Releasing Me (22 page)

“
I’m not falling for this,
”
he sternly replied.

Stepping back, I squeezed the shampoo into my hand and started lathering up my hair. His feral eyes slid over my body as I worked the soap down my neck and over my chest, slowly kneading my breasts.
“
Oh, I know you’re not
falling
for this.
”
I smiled.
“
Actually
, just the opposite. In fact, I’d bet a thousand dollars you’re
rising
to the occasion.
”

He turned his back to me and adjusted the water a few degrees cooler.
More like ten!
So I stepped up behind him, pressing my chest to his back. Then I slid my hands around and rubbed soap on his chest just briefly before moving my hand lower to his still firm cock. He jerked at my touch then tilted his head back slightly, releasing a tense moan as I stroked him a few times.

After standing under the water long enough for the soap to rinse off of my body, I released his erection and slapped him on the ass.

“
Cash is fine.
”

Before I stepped out of the shower, I snuck one last glance over my shoulder at him. His back was still to me but his head was bowed with his chin at his chest. He had one hand on the wall bracing himself as the other adjusted the temperature––to straight cold.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

When I arrived
home from the spa, Quinn was already dressed in his tux.
Ho-ly. Shit.
Talk about spontaneous orgasm. Before he had a chance to comment on my hair or my schoolgirl reaction to him, I bolted to the closet and told him to stay out while I dressed.

After twenty minutes or so, his voice echoed from the bedroom.
“
How long does it take to put on a dress? I’ll be downstairs.
”

Purchasing a new dress for the holiday party was not on my agenda … until Quinn pulled me into a crazy standoff. I blamed it on him, but it was obvious my ego was just as bullheaded as his. The dress I picked out was a bit out of my comfort zone, but perfect for the night’s mission. It was a full-length black dress with a plunging neckline that almost reached my navel. The back was exposed except for the two thin spaghetti straps that crisscrossed over it. The front of the mermaid silhouette skirt had a high slit. Quinn had seen me wear some fairly provocative dresses, much to his equal arousal and disapproval, but none quite compared to this.

After strapping on my ridiculously high heels, I took one more glance in the mirror. The stylist straightened my hair, which made it look much longer than it usually did. It was simple, sleek, and, according to everyone at the salon,
“
runway model sexy.
”
Two words I didn’t need to hear: runway model. Satisfied with the unfamiliar, yet kind of hot, reflection, I walked to the stairs and stopped at the top. Quinn’s back was to me as he messed with his phone.

“
Ahem …
”

He turned and the blood drained from his face.
“
No. Fucking. Way. Go change.
”

Lifting the skirt of my dress with one hand and holding the railing with my other, I carefully navigated down the stairs.

“
Addy, I’m serious. There’s no way I’m allowing you to wear that tonight.
”

Originally, I
had
thought the
“
No. Fucking. Way. Go. Change
”
was Quinn’s backward potty-mouth compliment, but by the time I reached the bottom of the stairs, all the color had returned to his face, tenfold.

“
Allowing
? What are you, my dad?
”

“
I don’t think you understand. This gala is a who’s who of Manhattan’s high society. I’m talking prominent businessmen, politicians, and even a few celebrities.
”

“
Gala
? You told me we were going to your corporate holiday party.
”

“
It is … just a little more extravagant than what you’re probably used to.
”

Oh really?

“
How many presidents have you met?
”

He looked at me confused.
“
One.
”

“
I’ve met three. How many state dinners at the White House have you attended?
”

“
None.
”

“
I’ve attended five. So I
don’t
know what you think I’m used to, but I
do
know I’m not going to be awestruck by any businessman, politician, or celebrity at your little holiday shindig tonight. And I’m quite certain I don’t give a damn if people like my dress.
”

“
It’s not about people liking your dress. It’s about drawing unwanted attention,
”
he growled.

