And those eyes are on Aaron. Some fleeting glances. Some blatant stares. Some coupled with fluttering eyelashes and pouting lips.
I hate every single one.
I hate that I hate them.
I excuse myself for a moment, and a server directs me to the restrooms. The room is suffocating. The whispers and stares I usually ignore are all encompassing, making my head spin and my stomach turn. Things that shouldn’t matter do. Things that shouldn’t bother me do. Because of Aaron.
Because I care about him, and the way people view me when I’m connected to him matters. It matters for his reputation as a man and a CEO.
And right now, all I can hear is the not-so-quiet mumbles asking who I am and wondering how I ‘bagged him.’ I’m remembering how dangerous this world is—where money is no object and no price is too high for information—and how stupid it is to lie.
Yet again, I’m protected by Mia Lopez.
I pat my cheeks and apply some more lipstick, more to pass another few measly seconds instead of walking back out there. My eyes rove over my face in the mirror. I’m just as beautiful as the girls out there. I don’t look out of place or as if I’m playing dress up from Mommy’s closet. I look like I belong in a dress that costs as much as I earn in a day.
Taking a deep breath, I leave the restroom and enter the party. Aaron’s standing by the bar now, leaning lazily against it, completely surrounded by models. Of course. I suppress my eye roll.
He looks up as I approach and shoots me a dazzling smile that eclipses any look he’s given the models. He straightens and holds out his arm. I step into his side and ignore the cold looks being shot in my direction when he touches his lips to my temple.
“Everything okay?” he asks.
I nod. “Fine. I just needed a moment.”
His lips twitch. “Dayton, let me introduce you to the girls. This is Kirsty, Jay, Maria, and Lola. They’re our top Australian models, and I expect we’ll be seeing one or two of their faces on some billboards when we head into the city later this week.”
“Isn’t the Marielle makeup campaign running now?” Maria asks.
“I believe so.”
She beams at him. “Then you’ll definitely see me. You’ll have to let me know what you think of it.”
Ugh.
“I’ll make sure to do that.” He smiles politely. “Ladies, if you’ll excuse us, there are a lot of people to see tonight. I’m sure I’ll see some of you again this week.”
“Looking forward to it!” one of them trills to our backs.
And that right there is why I chose f**king over modeling. God forbid I’d end up all dried up at twenty-five when the next big thing came along, begging any hot, rich guy to take care of me.
“Not a fan of the models?” Aaron murmurs in my ear, pulling me outside.
“Oh, yes. I loved them. Can you tell?”
He laughs. “I imagine they feel the same way.”
“I’m sure we’ll be braiding each other’s hair in no time.” I roll my eyes.
“I like it when you’re jealous.”
“I’m not jealous. I might look it, but I’m not.”
“You’re a terrible actress.”
“I take offense to that, Mr. Stone.”
His eyes darken, and he runs his thumb along my jaw. “I take offense to you not being jealous.”
“So we’re both offended. Gee, aren’t relationships great?”
His lips curve as his thumb tugs on my bottom one. “If you’re not jealous, you won’t mind if I go and buy one of those girls a drink, would you?”
The thought makes bile rise up my throat. “No.” I swallow it down. “Go ahead. I think Maria would be very accommodating.”
A low laugh leaves him. “Jealous. I knew it.”
“I’m not—”
He touches his lips to mine tenderly. “Don’t worry,” he says against my mouth. “I’ve barely taken my eyes off you all evening.”
“I should hope not. You shouldn’t be looking at other women when attending a party with your girlfriend.”
“Fuck the ruse, Dayton. Whether you were here with me or not, I’d still be eying you like a sex-starved teenage boy all night. Don’t tell me you haven’t seen the way men, married or not, are staring at you?”
Nope. Felt it, not seen it. “I don’t notice that stuff. Besides…” I run my finger down his jacket. Time for a little honesty. “I might be too busy looking at someone else to notice.”
“Who am I kicking out?”
I laugh. “Can you kick yourself out of your own party?”
“Shall we try it?”
“Aaron. You can’t just leave your own party.”
“Sure I can. I have an early start tomorrow. I can use that as an excuse.” His lips are soft against mine. “Come on.”
“I can’t believe you’re doing this.”
He grins over his shoulder and leads us to the manager of the Sydney office. “Mr. Marks. I’m afraid Dayton and I are going to have to leave early. I have an early start tomorrow. I’d love to stay longer, but my schedule is full this week.”
“Of course! Such a shame, but we’ll see each other in two days, correct?”
“Yes—to discuss the incoming contracts. Thank you for organizing this. It’s been a wonderful evening.”
The two men shake hands, and Mrs. Marks pecks my cheek.
“I do hope we’ll get to see each other this week, Dayton. This evening’s meeting was far too short.”
“I agree. Perhaps I can convince Aaron to bring me along to the shoot later this week.” I wink at her.
Aaron squeezes my waist. “I think you could convince me to do just about anything, Day.” I smile. “Goodnight, everyone.”
We step into the elevator and Aaron presses the button to go up. He slides his hand from my waist to my hip and curves me into him. I’ve barely grasped his shoulders when his fingers are in my hair and his mouth is covering mine. His tongue forces itself between my lips and sweeps across mine, making me whimper at the sudden onslaught.
Shivers snake through my body and I arch into him, a primal instinct taking over. I feel his kiss everywhere, feel it reverberating through my body in tingles and aches and shots of pure lust. It tightens my stomach and clenches the muscles in my pu**y, and when he breaks the kiss, I gasp for air.
“What the hell was that?” I breathe.