You're in danger of being stripped bare." Bow tie forgotten, he went to her, scooping her close and kissing her. A line had been crossed. One where he grabbed her up without hesitation, and one where she came to him, no questions asked.
"How the hell do you tie one of these things?" Her hands went to the tie and she frowned, perplexed.
"Very carefully." He let go and resumed his battle with the strip of silk while Merina went to the mirror to straighten her skirt. Of all things, he thought back to Tag's words of warning. Because life with Merina was suddenly very cozy. Once they divorced, he'd miss not only the sex, but the relaxing moments that followed. He didn't anticipate this type of casual banter once he resumed his casual dating status.
At that thought, he nearly recoiled. Casual dating had never sounded so…off-putting. He wouldn't do it right away, of course. He'd have to have a cooling period. And figure out a way to settle for less, considering sex had never been this good before Merina.
Whoa.
Probably that was his cock talking. It bobbed in the direction of the woman unknowingly torturing him in a very short dress.
"Easy, fella," he murmured, succeeding at the knot and straightening the bow tie at his throat. "We can't let her lead us around like that."
"Hmm?" Merina said. "Did you say something?"
He left the closet, snagging his jacket on the way out. "Yeah. I said, beware the board. They have sharp, pointy teeth." He made the two-fingered gesture and Merina rolled her eyes.
"Monty Python? Really?" She lifted a silver clutch off the bed and swayed out of the room. Like a puppy, Reese followed, mentally high-fiving himself because she knew Monty Python.
* * *
Okay, this was beyond nerve-wracking. Merina had been confident about the retirement dinner and her ability to look as if she belonged on Reese's arm. Then she arrived and nearly every pair of eyes in the room zoomed in on them. She hadn't anticipated this much attention. Not at a private function.
Now, she worried the entire room could see the sexual satisfaction painted on both their faces. As great as last night was, how were they not supposed to wake up and partake this morning? She'd stepped out of the shower, only to find Reese stalk in naked and ready. He'd pushed her back in, pressed her against the shower wall, and entered her again and again.
And when he'd kissed her while he was getting ready tonight, she could have easily gone for one more round. Hair and makeup be damned. If they weren't already cutting it close, she may have taken him then and there.
The rigid businessman she'd seen before she moved in with him—the same man everyone else saw—wasn't nearly so rigid or unyielding when they were alone together. It made her want to spend more time with him—both in bed and out.
Reese's warm palm splayed over her dress and she was glad the dress had a back. She'd been charged with acting like she was madly in love with him, and she'd rather not everyone see the very real goose bumps he brought to the surface of her skin. Or the way her eyes fluttered closed when he kissed her neck. Sex had muddied what they had together, which she'd have to sort out when it came time to end things. For now, she'd use it to her advantage.
"Merina, I'd like you meet a few members of the board. I don't believe you've had the honor yet," Reese said in front of a group of men, one eyebrow raised, communicating, Don't you love how full of shit I am?
She offered a bland smile to say, Impressive how full of it you are yet still smell like heaven.
She shook hands with one of the older men, feeling on display for his approval when he swept assessing eyes over her dress, then to Reese. She didn't want to sell it too hard, so she wasn't plastered to her husband, yet she didn't want to merely drape her hand over his forearm because that seemed too formal.
While they watched with hawklike eyes, she turned and lifted her fingers to Reese's hair and stroked a lock of it away from his forehead. He looked down at her, a flicker of awareness in his dark blue eyes.
"There. Now you're perfect." The air between them snapped, a palpable charge. Her smile shaky, she stood on her toes and kissed his cheek, her voice going to a low murmur to say, "I only like you rumpled in one place, Crane."
Reese didn't let her sink to her heels immediately, cupping her waist and lowering his head to steal another kiss. "Thanks, baby," he muttered against her parted lips.
He released her and Merina's heart pattered. Endearments weren't Reese's style. As she recalled, he'd never once called her "sweetheart" or "honey" or "baby."
She liked it way more than she should.
Like, a lot.
"Better leave these two alone." One of the board members shoved his glass of scotch against another man's arm. "Come, Barnes, a refill is in order."
"And they're off," she said when the men shuffled away.
"How are you holding up? Only three or four more hours to go," Reese said. "Champagne?"
"White wine is safer. Makes me less giggly."
"You? Giggly? That I've got to see." He pressed a kiss to her forehead, and Merina leaned into him. A moment later, his hand stiffened against her back. In fact, all of him went rigid. Arms, legs, head, neck. Merina searched the room, her eyes landing on a petite woman with strawberry-blond hair. Freckles dotted her tanned skin, and lips that looked as if they'd had some cosmetic plumping smiled as she sauntered in their direction. Merina heard a word come from Reese's mouth she was pretty sure was profanity but couldn't quite make it out.
"Reese," the woman said, her plastic smile glued on. Her eyes—green—flicked to Merina before fixing on him again. "It's been ages."
"What are you doing here?" Reese asked, doing a terrible job of being courteous.
"Hayes is here too. You know we wouldn't miss the chance to wish Alex well on his big day." The animosity hung thick in the air. This redhead knew exactly what she was doing.
In Reese's defense, Merina's back went up.
"Merina Crane." Rather than offer a hand, she held her clutch in both hands. "And you are?
"Gwyneth. Sutton. Well, formerly Sutton, now Lerner.