Page 56 of Loyalties & Longings

Although I’m beyond stressed, she’s right. We’ve got this. I look at my cell and see it’s almost an hour and a half until opening. I traipse over to Blaze, who is still talking to the security guards, and link my arm through his.

“Now, boys, when we leave, lock this door and don’t open it until we’re back. When Enzo arrives, he’s got an access card and will come through the back-office door.” He finishes his speech by clapping one of them on the shoulder.

“Got it,” is all one of them says in reply.

Blaze turns his head to me. “Ready?”

“Yep,”I reply, popping theP. “As I’ll ever be.”

***

As soon as the elevator doors open to Blaze’s apartment, I race out to start getting ready. I run through my mental checklist of things that need to be done before we leave—hair, makeup, dress, underwear, shoes—I sniff under my arms—shower. Blazechuckles behind me as I hop on one foot through the apartment, trying to take off my second shoe.

“Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up,” I call out behind me, dropping my shoes by the spare room door. I peel off my sweaty leggings, tank top, and underwear. Surprisingly, my tank top is now see-through, thanks to the sweat pouring off me. No thanks to the anxiety, nerves, and frantic mess I’ve been this afternoon.

I make sure everything I need is laid out on the bed and ready for when I’m out of the shower.

Bare-naked, I step out of the spare room and stop dead when I see Blaze sitting on the sofa.

“What are you doing? Get ready.” I hiss at him while putting my hair in a messy bun atop my head.

“Yeah, plenty of time,” he replies, swatting his hand through the air like I’m making a big fuss over nothing.

“If you’re not ready in time, I’m leaving without you,” I warn him, walking past him into his room to shower.

I quickly scrub down, sloughing away all the grossness of the day. My mind wanders to everyone I’ll be seeing tonight, and I hope they enjoy themselves. Mostly, it’ll be Dad’s acquaintances and employees, with only a couple of select people I’ve personally invited.

I am so excited, hoping to see Dad’s and Blaze’s faces light up with pride tonight.

I realize I’ve been in the shower a little too long when Blaze steps into the bathroom stark naked. He grabs a towel and holds it open for me.

Leaving the water running, I step out of the shower and into Blaze’s waiting arms. Before he wraps the towel around me, he bends to suck on one of my nipples, sending tingles through my body and straight down to my pussy. He tugs at it between his teeth and latches on with his lips for a moment before coming off with a pop and a wolfish grin. His arms come around me tosurround me in the towel before he reaches down and runs his hand up and down his growing length.

My God, that’s so hot.

We don’t have time for couple’s shenanigans, though. If he wants anything, he’ll have to do it himself or wait until later tonight. I dart out of the bathroom as he steps into the shower and hear the echo of another chuckle when I’m through the door.

Cheeky devil.

Leaving him to shower, I race to the spare room and run the curling wand through my hair. I then pile the top section into a mini bun at the crown of my head and let the rest of my hair fall in loose curls.

I keep my makeup to a minimum but effective for tonight, with just a flick of eyeliner, some mascara, and bright red lipstick to match my dress.

Then, after slipping my underwear on, I step into my dress.

I walk out to the living area and call out for Blaze.

He comes out of his room, doing up his gold Rolex. My eyes eat him up as he closes the distance between us. He’s only wearing boxer briefs and a crisp, unbuttoned black shirt. I force myself to tear my eyes from him as I turn, bringing my hair over my shoulder and offering him my back.

“Can you please help do me up?” I ask, my voice catching a little in my throat.

“Are you okay, beautiful?” he asks in return, stepping closer.

“I’m fine, really.” It doesn’t sound convincing, even to me.

Without a word, I feel his hand glide the zipper closed, thumb ghosting over my skin as he does. Every time he is near me, my body comes alive—it’s almost as if time has slowed in this moment. He rests his hands on my hips and leans forward before running his hands down my legs and back up under my dress, lightly pressing a kiss to the back of my shoulder.

His hands run over my ass cheeks, and I sense when henotices nothing covering them, I peek over my shoulder to try to gauge his reaction. I’m fast, but he is faster and already lifting my dress’s hem to make sure that I am, in fact, wearing underwear. I don’t miss the mixed emotions that pass over his face—hunger, annoyance, anger, and relief all fleeting before I turn to face him.

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