Page 49 of Her Holiday Arrangement
For a heartbeat, neither of them moved. The silence was too thick. Too loud. Snow fell steadily, softening the edges of the world.
“You don’t get it,” Elizabeth whispered. “I have spent my whole life building something I could control. A life that doesn’t collapse if I let someone in.”
“Then maybe you built the wrong kind of life.”
That landed hard, too hard. Elizabeth stiffened. Her chin lifted, mask sliding firmly back into place.
“I think we’re done here.”
Riley’s jaw worked, eyes shining, but she didn’t cry. “Right. Of course. Run away again.”
Fury surged within Elizabeth. She might not be the perfect person, even a good person when she thought about it. But she was no coward.
Unthinking, she spun back to face Riley, catching the sleeve of her jacket and pulling the smaller woman in towards her. Their faces practically nose to nose. Elizabeth could feel Riley’s hot breath against her cheek. Could smell the remnants of theperfume she always wore to meetings she was nervous to attend. Her “big girl” perfume, as she’d joked.
Sweet, just like Riley herself.
Elizabeth couldn’t decide whether following through with her desires or walking away would be the bigger mistake right now. If both were mistakes, perhaps she should at least choose the mistake she’d find pleasure in.
Her head was still fuzzy from all the alcohol and schmoozing she’d done that evening, cozying up to contacts and investors as if her dignity was nothing.
Fuck it. After such a hellish evening, she may as well finish it with a bang.
Decision made. Elizabeth ducked, pulling Riley in to a stinging kiss. Their lips met with a clash. Hot. Fiery. Elizabeth didn’t care what anyone else might think of her. Tonight she was taking what she wanted.
The satin of Riley’s dress felt cool against her skin. A sharp contrast to the immense heat radiating from Riley. Elizabeth pulled back from their kiss, opening her eyes to see Riley melting in her arms.
God, she was hot. Elizabeth grabbed Riley’s hand and pulled her, wordlessly, back into the house. Ignoring the remaining gala attendees, she made her way through the estate and back to their suite.
Once the door to their rooms closed firmly behind them, Elizabeth wound her fingers through Riley’s auburn hair. The up-do she’d spent hours on earlier that evening had long since given up and fly away strands of hair had formed a halo around Riley’s head.
“How the hell do you get your hair so soft? I’ve seen the way you abuse it with that brush.”
“It’s terrified of me.”
“Hmm, should I be too?”
“Only if you won’t do what I want.”
“And what do you want right now?”
“I think you know. The question is, is it what you want too?”
“Fuck yes.”
Nothing could hold her back now. Elizabeth stalked forward, claiming her prey, shooing Riley toward the bed.
Grasping the silk bed sheets, Elizabeth peeled them back.
“Dress. Off. Now,” she ordered, a spike of pleasure coursing through her as Riley gasped in pleasure at the command.
Elizabeth perched on the edge of the bed. Her gaze firmly fixed on Riley before her. Inch by inch, Riley pulled the dress up her body, revealing creamy skin second by second. When the green dress finally hit the floor, Elizabeth’s mouth hung agape.
“I think I’ll take over from here,” she said, walking over to Riley once more.
Elizabeth snaked her arms around Riley’s chest, unclasping her black lace bra in a single fluid motion.
She could hear Riley’s breath fluttering as Elizabeth grazed her lips across the sensitive skin of Riley’s neck. She bit and sucked at one spot, claiming Riley as hers, until a small red mark appeared.
