Page 43 of One Shade of Gray
I couldn’t focus on Gray until after the play. With everyone standing in the Grand Foyer in black tie, I scanned the crowd for him. Above me, the gold ornate statuary and paintings glowed in the faux candlelight. This place must have been magical with real candlelight. Or maybe justhot.
The sponsors always celebrated opening night with a party. And the board loved any excuse to get the sponsors drunk enough to part with theircheckbooks.
I skirted the edge of the room, not wanting to be drawn into any more congratulatory speeches that ended with a man congratulating me on a triumph, and complimentinghimself.
But really, it was the best vantage point from which to look for Gray. As one of the board members and the owner of the theater, he should behere.
Once I got tired of circling in my too-high heels, I braced myself against a column and waited. Any second I’d catch aglimpse…
“You know this place had a serious candle budget back in theday.”
His voice caressed my skin like warmvelvet.
“I was just wondering how warm it would get in here if there were thousands of lit candles overhead and circling theroom.”
He stepped up to the opposite side of the column, and I hazarded a peek at him. Exactly the same as the last time I saw him, and yet his face looked a little leaner. His smile appeared forced and strained. But I doubted anyone would pick that up. At least not anyone in thisroom.
He wore a black tuxedo, black shirt, black bowtie, and even his shoes were black. The color did very good things for him. I swallowed the naughty turn to my thoughts and smoothed out the deep royal blue of my dress. The sweetheart neckline bared my shoulders and decolletage; I’d chosen the dress purposefully to get Gray’s attention. I’d even skipped dinner so didn’t ruin the beautiful satin before he had a chance to seeit.
“It would be very hot. And the clothes were all higher quality, thicker fabrics, with so many layers you couldn’t get dressed without help. So even more warm because ofthat.”
I crossed my arms under my breasts and pushed off the column to face him. “I owe you anapology.”
His mouth hung open as if he were about to say something, and he snapped it shut after mydeclaration.
“I’m sorry my brother kidnapped you and forced you to listen to one of his boringlectures.”
“Ithink…”
“Oh and I’m sorry he tased you. That really wasn’t cool. To be fair, he did say Chloroform hurts more, and it takes a lot longer to work than tasing, so that is why he chose that…” I trailed off. He likely didn’t need the rundown I’d forced out of Jake before heleft.
He blinked a few times and stepped forward enough that I could smell his cologne. I wanted to press my face to his neck and snort it. The smell reminded me of his hands on my body and his teeth. All ofit.
I stepped forward, closing the distance between us but not touching him. “Can we get out of here andtalk?”
He nodded and held out his elbow. I threaded my arm through the loop he created and he clasped my forearm against his body tight. “Now you can’t escape,” heteased.
Little did he know I was thinking the samething.
Outside the ornate front doors, which no one in the company ever used, about a quarter of the guests milled around. Some were smoking; others sat stretching their legs out on the stairs. One couple was hot and heavy around the bend of astatue.
Dorian guided me along, and I allowed him to lead me wherever he wanted to go. We stayed silent. I figured he wanted privacy, and the square and side streets were packed with people after the event. I was surprised when we ended up at my frontdoor.
I led him in and slipped off the shoes that had begun to form blisters on my heels. Luckily, before Band-Aids were required. Blood and satin are not a goodcombination.
He hovered awkwardly by the door. As if he wanted to make a dash whenever the first opportunityarose.
I pointed to the couch. “You can sitdown.”
He sat on the edge of my couch and tested its give. It must have performed well, because he sank back into it with asigh.
“Are your shoes killing you too? You’re welcome to take themoff.”
He chuckled, and just like that, it felt normal, being here in my home with him. “No, I have some experience with uncomfortablefootwear.”
I threw myself down on the couch beside him in a cloud of satin and crinoline. Once I’d contained my dress enough to move my legs, I propped my foot across my knee to rub it. Usually I walked in flats, but I didn’t want to risk letting go of Gray before we’d gotten here, so I limped back in those killerheels.
Dorian reached out and plucked my ankle off the top of knee and stretched it to his. When he started rubbing the stocking-covered balls of my, feet I thought I could orgasm then andthere.
