Page 14 of Wicked Games

“Congratulations, Lizzie, on a stellar performance!” said Jack enthusiastically as he gave me a half hug and kissed me on the cheek. “Where’s your drink? We need to toast.”

“I’ll get you one,” said Mike from just behind me. “It’s a free bar so take advantage!” With the noise from everyone talking and the loud music I didn’t hear him approach. Instantly I was nervous about what Richard would think about Mike standing so close to me. I then chided myself for the thought.

The man didn’t own me!

Placing a flirtatious hand on his arm, I leaned up to say into his ear so he could hear me over the din, “That would be awesome! I’ll have a Cosmo.”

Mike nodded and gave me a thumbs-up. Jane told him to get her a Cosmo too.

The satisfied smirk at my slight show of disobedience died on my lips when I saw Richard’s thunderous expression from across the room.

Jane switched places with Jack so she could stand by my side.

“What the fuck is going on with you and the duke?”

Unsure of how many people at this event were friends of Richard’s, I squeezed her hand to signal for her to be quiet. “I’ll tell you later,” I mouthed. She winked to show she understood.

Just then, Mike returned with two Cosmos. As I reached for the one in his right hand, he stopped me. “Not that one, here,” he said as he handed me the one from his left hand. I gave him a questioning look. Shrugging me off, he explained, “That one has extra cranberry like you asked.”

I didn’t remember telling him extra cranberry but I was probably just being hypersensitive and paranoid. Ever since my first meeting with Richard earlier, I had been tense and on edge. I needed this party to be over so I could head back to my flat and a nice hot bath.

I needed some solitude to go over in my mind the crazy whirlwind of events from this evening.

Half listening as Jack talked animatedly about his next directing project and when auditions would start, I drank my martini a little too fast. Between the champagne and vodka on my mostly empty stomach, I immediately started to feel lightheaded.

Breathing heavily, I tried to stem the rising panic as the room began to tilt and spin. Everything started to get fuzzy. The music and voices around me sounded as if they were far away in a tunnel.

My eyelids felt heavy as they started to close. As I felt my body start to pitch backward, a pair of strong arms circled my waist from behind. A deep-timbred voice murmured in my ear, “Don’t worry, my love. I’ve got you.”

CHAPTER 5

LIZZIE

Groaning, I rubbed my eyes and forehead in a futile gesture to make the pain stop. This had to be the worst hangover ever. The weird thing was I didn’t remember drinking that much. As I tried to calm the throbbing in my head, I thought back on last night. I remembered drinking a glass of champagne and then downing a Cosmo way too quickly. I groaned again.

The Cosmo must have been stronger than usual and on an empty stomach the alcohol hit me hard.

Oh, God, I hope I didn’t embarrass myself last night.

With my eyes still closed, I reached out for my phone where I usually kept it on the nightstand. I felt only air. Barely opening one eye, I was alarmed to see the room in complete darkness.

Did I sleep through the entire day?

Fuck, why didn’t Jane wake me for class?

Again, I thought back on last night.

Richard.

It all came back to me in a rush. The dress. His kiss. The possessive way he escorted me to the cast party. I tried to remember what happened after I drank that Cosmo but everything was a blank.

Crap. I really needed to talk to Jane.

God! What if I got drunk and had sex with Richard?

Reaching my hand down, I felt between my legs and was surprised to realize I was wearing a nightgown instead of my usual pajamas of yoga pants and a T-shirt. I couldn’t see in the darkness but it almost felt like my Victorian nightgown costume from the bedroom scene in The Lady Protests. I guessed anything was possible if I was drunk. It wasn’t completely unusual for the cast to return to the theater after getting drunk at the wrap party to steal little souvenirs and mementos from the play. I was surprised I’d chosen a boring white nightgown. If I were more sober, I definitely would have taken one of those cool enamel hair combs or a corset.

Pushing those thoughts aside, there didn’t seem to be any soreness between my legs. Something told me sex with a man like Richard would leave me feeling bruised afterward. From the preview I had gotten yesterday during his kiss, when he pressed against my stomach, I already knew the man had a big cock. Scary big.

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