“Of course. It’s one of her favorite charities so naturally I’d come to support her.”
Zoe already knew he was lying but didn’t understand the reason behind it. The fundraiser was for the Humane Society and there were many prominent people in attendance, even New York City’s own mayor who also separated himself and came over to greet Marco.
It was almost nauseating the way people fawned over Marco but he seemed to take it all in stride, even joking with some of the people about how they shouldn’t interrupt their conversations for him. Marco introduced everyone to Zoe, explaining she was the next up and coming designer, and several of the women were interested in her designs.
“Isn’t that your sister over there?” she asked, pointing to a group of people talking animatedly in the center of the ballroom.
Marco looked over and, at that moment, Darcy DiAngelo looked up as well. They were too far apart to speak, but the two of them raised their glasses in a salute to one another, and then turned back to their respective groups. “So it is,” he chuckled. “She’s playing it up pretty heavily,” he commented.
Zoe looked at the stunningly gorgeous woman with long, beautiful hair and soft eyes, but the rest of her was all glamour, complete with a shocking amount of leg showing and a glitzy cocktail dress that flattered her figure like only Darcy could do.
The music started after the dinner and speeches but it still took Marco more than fifteen minutes to make his way to the dance floor with her. So many people wanted to speak with him and many of the women asked Zoe where she got her dress. She loved being able to tell them that she had designed it herself and when they would be able to get one for themselves. She smiled at several of the irritated faces when she mentioned it wouldn’t be available for several more months.
When Marco finally got her into his arms, Zoe smiled up at him, blissfully happy to have received so much attention for her dress.
“I know you’re smiling because you’re in my arms and loving the way we move together,” he said with a sly smile.
Zoe had to laugh because she could tell that he understood exactly what she was thinking by the cynical tone of his voice. “Thank you for tonight. It’s been very fun getting so much attention for this dress.”
“You deserve it. The design is creative and innovative without being too whacky that people will shy away from it. And you look incredible in it, which makes it all the better.”
He spun her around and pulled her closer, Zoe gasped as she felt his arm circle her body, pressing her against his hard frame. “We’re too close,” she whispered, looking up at him shyly, but she didn’t pull away.
“I think we’re not close enough,” he replied back, his voice husky and his eyes slumberous as he took in the heightened color on her cheeks. “You feel good.”
Zoe cleared her throat and looked down, staring at the buttons on his silk shirt. “So do you.”
Her voice was so soft, he’d barely heard the words. But her admission, so in tune with what he was thinking and feeling, made his body harden with lust for this gorgeous woman. His hand moved against her back, releasing the pressure somewhat and was relieved when she didn’t move away. In fact, he thought he felt her press closer.
His leg pressed against hers as they swayed to the music. Zoe gasped when she felt his leg move in between hers. Her hand slid up his chest so it could hold onto his shoulder a bit more securely as his other hand slid down to her bottom, covered by the curtain of fabric. When she felt his hand pull her hips closer, she looked back up at him, wondering if he knew what he was doing to her.
The heated look in his eye told her he knew exactly what he was doing and Zoe couldn’t stop him. Didn’t want to stop him. She wanted to be closer. She wanted to press herself against him and feel more of him.
Her mouth dropped open as she watched and felt, his leg moving in and out of hers while his hand pressed her closer. That one movement was so intimate that she gasped and closed her eyes, biting her lower lip as the feeling created shivers that spread outward.
She had no idea how they’d gotten there, but Marco had danced them into a corner of the room. A moment later, he stepped back, took her hand in a firm grip and pulled her out of the ballroom, down the hallway until he reached a place where there were no other guests or wait staff. The hallway was darker than the others, quiet until Marco pulled her into his arms then pressed her up against the wall, lifting her up with both his hands and his leg that slid between her legs, pressing his hips against hers.
Zoe inhaled sharply and moaned when she felt his erection, excited when he moved so it was exactly where she wanted it. But not quite right. She needed more and she pressed her hips against him all the while his mouth covered hers, ravaging her with his touch and teeth, nipping and soothing, pulling her tongue into his mouth and sucking, then diving into hers.
Zoe was on a wave of feeling, pressing herself against him, tasting him, unbuttoning two of his shirt buttons so her fingers could slide inside and feel his skin. His mouth moved from hers to her neck and she cried out when he found a sensitive spot behind her ear.
“We have to get out of here,” he growled. Stepping back, he buttoned his shirt back up and looked down at Zoe. She looked like she’d just been thoroughly kissed but at least her hair was still intact. Her lips were swollen and she had a dazed, hungry look in her eyes but other than that, he thought they’d be able to make it through the ballroom and out the front door without too many questions.
“Can you walk?” he demanded.
“Yes,” she confirmed and stood back, her hands shaking but feeling the raw need to have him back in her arms.
“Let’s go,” he said and took her hand back in his large, warm one.
She went willingly, desperate to feel his strength against her more thoroughly, to feel those sensations once again and lose herself in his kiss, his touch.
Unfortunately, escaping the ballroom wasn’t as easy as they’d anticipated. As soon as they were back, Marco was surrounded by people who wanted “just one more question” or ask his advice about one deal or get his opinion about a company they were considering investing in.
Initially, Zoe was furious that these people thought they could impose on Marco like that, as well as frustrated that each question was slowing down their exit. But as her body came back to normal, she was horrified about what might have happened if they’d continued kissing.