some on my wrists and neck. “Like I told you before, you don’t need to explain yourself. We’re friends, but that doesn’t mean you’re obliged to inform me about your romantic life.”
He grew still after I said it but didn’t reply. Waves of tension rolled over him, and then he took several strides across my room until he was next to me. I didn’t look at him, but instead gave him my profile. The room was so quiet; I listened to him breathe as he looked at me. A flush broke out over my neck and chest under his attention.
When my gaze flicked down momentarily, I noticed he was hard. My lips parted on a small gasp. I wondered if he was aroused because of what he’d seen. The spot between my legs quivered, and I instinctively clenched my thighs to dull the ache. He took my hand, lifting it and inhaling the scent of my perfume on the inside of my wrist.
“You smell like orange blossom,” he murmured, and my throat grew dry.
I stood there, frozen, as he made eye contact with me before pressing his lips to the skin he’d just inhaled. Time stood still and I closed my eyes, savouring the connection. Then he drew away, a struggle in the set of his mouth.
“I’ll go get you a drink,” he murmured hastily and I nodded, thankful for a reprieve.
He lowered my hand, then turned and walked out of the room. I felt like I could finally breathe again as I desperately glanced around, trying to remember what I was supposed to be doing.
Dressing. Right, I was supposed to be getting dressed. Grabbing my things, I went inside the en-suite and quickly put on my outfit. The dress fitted tightly to my form, outlining my curves and emphasising the swell of my chest. All of a sudden, I felt far too bare. After the way Damon had looked at me, devouring me with his eyes, I sort of wanted to cover up.
Running my fingers through the waves of my hair before topping up my lip gloss, I put on my heels and walked back out into the room. Damon stood by my dresser, a glass of white wine in hand. His gaze wandered from my face to my neck before roving down over my body. I was exposed to him in that moment in a way that caused an unbearable heat to simmer just below the surface of my skin.
“You’re beautiful,” he said, handing me the glass.
My breath caught, my throat constricting at the devastatingly simple compliment. I took the wine and quietly uttered my thanks before taking a seat on the bed. I needed a minute to just sit down and get my bearings. If only Damon weren’t standing there, staring at me like he wanted to ravage me. Perhaps I should have suggested we go out and join the party.
“Julian hasn’t arrived yet, has he?” I asked, looking up to find Damon’s attention trained on one of my partially opened drawers. And of course, it was my underwear drawer. A couple of my lacy undergarments were on display.
He closed his eyes for a second and swallowed before answering, “No, not yet.”
“That’s a relief,” I said, and took a sip of wine. “He would’ve given me hell if I missed his grand entrance.”
He didn’t reply, and I thought he might still be preoccupied with my underwear. Getting up, I placed my glass on the dresser and went to close the drawer.
“Sorry, um, I wasn’t expecting anyone to come in here.”
“It’s my fault. I should have waited for you to come out, but I really wanted to see you.”
I glanced at him and couldn’t handle how he was looking at me, so I swiftly changed the subject. “You’re getting better at dancing. I’ve been watching you during rehearsals.”
He tilted his head, his eyes calculating. “Think I could still do with a few more private lessons.”
“Yeah?”
He nodded and reached down to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering at my neck. My phone, which was sitting on my dresser, buzzed with a text. I picked it up while Damon continued to stroke just below my earlobe. It was from Julian.
I’ll be arriving in ten minutes. Make sure everybody’s ready.
Damon must have been reading the text over my shoulder, because he chuckled low.
“I thought this was supposed to be a surprise party.”
I smiled. “Yeah, just wait and see. He’ll put all the actors in the room