Page 31 of My Weakness

She tries to pull free of my embrace, but I don’t let her. My arms tighten around her, and I deepen the kiss, kissing her like there’s no one else in the room. Everything around me fades as my sole focus becomes the woman in my arms. My woman. I’ve got a point to make, and after this everyone in this room will know that she’s taken, that she belongs to me.

“I thought we said we wouldn’t do the whole girlfriend thing,” she mutters when I finally release her.

“No, you said that. I distinctly remember telling you no.”

“Well, that was maybe a little much, don’t you think?” She raises her hands and presses them against her flushed cheeks.

“No, I don’t, and I plan on doing it more tonight so get used to it.” She just shakes her head at me.

“You want me to get on my knees and grovel, pipsqueak? Will that make you feel better? Make you believe this? You know I’ll gladly get on my knees for you, I seem to remember doing it twice last night. You were in a much better mood then.”

“Will you stop it?” She looks around her like people might have heard what I said — let them, I couldn’t care less.

“No, not until you finally believe this is real.”

“Whatever,” she mumbles under her breath, and I have to bite my tongue or I’m going to say something I’ll regret. “So, are you in with a chance of winning anything tonight?” She looks around the room as she changes the subject.

“I’ve been nominated for something I did in the city, but I don’t expect to win.”

“Is that the tall one I saw in your office?”

I can’t help but chuckle at the way she’s described it. “Yes, that ‘tall one’ is the one I mean.”

“Why don’t you think you’ll get it?”

I shrug. “There are a lot of people here who have all designed incredible projects. I’m just one of many.”

“Well, I’m not a judge, but I think that building is awesome and now when I drive past it, I can’t help but smile knowing it’s there because of you.”

Well, shit. Why does something as simple as that make my heart beat faster?

“River.” My boss interrupts us as he approaches. “I’m hearing good things. I think you’re in with a good chance of winning tonight.”

I don’t want to get my hopes up, but I can’t help the spike of excitement that shoots through me at his words.

“See, told you.” The back of her hand gently taps my chest with her words.

“And who is this lovely lady?” He turns towards Ava. “I haven’t met you before, darling, but I can already tell you’re too good for this scoundrel.”

“Oh, we’re just friends,” she laughs, and I swear my neck pops at how quickly I turn to glare at her.

“The whole ballroom just saw us playing tonsil tennis, baby. I think the cat’s out of the bag.” Now it’s her turn to glare at me, but I just smirk at her.

Don’t play with me, pipsqueak.

Ava

We’re seated at a table with several of River’s colleagues. I’ve lost track of everyone’s names, but every single one of them seems to be under his spell. It’s sickening. He plays this charming gentleman, but I’ve seen the other side of him, the cruel side and it’s not something I’m able to let go of. Believe me I’m trying.

“Let me get that.” He leans over and takes the tomatoes out of my salad and swaps them for the feta cheese in his.

I’m frozen for several seconds as what he’s just done registers. How does he remember that I hate raw tomatoes and that I love literally any type of cheese?

Everything he’s done over the last three-and-a-bit weeks flashes before me. My favorite Chinese foods, dancing under the moonlight, cooking me Italian food, and so much more. I think I may need to start accepting that what he’s doing is real, that he really does love me.

“I like your nails.” I’m pulled out of my thoughts by the comment from one of the office girls, I think her name was Nina. I can’t work out if she’s being catty or serious. She’s been giving River the eye all night, not that he seems to have noticed, to be fair, all his attention has been on me.

“Thank you,” I smile at her. I got them done today and they’re a gorgeous midnight blue that matches my dress.