ‘That’s very kind.’

‘I’m glad you’re here, Talia,’ she says as we drive back to Dain’s house. ‘It’s a good thing.’

I leave her downstairs and hurry up to the nursery to feed Lukas. Then I shower and prepare.

Dain walks into my room just as I’m fastening the straps on the silver sandals. I straighten and try not to fidget in front of him as he looks me up and down.

‘Will I do?’ I can’t help seeking his approval. ‘Simone gifted me the shoes.’

‘And you let her?’ His eyebrows lift. ‘Progress.’

He looks stunning in that perfectly tailored black suit. I’m desperate for the reassurance of his touch but he remains eight feet away.

‘We’d better get going,’ he mutters.

We don’t take the little sports car he drove this morning. This time we’re in a luxury sedan and there’s a chauffeur to drive us.

In the back seat I can’t help stealing glances at Dain. It’s like the night at the gondola—he’s simply breathtaking in formal attire.

He catches my eye and his own gaze ignites. He half groans, half growls. ‘Come here.’

Yes.

I press against the restraint of my seat belt and kiss him desperately.

‘I don’t want to ruin your hair—’

I don’t care and he runs his hands through it anyway. There’s such urgency in my need for him. I’ll never get enough. I realise this now.

‘Talia?’

I just kiss him. I just want to be close to him and pretend this perfection is real. Right now itisreal.

He kisses me back but he’s gentle and tender and I want to provoke him to more because for me this need isunbearable.

‘Talia.’ He breathes hard.

His soft words ignite me.

We’resoclose. I don’t care that there’s a driver. I don’t care that people can see into the car. I just want him. Ineedhim.

But he grabs my wrists and pulls away. ‘We have to stop.’ He looks at me ruefully. ‘Or I could send a message saying we’ve both got food poisoning and turn the car round right now...’

I laugh, but honestly I’d love him to do just that. I don’t want to face anyone else today. My wariness rises. Insecurity completely has its claws in me. I want us to stay in our own world. Alone and intense. Because while I can put on an almost-designer dress and fancy shoes, they’re only wrappings. I know I really belong on the service side of the coffee machine, not centre stage in the society he’s the star of.

I struggle to catch my breath and stare out of the window as I try. The setting sun glints against the glass-fronted high-rises of the city. I’ve never left New Zealand before. I had no idea Brisbane is such a big city. But I can’t wholly appreciate its beauty. I’m suddenly scared. And for the first time since arriving in Brisbane, I’m cold.

The pre-theatre party is at a champagne and oyster bar. The gilt-tipped forest-green ropes discreetly inform the public that entrance to the venue is reserved for invited guests only, but there are other bars either side and they’re full and noisy. The customers ensconced in them stare as the car pulls up right in front.

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