Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 103530 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103530 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
“Be my arm candy.” He stated it so matter-of-factly, I couldn’t even be annoyed by it. “Let me show you off. And share you, maybe.”
“Sharing is caring,” I quipped by way of confirmation. “So, stay at your side, make you look gorgeous—”
“You’ll look gorgeous. I’m afraid of how I’ll look in comparison.”
“Ha ha.” I blinked at my work in the mirror, then moved on to the other eye. “So, it’s like a date.”
“Exactly. You’re my date for the evening.” After a long silence, he added, softer, “I want you to come home with me tonight.”
“I stay here every night,” I reminded him, only paying half-attention.
“I know.” He seemed to have trouble finding the right words. “You’re free to do whatever you want while you’re here.”
“I know.” I rummaged through my makeup bag for my eyeliner.
“But tonight…”
“Be with you?” I supplied. “Don’t run off to a lube orgy?”
I thought he might correct me on the schedule of events again, but he gave a relieved sigh. “Exactly.”
“You didn’t think I was going to abandon you at your birthday party, did you?” Of course, maybe I shouldn’t have assumed he would want me clinging to him all night. “On the other hand, you have all these friends coming—”
“And you’re the only one I want to spend the evening with.”
I slicked a line of black above my lashes and tried to ignore the longing that was apparent in his voice. “Your other friends have traveled a long way for you to ignore them.”
He chuckled. “I’m not going to ignore them. But they don’t need me to have fun here.”
“And you?” I asked, finishing the other eye and turning to face him. “You need me to have fun here?”
“I think so. I think you might be a requirement.”
My stomach dropped and I turned away so he couldn’t see the panic that I knew would show on my face. This is going too far. Any minute now, you’re going to disappoint him.
“I’ll wait for you in the bedroom,” he said, backing toward the door. “Take your time.”
I did take my time, partially because it was difficult to do one’s makeup with shaking hands, partially because I needed to think. This was supposed to be a fun, sexy time. No strings. But the threads were there, brushing at the edges of whatever we had, trying to close up a seam and stitch us together. I needed scissors.
But what was the harm in going to his birthday party as his younger, attractive arm candy? I didn’t get shown off much and it was flattering to think someone would want to, even if it felt date-like. It didn’t mean we were dating.
I finished up my face and used a shade of lip gloss close to the color of the ribbon on my “outfit.” Then I pulled my nightgown over my head and stood naked in front of the mirror, trying not to criticize the new freckles on my shoulders and chest brought out by the Caribbean sun.
The appropriate hairstyle, I assumed, was a ponytail Matt could grab onto. Not a sloppy, quick one like I’d been wearing; I used my brush and hairspray to make a sleek, high ponytail worthy of a music video. I even wrapped a piece of my hair around to hide the elastic band. I surveyed the results of my efforts, deemed myself worthy of being arm candy, and went to the bedroom.
Matt was getting dressed; a sharp black tuxedo jacket lay across the bed, and he stood with his back to me, buttoning the sleeves of his white shirt. I cleared my throat, and he turned, stopped, and looked me up and down without a word. Finally, he grinned and said one word: “Perfect.”
I went to the bed and picked up the plug, toying with the huge bow attached to it. “I never thought of these as a fashion accessory before.”
“Fashion accessory, safeguard, same thing,” he said cheerfully, and went to the bedside table.
“Safeguard?”
He nodded, taking a bottle of lube from the drawer. “Against accidental penetration. You said you weren’t ready for it at the orgy, but someone tried.”
“And was very respectful when I declined,” I made sure to add. “What about non-accidental penetration?”
His eyebrows rose.
“It is your birthday. And I said I wanted to try it.” I swung the plug by its ribbon. “Will this be enough to get me ready?”
“Hardly,” he said, his throat moving as he swallowed. “But if you really wanted to—”
“Give you my ass for your birthday?” A little thrill of horny bravery went through me. “Isn’t that a good enough present?”
He jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “We could always cancel—”
I laughed. “Shut up. I’m giving you something to look forward to.”
Rounding the bed, he caught me up in his arms, both hands squeezing my ass cheeks firmly. “Well, let me just say, I can’t wait to unwrap this.”