holding an imported bottle of ale. He took a sip and then ran his gaze from the top of her head to her shoes and back again. He’d done this more than once since they’d arrived. “You look amazing.” “Thanks.” “I loved the blue dress you wore when we first met, but this one is even better.” “I bet it will hit the floor just as fast as the blue dress once we’re all alone together, though, right?” Olivia wore a very revealing spaghetti strapped dress with shimmering beads sewn into the bodice. Trails of beads also dripped artfully down the full-length skirt. Wade gave her a deviously boyish grin. “Maybe. Maybe not. We’ll see.” From a few feet away a man’s voice called out, “Wade.” Wade turned and nodded to his friend. The guy motioned him over. “Be right back,” he said, and kissed her on the cheek. Alone with Dalton, she remembered the lusty little interlude earlier in the afternoon. The memory made heat come to her face. It also made her pussy gush in a very satisfying and desire-filled memory. She couldn’t wait for the grand finale double-penetration sex tonight. But the more she thought about it the more she decided she’d enjoy tonight’s experience so much more if no one else watched her this first time. It wasn’t about fear. It was something else. Dalton leaned in and distracted her wayward thoughts. He kissed the back of her neck and sent a tingling shiver down her spine. “I vow to peel this dress off of you very slowly, love.” “I’ll look forward to that.” Olivia took a cooling sip of champagne. “The color of the fabric matches your skin tone so closely that it’s almost as if you’re wearing nothing at all.” Dalton skimmed his free hand down her side, smoothing the soft fabric over one hip. She glanced down at the champagne-colored dress. “Oh, it’s not that bad. The sparkly beads are strategically placed.” One of his shoulders lifted slightly. “You’re right, it’s not that bad. It is, in fact, vastly appealing.” “I’m so glad you like it.” “Did you have to spend a year’s worth of salary on it?” Olivia shot him a sideways glance. Was he a fashion expert? “No. Not a year’s salary. But admittedly, it wasn’t cheap.” She’d spent far too much on this latest designer creation, but she liked it, and didn’t often indulge in expensive dresses. The rich pieces in her wardrobe were usually only necessary for glad-handing at charity events to extract money from the wealthy friends of her family. The irony of those situations was not lost on her, but she was expected to present a certain facade. Her grandfather demanded it. Perhaps when she was in charge, she’d change things. Either way, she’d planned to also wear this dress to a function at home. And she would spend the night thinking about its debut here at the DRMC. “Well, it’s an amazing dress.” “Thank you. I look forward to tonight and taking it off.” Dalton released her elbow and stepped in front of her. His serious gaze drilled a hole very nearly to her soul. “Do you really look forward to tonight, or are you just saying that?” Olivia swallowed hard and stared back with equal intent. “Of course I’m looking forward to tonight. The truth is it’s all I can do not to push you to the floor and have my wicked way with you right this instant.” His gaze never wavered from her eyes. His mouth opened and closed as if he wanted to say something but hadn’t figured out the proper words to use. “I wanted you to know that this afternoon was—” He stopped talking abruptly, as if he couldn’t quite think of the right words to complete the thought. “Unexpected. It was very powerful for me,” he finally said. “I wanted to ensure you were not bothered by what transpired.” Olivia smiled and gazed up into his serious stare. “It was powerful for me, too, Dalton. Thank you for allowing me a safe place to try out a personal fantasy.” His eyes