Page 18 of Chic Steel

“Yeah, fine.”

He wraps an arm around my waist and ducks his head so we’re eye-to-eye. “We don’t need to go in if you don’t want to. We can do something else.”

“No, I want to. I just wasn’t expecting something so fancy. I’m in jeans,” I mumble.

“And you look fantastic in them. Most of the team will dress casual.” He walks me through the door with a nod to the doorman and towards a lift.

I smooth a hand down his suit jacket. “You mean this is for me?”

He shrugs. “Wanted to look my best for you.”

I press to my toes and kiss the underside of his jaw. “Oh, I got lipstick on you, let me?—”

“Leave it.”

“You don’t want me to wipe it off?”

“Nope. Now everyone knows who I belong to.”

My stomach swoops, and I grin at him. Now I have a public claim on him too. His necklace on my throat, and my red lipstick on his jaw.

The lift doors open, and he takes me left with his arm around my waist. I hope he doesn’t move. He’s warm, and I love the sensation of being surrounded by him. I can hear the crowd butcan’t see many people; the hallway we’re walking down is quiet except for the lone worker who greets Oliver by name.

Finally, he stops at a door and opens it. The crowd gets louder as we step into the room.

The room’s large, with a table in the middle of it. To the right there’s food, the left has drinks, and it opens out to a balcony overlooking the stadium.

There are less people in the room than I expected, only a few people milling around—and yes, they are more casual than Oliver—including a stadium employee.

Oliver greets people by name and guides us to the balcony. It’s louder out here and you can see people filtering into the stands below us.

“Ollie and Ella! You made it.”

I turn at the voice and freeze.

Well, shit. It’s the guy who walked in on us. Standing in the corner of the balcony holding beer, he leaves whoever he was talking to and strides in our direction.

“Ella, this is Daniel.”

Double shit, it’s the guy Maddy mentioned is a sappy drunk. I eye his beer cautiously, wondering how many he’s already drunk.

“It’s nice to meet you.” I shake his hand.

“Likewise. I finally get to meetthe Ella.Tell me, what’s it like piercing people for a living?”

I glance at Oliver who rolls his eyes at Daniel.

This is going to be an interesting night.

6

OLIVER

Ella throwsher hands up and cheers with the stadium. I don’t even glance at the field. Who cares who’s winning when Ella’s here in tight jeans and a silky top? I can see her nipple piercings pushing against the fabric in the right light.

Can’t believe she’s actually here. With me. Turning to me and grinning when our team scores a try, and pouting at me when they’re intercepted.

Iget her reactions.

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