And he’d pay Kendall out of pocket, so she didn’t lose out. Her donation was generous but he was sure she could use the money.
His heart warmed at Cassie’s sweet gesture. Not only was she taking care of Oscar and, by extension, him, she was giving to his charity. Now he intended to bump up her bid and give even more.
He snatched the pen and scribbled his own information.
She glanced over his hand. “Five grand? Are you insane?” she asked, eyes wide.
“Why not? I can afford it and what better use than House of Hope? And don’t you dare think of matching me. It’s the thought that counts in this case, and I appreciate it.” He tugged her close. “I appreciate you.”
He slid a hand behind her, placed his palm on her bare back, and pulled her against him for a kiss meant to express more than he was willing to say.
He traced the seam of her glossed lips with his tongue, slipping inside for a champagne-laced taste. “Mmm.”
“Mmm is right.” She tilted her head back and wiped the gloss off his face with her finger. “Red really isn’t your color,” she said with a grin.
“Maybe not, but it sure is yours.”
“Why, thank you,” she murmured.
Before he could dive back in for another taste, the lights above them flashed, indicating the cocktail portion of the evening was over.
“Ready to head over to the table?”
Cassie slipped her soft palm back into his. “Lead the way.”
A few minutes later, they’d joined the rest of the group at the large table in the ballroom. Beautiful white flowers and gold lamé decorations sat in the center.
The speech part of the night began almost immediately. Derek normally tried not to fall asleep during these events, but tonight he had a captivating date. And he found a way to keep himself occupied.
He slid his hand beneath the long draping of the tablecloth that reached almost to the floor and began to pull Cassie’s dress up, sliding his hand along the silken skin of her leg.
Her shocked gaze shot to his.
He kept his grin to a minimum but continued to play. Starting at her knee, he grazed her inner thigh with his fingertips, skimming his way up her flesh until she was visibly squirming beneath the table.
“Derek, stop,” she whispered.
“Nope.” He continued until his fingertips grazed the crease of her thigh and her sex, causing her to gasp, which she immediately covered with a light, deliberate cough.
“Are you okay?” Kendall asked from a few seats down.
“Fine.” Cassie picked up a glass of water and took a long sip, forcing a smile. “See? All better.”
He swiped his finger over her sex, finding her wearing a tiny thong. She moaned and clenched her jaw, shutting her mouth. He grinned and he slipped a finger beneath the damp fabric, finding her outer lips covered with arousal.
His cock throbbed against the placket of his pants, and he was grateful nobody could see either one of them.
“I’m going to kill you,” she muttered, curling her hands into fists in her lap.
He placed his free hand behind her back and leaned closer. “Shh. Nobody is going to know.” Back and forth he whisked, swiping her clit with each pass of the pad of his fingertip.
She trembled in her seat. He’d never been to a more interesting fundraiser, he thought, breathing in deep, inhaling her fragrant scent.
“And now we come to the honoree portion of the night,” a new, louder voice at the podium said.
At least that meant the talking would be over fairly soon and they could move on to food. Which meant he could take her home and get her into bed.
He picked up the rhythm with his fingers, taking Cassie closer to the brink. She grabbed her napkin and held it over her mouth, faking a cough as her body began to shake and shudder beneath his hand. He let her ride out the orgasm, keeping an eye on his friends, certain everyone was involved in conversation with their own women. Nobody was paying attention to Derek and Cassie.