Page 23 of The Frock Up
I blinked at his tone. "Well, no. I meant as in a friendship kind of love. James…. Are you in love with her?"
He closed his eyes, huffing out a laugh. "Fuck."
My heart ached at the pain in his voice.
"Have you told her?"
He shook his head. "She's been with the jackass for years. What was I meant to do? Declare my undying love at her engagement party?"
I squeezed his hand. "I'm sorry."
"Yeah, me too."
We danced around the floor, James turning me this way and that—his gaze drifting repeatedly towards his pretty assistant.
"Do me a favor?" He asked as the song began to wrap up.
"Anything."
He looked over my shoulder, his gaze narrowing. "If you love someone, don't wait to tell them. You don't know what tomorrow might bring."
With that, he pasted on a smile that came nowhere close to his eyes, and stepped back, turning me slightly. Ash approached, his gaze fixed on me.
"Hey bro, about time you joined us." James held out my hand to Ash as the band struck up another song. "Have fun you two."
The CFO disappeared into the crowd, leaving Ash and me on the dance floor.
We considered each other for a moment, our gazes heated as his thumb dragged slowly along the inside of my wrist.
"You look beautiful."
I dropped my gaze, pleasure blooming in my belly. "Thank you."
His gaze dropped to my outfit. "You're wearing the dress."
I pressed a hand to the dress that had brought us together. "Mm. Though the zipper is a little faulty." A hot blush heated my cheeks as I propositioned him. "Do you know anyone who might be able to help get me out of it?"
He swore, drawing the gazes of the couples around us.
In one smooth move, he stepped in, one hand entwining with mine, his other pressing into the small of my back.
"You'll be the death of me," he whispered against my temple as we began to sway together. "I'm trying not to rush you, Millie.
I hesitated. "What if I want to be rushed?"
Ash's hands flinched. "What are you saying?"
I licked my lips, calling on all my courage to look up into his glorious green eyes. "Ash, what do you want from me?"
His expression changed, his eyes flashing. "Everything."
Desire spiked. "Then take me to bed. Make love to me."
He stopped moving. Around us, the world continued to revolve as people shifted across the dance floor, lost in the music.
"Now?" He asked, his voice hoarse.
"Have you finished with all the formalities?" I asked, ignoring the curious glances we were drawing.
