Chapter 30
I couldn’t hear anything anymore.
People were talking. Some assistant was rambling something about seating charts, a board member said my name twice, but I wasn’t listening. Not really.
My eyes were fixed on her.
She was at the far end of the room, leaning against one of the marble counters. A drink in her hand, her fingers tightening around the glass with every sip. Her hair was falling slightly over one shoulder, lips parted in a lazy smile like she didn’t even realize she was smiling.
She looked… drunk.
I watched her lift the glass again, tilt her head back and finish what looked like her third, no, fourth shot.
I tightened my jaw.
What the hell is she doing?
Someone next to me cracked a joke. I forced a smile and nodded, but I couldn’t pull my eyes away. She turned suddenly, wobbled slightly in her heels. Her eyes scanned the crowd like she was looking for someone.
And then she found me.
I didn’t move
Her gaze didn’t drop. Her mouth curved into something between a smirk and a challenge, and then she banged her glass loudly against the edge of
the counter.
“Attention everyone!”
Her voice rang out too loud for the space. The room went quiet fast. People turned. Some raised their brows, I felt my stomach drop.
“There is something,” she started, holding the side of the counter like it was the only thing keeping her upright, “you need to know…about my husband
shit.
I moved
1 weaved through the crowd, ignoring whatever polite excuse someone mumbled as I brushed past them. Her voice was still going, words slurring just enough that my heart sped up.
I reached her just as she straightened up again.
1 caught her wrist. Firm, but not rough. Her skin was hot from the alcohol, her eyes a lile glassy. She blinked up at me, slightly swaying.
“Let go,” she said, pouting-
“My wide” I said, loud enough for everyone to hear, “gets really tred during these kinds of events. I think it’s time for her to take a short break.” Some chuckles rippled through the room.
room, some confused glances
She opened her mouth like she wanted to argue again, but I didn’t
I bent down and scooped her up, one arm under her knees, the other behind her bac
She gasped, hands bying to my chest, eyes wide as I carried her out.
Headsturned, conversations started up again behind us but I didn’t care
every stare, every whisper, every flash of a phone camera because if thadn’t moved when I did, she
I just walked straight past them all ignoring every might’ve said something I couldn’t sundu.
She was slumped in the backseat, head tilted to the side, mumbling something under her breath.
Chapter 30
Getting her into the car had been a damn hassle. Her heels nearly tripped her twice, she refused to let go of the empty glass she was holding, and she kept insisting she could walk just fine.
Now she was pressed against the seat like her body had given up.
I glanced at her through the mirror. Her eyes were half closed. She looked exhausted or dizzy, probably both.
She shifted suddenly, legs stretching, one hand falling over her stomach,
“I don’t even like wine,” she muttered, like she was talking to herself.
Elet out a slow breath and looked at the road again.
-Why did you drink so much?” I asked, voice low but sharp enough to cut through her haze. “You
She didn’t answer at first then she sighed.
“I was lonely,” she said, the words slower now. “And bored, what did you expect?”
I looked at her again, her head was leaning against the glass
\“I don’t know anybody there,” she added. “You left me by myself.
She blinked slowly, voice softer this time. “You always leave me by myself.”
The car stayed quiet after that.
I kept my hands steady on the wheel but my chest felt right for some reason.
You know you’re a light drinker.”
Getting her up the stairs was harder than carrying her out of the party. She kept shifting in my arms, mumbling things I couldn’t quite catch. By the time I finally got her into the bedroom, I felt like I’d just finished a damn workou
I set her down gently on the bed. She fell back with a small sigh, curling slightly toward the pillow. Her dress was rumpled, makeup smudged, but somehow she still looked… soft. Too soft.
I walked to the other side, pulling off my tie. My fingers undid each button of my shirt slowly, my head still spinning with the words she’d said in the car. You left me by myself You always leave me by myself
I ran a hand down my face and turned toward the closer to grab something clean.
But then, small arms slipped around my torso from behind.
“Ellen,” I said low, “you need to sleep”
She pressed her face into my back, Her fingers slid down over my abdomen. She was slow, drunken, dangerous.
I caught her haud midair, right before she could reach lower.
“What are you doing?” Lasked, gripping her wrist
She blanked up at me when I turned her around, lips parted, eyes glossy.
Her bonom lip jutted out in the softest pour I’d ever seen. “Don’t let go,” she whispered.
I swallowed hard
“You’re drunk. I said, trying to keep my voice firm, but it s
Her eyes stayed on mine, wide and half–lidded.
Tm horny she said suddenly
it it came out a little too soft
1 blinked, my grip tightening slightly in pute reaction. “What?”
She leaned forward, hands pressed lightly on my chest now, her mouth only inches from mine.
aid I’m horny, she repeated, slower this time, like she was daring me to do something about it
I stared at her. My pulse kicked up, jaw clenching, every musele in my body going still
This was a problem, a beautiful, tempting, serious problem and before I had time to react, she reached in, lifting her face and planting a kiss on my
lips.
