Page 56 of Hard Deal
“The truth was, I was smitten, too. And the more I got to know you...” She steeled herself. “The more I realised you were so much more than I thought. And I want to explore it. I want to get to know everything about the real you. I want to have wild, kinky, semipublic sex with you. I want to wear colour with you. I want to have it all with you. I do like you, a heck of a lot. And I know I’d regret not telling you now even if you turn me down.”
His eyes sparkled. “How could I possibly turn you down? You said the magic words.”
“‘Kinky, semipublic sex’?” She grinned, hope and something deep and strong blooming inside her. Something more than “like,” but she wasn’t ready to say it yet. They had a lot of baggage to wade through. But deep down she knew they were already past like, they just didn’t know how to label it yet.
“Exactly.” He leaned down and nuzzled her neck, nipping at her skin. “You’re putting ideas in my head.”
“So that’s a yes?” She gasped as he sucked on her skin, heat flaring inside her like a struck match. “We can start afresh?”
“Yes.” His kissed his way up to her mouth, capturing her lips. His tongue stroked against hers while his arms wound around her. Claiming her. “Fresh start begins in three—” he cupped her backside “—two—” he pressed her hard against him “—one.”
“Why hello, Mr. Allbrook. It’s lovely to meet you.” She cupped his hands with her face. “I have a feeling we’re going to get on famously.”
EPILOGUE
One year later...
“DOES IT FEEL any different being here with an actual invite?” Imogen fiddled with her mask—the same one she’d worn last year—as she surveyed the Carmina Ball’s crowded ballroom.
“To be honest, I missed the thrill of getting changed outdoors.” Lainey grinned. “But when I mentioned it to Damian, he didn’t seem too keen.”
“Not up for a roll in that hay, then?”
“Not all of us like to get our kit off in public.”
Imogen’s cheeks grew hot. Though whether it was from embarrassment at her friend’s comment or from all the scorching memories she’d made with Caleb in the last twelve months, she wasn’t sure.
“I should never have told you about that,” she muttered.
“No judgement, I promise. But you should know that after a glass or two of bubbly you open up like a fountain.” Lainey slung an arm around Imogen’s shoulders. “It’s a truth serum.”
Frowning, Imogen offloaded her half-finished glass to a passing waiter. Given she and Caleb were planning to get up to trouble soon, it was probably best to keep a clear head. A little ball of excitement zipped through her, and she bunched her hands in the thick, frothy layers of her gown.
Her eyes darted to the grand old clock that hung on one wall. Five minutes before she had to sneak away to their meeting spot. The stables. Caleb wanted to re-create the moment that had changed everything last year, only this time they weren’t going to stop at kissing.
“What’s wrong, Immie?” Penny squeezed her arm. “You seem fidgety.”
“I’m fine. I should be asking you that question.” She shot a look at her sister. “How’s the dress?”
“Tight,” Penny grumbled, placing a hand over her stomach. Her bump was fully visible now, but she hadn’t wanted to wear a maternity dress to the ball. So they’d found one that made her look like an earth goddess, but she’d “popped” a little more than expected in the last week. “I feel like a human sausage.”
“I’m sure Daniel will take you home early if you’ve had enough,” Lainey said. “We should probably find the guys, anyway. They were supposed to be back with drinks.”
Imogen glanced at the clock. The minutes were ticking down far slower than she wanted them to. Her whole body buzzed with anticipation, like a million butterflies had been set free in her stomach. “I’m going to head to the ladies’ room. I’ll catch up with you in a bit.”
She didn’t wait for her sister or her friend to reply, and instead darted out of the ballroom and took the long way around to the courtyard, hoping to hell that neither of the women chose to follow. Outside the air was warm and the scent of jasmine drifted on the breeze. This year they’d set a theme for the ball—summer blooms. Many of the women had dresses with beautiful bold floral patterns and romantic shades of pink and red.
Imogen’s dress was lush and dramatic. The navy background was offset by huge red and white roses and vivid green leaves. It was cut shorter in the front, hovering around her knees and dipping into a slight train behind her. It showed off her shoes—a pair of strappy, sexy red heels that Caleb had surprised her with earlier that day—to perfection.
Coupling that with her mask and sneaking around to find her lover, she felt like a supersexy spy.
Making sure no one was looking in her direction, she slipped into the garden and followed the path around the side of the building. The stables stood proud and quiet, with no sign of her mischievous boyfriend. The mere sight of the charming old structure brought back a rush of memories. The thrill of kissing the masked man, the burn of lust that hadn’t left her body since.
She walked carefully over the grass, keeping her weight forward so her heels didn’t sink into the earth.
The past year had been a roller coaster. Once she and Caleb had started dating properly, things had moved quickly. He’d gotten the job with the Wentworth Group and was working harder than ever. They’d grown tired of schlepping back and forth between each other’s places with overnight bags, so she’d moved into his apartment after only two months, much to the dismay of her family.
They thought she was rushing into commitment again, setting herself up to make the same mistakes. Setting herself up to have her heart crushed. But she knew it was different. And while there had been some adjusting to do, Imogen had no doubt in her mind that it was the right move.