Page 143 of Perfect Liar
Just then a young couple came in through the foyer and waved at Thomas.
Ah, so there he was, standing in the drawing room’s arched doorway. I tugged on John’s arm, and we headed that way.
Thomas excused himself from a conversation and met us halfway.
It was crazy how he had the same desirable traits as Will. He was fiercely protective. Had charm interwoven with arrogance. He was generous and loyal. But somehow, his presentation was much different, like somehow lighter.
He kissed my cheek and whisked me into the drawing room. Two security team members followed us and stood inside the door.
“Stay here until Will gets finished. He’s just in the war room,” Thomas said.
He poured me a glass of champagne, scotch for himself, guided me to the fireplace, and then took out his phone.
“Give me a minute. I’m just going to check in with gate security.”
I drank. I bit my lip. I fidgeted. I drank more.
Thomas put his phone away, leaned against the mantel, and opened his jacket, flashing me the gun he had in his inside pocket.
“You’re safe, Ellie. We’ve taken precautions. Now slow down with the drinking or you’ll get pissed.”
After shrugging off his comment, I gulped the rest of my champagne and held out my glass for a refill.
He raised a brow and confiscated my glass.
“You’re too lovely for that.”
But before I could object, Will’s spicy heat suddenly surrounded me, and his hands gripped my waist. His breath warmed my neck, and his lips brushed over my ear, leaving two soft words behind.
“Missed you.”
The tension in my body melted as I fell back against him and ran my fingertips over his tight beard.
“Finally, you’re here,” I said.
Thomas left the room then, and my guards moved out into the hall.
Will didn’t explain being late. He didn’t have to. I didn’t care why, because he was there now, with his growing erection pushing against my backside, and nothing else mattered.
He kissed my bare shoulder, cupped my bottom.
“Your arse looks incredible in this gown.”
“You’re really naughty for a proper Englishman.”
“But you quite like that, don’t you, baby?”
The conceit, the satisfaction, the sensuality layered in his tone made me weak.
“Yes,” I whispered.
Yes, because he was the bad boy my friends swooned over at college, the billionaire bad boy in the movies and in romance novels, the badass man I never wanted...not until he rolled into town and took my breath away.
“Turn round here. Let me see the rest of you.”
When I faced him, he smirked and then he let his eyes roam and linger, burning into me from head to toe.
My body screamed for him. I needed his touch like I needed air. I squeezed my thighs together to stop the aching between my legs, to remind myself we weren’t alone.