Aurora tries to tug Dorian’s arm in a different direction but he is completely unmovable. “Later, Aurora. I need to have a word with Gabriella. In private.” His words are gentle yet commanding. Morgan motions to me that she’ll be towards the front, where she’s spotted some friends, and I nod. Aurora can’t hide the sour look on her face, and I swear she’s seething as Dorian ushers me into a back office. It’s simple: white walls, a desk and a black leather swivel chair. He shuts the door behind us and then sits on the edge of the desk.
“So this is your pleasure?” he asks with intense hooded eyes. He licks his lips, causing my blood to heat and pool deep between my legs.
“Well, it’s not really business, now is it?” I smile, hoping to mask my unease. Being alone with Dorian in such a confined space makes me hyperaware of how bad I want him.
“I suppose not. For me it is, as you can see.” He rolls his eyes and waves his hand at the grandiose party on the other side of the door. “But with you here, dressed like that, all I can think of is pleasure.”
I blush and pretend to ignore his flattery. “I didn’t know you own a salon. I thought you said you were in law?”
“I’m just an investor. The opportunity fell into my lap and I felt it could be lucrative. A good way to plant some roots here.”
“Is that what you want to do? Plant some roots?” I can’t help the excitement building inside of me.
“Thinking about it,” he says nonchalantly. He switches gears, his eyes becoming pools of Aquamarine, surging into mine. “You look incredible tonight. Your back… the sight of it does something to me.”
“Does it?” I ask, innocently. I walk slowly towards him, eyeing him seductively. He’s not the only one who can play this game. Just as we are mere inches from each other, I stop, drinking in his aroused, eager expression.
Dorian strokes my exposed back with the tips of his fingers, sending shockwaves up and down my spine. I gasp from the contact, resisting the urge to beg him for more. He brings his face down to my neck, letting his lips brush my earlobe. “Gabriella, I would love to bend you over this desk right now and pull your dress up past your thighs and over your ass,” he murmurs, sex dripping from his soft lips.
“That sounds good to me,” I breathe, turning my head a fraction. “What’s stopping you?” Never in my life have I been this bold and eager with a man but Dorian has awakened the sleeping sex giant within me. If my days are numbered, I want to at least die happy.
“Oh, I would do it. But I know Aurora will come looking for me and I don’t want to be disturbed when I… ruin you.” Ruin me? It sounds so threatening and violent. I love it.
“Aurora.” Ugh. Even the sound of her name irritates me. “You two know each other well.” It’s not a question, it’s an observation.
“Yes,” is all he offers, looking me sternly in the eye. I don’t dare to ask him how well though the question is eating me alive.
“She says you might be the one.” Ok, spilling the beans from our brief girl chat is not my style but Aurora is no friend of mine. I have no loyalty to her.
Dorian shakes his head and chuckles. “That girl and her imagination.” I want to ask him at least how they know each other, but I’m not ready to show him that I actually care. Just ready to jump into his bed. No big deal.
Dorian extends his hand to me and when I place mine in his grasp, he brings it up to his lips and leaves a lingering kiss on my knuckle. His eyes never leave mine, just like the first night we met. It feels like such a distant memory, considering all the twists my life has taken since then.
“Well, you better get back to your party,” I say, pulling away from his trance. Once again, I don’t want to give him the chance to dismiss me. Even though all I want to do is stay here with him all night.
“No, I’m going home. They can party all they want to. I’ll get the bill in the morning,” he replies indifferently.
Dorian escorts me back into the swarm of people, saying his polite farewells as I stand by his side meekly. I feel like I’m intruding so I bid him goodnight, for the second time today, and set off to find Morgan. Before I can put ten feet between us, I hear the familiar sound of Aurora’s soprano voice, greeting him back with enthusiasm. It takes every ounce of my self-control not to turn back around and slap her silly.
“There you are!” Morgan exclaims when she spots me. I try to replace my vexed expression with a friendly grin.
“Here I am,” I respond.
She’s surrounded by a group of dramatically adorned men with outrageous hair styles. Bright, shimmery colors bathe their eyelids and their lips are perfectly pouty with various hues of lipstick. Ah yes, Morgan loves gay men, and gay men love Morgan. I smile brightly at all of them as they greet me with a chorus of ‘Oooohs’ and ‘Ahhhhs’ at my daring dress. A couple of them are new stylists at the salon and they are overjoyed at the prospect of Morgan joining their team. Their humor and goodhearted nature instantly perk me up from my Aurora-funk.