Follow Me Darkly (Follow Me #1) - Helen Hardt Page 0,83
glance my way, but no one will dare approach me with Braden at my side. Not that I want them to, but I’m isolated.
I touch Braden’s arm gently. “Excuse me for a moment.”
He nods.
I leave our table and walk around the room. At one edge of the space, silent-auction items are set up. I skim over them and take some photos. May as well do an Instagram post. This is my job now. Then I take a selfie.
At the Boston Opera Guild Gala! #operaguild #formalball #supportthearts
I can’t think of any other hashtags, so I post. After all, this isn’t a paid post. Almost immediately I get a query.
Love your lips! What color are you using?
I reply instantly.
Night on the Town lip stain by Susanne. Perfect for an elegant evening!
I walk back through the room and notice Peter and Garrett again. Since they’re the only people in the room I know, I amble to their table.
“Hi, Peter. Hi, Garrett,” I say.
They both stand.
“Skye.” Peter looks around, his eyes twitching a bit. “Nice to see you.”
“Something wrong?” I ask.
“No.”
“How’s Tessa?” Garrett asks.
“She’s good.”
“Great,” he says.
“You should go,” Peter says.
“Why?”
“Because Black is shooting daggers at us.”
I look toward the front table. Braden is indeed watching. I smile.
He doesn’t.
Peter sits down. “Nice to see you, Skye. Bye.”
“Seriously?” I say.
Garrett sits down as well. “Just the way it goes. Tell Tessa I say hi.”
“Have you called her?”
“Well…no. Not given the…you know. Circumstances.”
“What circumstances are those? Oh, for God’s sake. Never mind.”
I roll my eyes and make my way back to Braden’s table. He excuses himself from the crowd around him and takes me aside, walking me swiftly out of the ballroom and to a secluded hallway.
“What was that?”
“I was talking to Peter and Garrett. They’re the only two people here I know.”
“You know a lot of people. I’ve introduced you to everyone I’ve talked to.”
I hold back a huff. “That doesn’t mean I know them.”
“You know them as well as you know Peter Reardon.”
“Not really. Peter and I have danced. We’ve had a drink.”
He grips my shoulder, not hard but in a way that makes me know he’s serious. “For God’s sake, Skye. Are you trying to drive me to distraction?”
I wiggle against his hold. “I’m trying to have a good time here.”
“Being with me isn’t a good time?”
“That’s not what I mean, and you know it. I just—”
He grabs the chain beneath my silky dress and yanks.
“Oh!” Sensation jerks into my nipples and then outward, landing in my pussy.
“Don’t forget who you came with,” he says, his voice low and dark.
“I haven’t forgotten. I—”
He yanks the chain again, this time slightly harder. The intensity deepens, and I nearly lose my footing.
“Dinner is being served now. We’re going to go back to the table, eat, and then we’re leaving.”
“But it’s a ball. Aren’t we going to dance?”
“No,” he says. “We’re leaving after they thank me for my generous donation, which will happen right after dinner.”
“But—”
“No buts, Skye. You’ve already driven me out of my mind tonight. It’s time for me to return the favor.”
Chapter Fifty-Five
He takes my arm and escorts me back into the ballroom. The crowds have dispersed a bit as most people take their seats for dinner. Servers bring out plates covered in silver domes.
I’m following Braden, not looking where I’m going, when someone steps in front of us.
“Don’t you two look stunning?”
I know the voice. And the snark. I meet Addison’s gaze.
“Nice to see you,” Braden says shortly.
“And you, as always,” she says curtly and then tugs on my other arm and whispers in my ear, “Nipple clamps? Classic Braden.”
I warm in both embarrassment and anger. Did he use nipple clamps on Addie eleven years ago? Even if he did, should it matter?
Braden whisks me quickly to our table where we sit down. Servers place plates in front of us almost immediately.
“Don’t let her get to you,” Braden says to me.
I nod.
She already got to me, however. Nipple clamps. The little jewels that give me so much pleasure are now tainted. And how does she know? They’re not visible. Only my erect nipples are—I made sure of that in the mirror—and I’m not the only one here with erect nipples. Not by far. Plus, somehow she found out about my post with New England Adventures. I still haven’t received the countersigned contract from Tammy.
“Braden,” I say.
“Yeah?”
“She’s trying to ruin me.” I quickly explain about New England Adventures.