Grabbing my wrap and clutch purse, I headed out the door.
“
Who said anything about not wanting attention?
”

*

The gala was at one of Quinn’s hotels in the Grand Ball Room on the top floor. As promised, there were plenty of famous faces in the crowd. Quinn may have not been the richest person in New York, but he sure was popular. As we entered the hotel, he leaned down and whispered in my ear,
“
I’m going to request they turn the thermostat down, so you should leave on your wrap.
”

I smiled with a nice roll of my eyes as we entered the elevator.
“
I’m feeling pretty
hot
tonight, so I don’t foresee it being an issue.
”

“
You’re just trying to start a fight,
”
he grumbled.

“
Babe, I don’t want to fight with you.
”

“
I’m not talking about us. I’m talking about me and any guy who looks at you.
”

The elevator chimed at the top floor.
“
Don’t get your panties in a bind, Mr. Cohen … unless you’re not wearing any,
like me.
”

“
Mother Fuc—
”

“
There he is!
”
Zach called as we exited the elevator. He wrapped one arm over Quinn’s shoulders.
“
Great party, man. You have the best planners in town.
”

“
Thanks, my
elves
are the best.
”
He smirked.

Zach let go of Quinn and stepped in front of us.
“
Holy shit, Addy! Your dress is—
”

“
Elegant? Completely appropriate for the occasion?
”
I quickly cut him off.

His eyes went from my dress to Quinn’s face and in an instant his smile was gone.
“
It’s … nice. You look lovely. I think I’m going to find Eden. I’ll catch up with you later.
”

“
Ease up with the death grip on my hand, caveman!
”
I gritted through my fake smile.

“
Your fucking dress is going to ruin my night,
”
he snapped back. His twitching jaw was working overtime.

“
Your pent up sexual frustration being held hostage by your stubborn ego is the only thing that’s going to ruin your night. Now, I’m going to mingle and check out the food situation. When you decide you’re ready to
“
beg me,
”
you know where to find me. Just look for a crowd of men, I’ll be in the middle.
”

Yanking my hand from his, I weaved my way through the massive sea of people. Had Quinn not insisted on taking the caveman approach, I would have told him how incredible everything looked. The glass elevator opened in the center of the Grand Ball Room to the most spectacular panoramic view of Manhattan. The room looked like a beautiful iced winter wonderland. Tables and chairs scattered throughout the room were dressed in silver and ice blue. Large glass vases were filled with blue glass Christmas ornaments and iced twig branches. The delicate crystal glassware sparkled from the hundreds of votives scattered on the tables. There were at least a dozen Christmas trees with blue and white lights. The incandescent lighting was a mix of white and blue. Every pillar and every chair was wrapped in elaborate blue and silver ribbons and bows. Several large snowflake ice sculptures were illuminated with blue lights. A live band played holiday music while servers filtered through the crowd with trays of champagne and hors d’oeuvres. The men were dressed in elegant tuxes and tailored suits while the women accented them in a rainbow of colored formal gowns and cocktail dresses.

Large men in suits with earpieces guarded every exit, keeping the room full of high society’s elite safe from … probably the middle class they screwed to get where they were. In some other life I would have been impressed by my surroundings, like Cinderella at the ball.

“
Adler?
”

I turned at the sound of my name.
“
Edward.
”
I smiled warmly.

“
Wow, look at you all grown up. What has it been, ten … fifteen years?
”

“
Almost nine, it was at my parents’ …
”
I sucked in a deep breath, surprising even myself as to how difficult it was to say the words out loud.

“
Funeral. Yes, I’m so sorry. You know your father was like a brother to me. I can’t believe they never got a break in the case. It still angers me to this day that they called it a home invasion. Somebody knew something.
”

With a grim twist of my mouth, I somberly replied,
“
Yeah, somebody knows something, but justice or not, it won’t bring them back.
”

A large warm hand rested on the small of my bare back as Edward’s eyes focused behind me.

“
Senator Carlson, glad you could make it.
”
Quinn’s deep voice filled my ears.

