King's Treasure (Oil Kings Book 3) by Marie Johnston (great novels .TXT) 📗

wrapped a hand around my waist and pulled me into him. “You look fucking gorgeous,” he murmured against my neck.

I tipped my head to the side. “It’s the dress.” I barely had on more than a few swipes of mascara and lip gloss.

“It’s not the dress, Savvy.” His grip tightened and I was pressed into his body. “When I turned around and saw you in nothing but a bra and underwear, I about came in my shorts like a damn teenager.”

“They’re barely more than plain white underclothes.” I bit my bottom lip, loving every word, afraid to believe them. The chemistry was there. What did I do with it?

“I wasn’t looking at those.” His lips brushed a path of wildfire up my shoulder until he landed on the shell of my ear. “I want to taste you again.”

My hands fisted in the gauzy skirt. Yes. Please. “The party . . .”

“Fuck the party, Savvy. What do you want?” He skimmed his hand up my bodice and splayed his fingers across my chest. My nipples hardened until they ached, until the bra I had thought comfortable only a few moments ago chafed unbearably.

“I want . . .” You.

He slipped his hand into my top until he cupped one breast. A groan resonated low in my throat as he nibbled on my ear.

I tried again, licking my dry lips. “I want . . .” I wanted to ditch this party, just like he did. I wanted to forget that I was an aimless environmentalist going to a celebration bash that was nothing but waste. I wanted to forget that I’d panicked and married the first guy I’d met because I wasn’t strong enough to stand up to Chief. I wanted to get to know the guy I slept next to every night.

I wanted . . . our marriage to be real.

The words clogged in my throat. We were together for the money.

“Sav!” Pearl called. “Wasn’t I going to do your hair?”

“Shit.” I’d forgotten to let her know I’d decided to go with a simple bun. “Sorry, Pearl, I already did it,” I called.

Xander didn’t let me go, but he removed his hand from my chest. “Say the word, and we’ll leave when you want to tonight.”

“You don’t want to go?”

“I’m going because of you. But if you don’t want to be there, we won’t be there.”

I spun in his hold. “I have to.”

“Do you?”

I blinked but before I could ponder whether I really had a choice or not, Pearl knocked again. “Did you do a low ponytail again? You know you look like a renaissance boy going to his bookbinding apprenticeship when you do that.”

A laugh sputtered out of me, more at Xander’s perplexed expression. “She’s not wrong.” I reluctantly pulled out of his embrace. “The party will be fine. I’ll be fine. I’ve been doing this stuff my whole life.”

He dipped his head and I turned away before I could tell Pearl that I didn’t care about my hair, or the party that was for my parents’ benefit and not mine. I turned away before he could see that I wasn’t brave enough to step out from under my family’s umbrella when he’d been doing that for the last ten years.

Xander

My tuxedo was comfortable enough and I didn’t make the bow tie tight enough to choke me, but I wanted to dismantle every stitch and burn it. The few times I’d had to don a tux before hadn’t been as uncomfortable as this one.

It wasn’t the impeccable fit or the silk lining that was like heaven on my skin—Mrs. Abbot had spared no expense. It was the fact that I was the only one in a suit like this. Same for Savvy and her outfit. We didn’t exactly stand out, but everyone knew we were the couple du jour.

Friends and associates of the Abbots mingled in designer suits and cocktail dresses that would fit the red carpet. Women in slinky gowns that hugged bodies of all ages stood in groups, holding champagne flutes, laughing while the soft glow of the chandeliers lit their highlights and sparkled off the jewels adorning their necks, ears, wrists.

Cream fabric covered the tables and chairs, and the drape over each chair was secured with a sapphire-colored rope. The ballroom screamed money and elegance. Both things I didn’t have.

I’d grown up with money, but Dad had raised us like we had to work for every cent that was already in the bank. I’d hauled manure, worked cattle, and cleaned the damn toilets.

Had anyone in this crowd scrubbed shit-stained porcelain?

Three women zeroed in on Savvy and Pearl as soon as we entered. Savvy didn’t have a chance to formally introduce me. The ladies evaluated me like a prize bull. I missed what they murmured to Savvy, but from their approving expressions, it was good. Then they carted Savvy off in a whirlwind of giggles and expensive perfume.

Mrs. Abbot took pity on me and guided me through the crowd. She introduced me to the owner of a new bank going up on the north end of the city, the headmaster of the private school the three Abbot girls had gone to, and Emerald’s husband, Carter.

“Nice to meet you,” I said and extended my hand. Carter was a lighter version of Lex. Same build, same crew cut, but unlike Lex, his expression wasn’t frozen in arrogance.

Carter shook my hand and looked over my longish hair that Pearl had gelled until I looked like I walked off a Mad Men set, then studied my rigid stance. Whatever rubric he used to evaluate me, I either failed miserably or passed with a perfect score. “Nice to finally meet you. Chief’s told me a lot.”

“I can imagine.” If Carter worked at Abbot Security, then yes, he knew all about me. But his tone said he didn’t hold it against me. Neither did my last name impress him. Savvy had pegged Carter wrong. I could tell a minute after meeting him that he was nothing like Lex.

Carter turned his congenial smile toward Mrs. Abbot.