“
Mr. Cohen, my pleasure.
”

The two men shook hands while Quinn’s left hand stayed planted in a possessive claim on me.

“
I see you’ve met Addy,
”
Quinn said as his fingertips circled my skin, sending a rush of heat through my entire body.

“
Actually, I’ve known Adler her whole life. I went to law school with her father.
”

Quinn’s head flinched back as he narrowed his eyes.
“
Hmm, I thought your father was in investment banking?
”

Before I could answer Edward continued,
“
He was, but only after eight years as a prosecuting attorney, followed by a twelve year term as an Illinois Supreme Court Justice. He decided to try his hand at banking like his father. He was a damn fine attorney but even better investment banker; nearly tripling his net worth in six months.
”

The gleam in Quinn’s eyes and the satisfied smile on his face said he was impressed.
“
I had no idea. Addy doesn’t talk much about money or her family’s wealth.
”

“
Well, it’s not her family’s wealth anymore. It’s hers, all of it,
”
he replied with a slow shake of his head. The subtle gesture was odd. It didn’t have the sympathetic vibe with which he spoke just a few moments earlier, which made me wonder if it was more disbelief or maybe disapproval in the way I’d handled, or
ignored,
my inheritance.

“
If you’ll both excuse me, I’m feeling parched.
”
I smiled politely while touching my hand to my throat.

“
Of course, my dear.
”
Edward nodded.
“
It was really lovely to see you again after so long.
”

“
Thank you, the feeling is mutual.
”
As I turned to leave, Quinn’s hand slid from my back to my wrist.

“
Enjoy the party, Senator, so glad you could make it.
”
Then releasing his grip on my wrist he slid his hand down to interlace our fingers as he pulled me into his arms.
“
Senator Carlson has known you for years, yet he made you uncomfortable. Why?
”

“
What makes you think he made me uncomfortable?
”

“
You’re a beautiful, confident woman. When you’re having a conversation with someone, you keep eye contact with them. Your eyes wandered the whole time he was talking. Then there’s your fingernails.
”
He grabbed my other hand too and ran his thumb over my nails.
“
They’re all rough and jagged because you’ve been picking the hell out of them, which you only do when you’re uneasy about something.
”

“
I bet your favorite childhood game was Clue. Am I right?
”

“
Monopoly, and you’re avoiding my question.
”

“
I bet you were the race car.
”

“
Addy!
”

“
Yes, I was uncomfortable,
”
I snapped back, feeling that way again because we were drawing attention to ourselves.

“
Why?
”

Glancing around uneasily at the people mingling by us, I squeezed his hands.
“
Not now, okay?
”

“
Addy—
”

“
It’s too personal for a public display. Just
please
… not now,
”
I pleaded.

He nodded with a straight face. The concern in his eyes was evident and the thought of his concern for me warmed my heart. He stopped a server passing by and grabbed several fancy looking hors d’oeuvres from the tray.

“
Vegan?
”
I asked suspiciously as he offered me one.

“
It’s all vegan.
”
He grinned popping a small crostini with a wedge of grilled pineapple, cucumber sauce, and a mint leaf into his mouth.

I followed his lead and raised my eyebrows as my taste buds exploded with excitement. The sauce was amazing and the chef geek in me would spend the rest of the night trying to figure out what was in it.

“
So good.
”
I smiled, blotting my lips with the cocktail napkin.
“
I can’t believe you had your posh holiday party catered vegan.
”

He winked and flashed me his signature cocky grin.
“
I heard plants are the new ‘animal carcass’ of gourmet cuisine. And there’s this scorching hot vegan chef at my party who I’m trying to impress. I figured if I scored a few points now it might guarantee scoring with her later.
”

“
Most nights I’d say your chances were pretty good, but rumor has it that hot babe you’re talking about only puts out if you literally
beg
her.
”
I circled my tongue around my lips, relishing the dark, heated look as he boldly undressed me with his eyes.
“
You should go schmooze with your guests. I have servers to stalk.
”