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Chapter Thirty-Three
Entering the grand, festively decorated room on Sawyer's arm felt surreal, like a fairy tale. The great room was now mainly devoid of furniture for the New Year's party. It had all been replaced with standing tables as cocktail and canapé servers milled around the guests.
Nervously, I tried not to noticeably cling to Sawyer as I scanned the many faces until I found someone I knew. A man in a smart tuxedo stood with his back to me talking to Lorna, but as soon as her eyes connected with mine she smiled widely, excused herself, and hurried over toward us.
"Jeez, you look fabulous," she gushed, holding me again by my elbows so she could check out my dress. The way she did this like was how she had done it the first time we met. Ignoring the jewels as if they were insignificant, she continued to gush about the fabric, the cut and the style of my cocktail dress.
"Oh, Jeez, look at you," a good-looking, medium built man around the same age as Sawyer said as he walked over toward us, a wide grin plastered to his face. Sawyer chuckled, slipped my arm from his and held my hand instead. "This explains a lot," the man commented, smiling, and nodded his head toward me. "We haven't seen you in months. Now I don't have to guess why," he offered with a chuckle. I stood observing Sawyer's well-polished friend, who was a couple of inches shorter with strawberry blond hair and golden tan.
"True, but as you can see, it was a no-brainer," Sawyer teased back before looking at me.
"Billie, this is Jenson, my best buddy from my baseball days."
"Pleased to meet you," he replied, warmly. He leaned forward and kissed my cheek.
"Seriously," Sawyer snapped in mock annoyance, and Jenson grinned. "Just testing," he joked. "Buddy, I think you've got it bad. Looks like your single days are numbered," he told Sawyer with a wink.
Sawyer chuckled. "You have no idea my friend," Sawyer admitted and slapped a heavy hand on his friend's shoulder.
The two friends continued to make small talk for another few minutes before Sawyer moved me on and introduced me to a few different groups of people, consisting of aunts, cousins and their other halves until my head was swimming with names and I could barely remember two from the first group he'd taken me to.
Glancing out the French doors I saw two gigantic tents had been erected on the lawn. From where I stood I saw each was decked out with wooden flooring and had been decorated with white satin draped ceilings and walls.
The first had been furnished with large round tables and chairs for people to sit down and eat, while the second was obviously for the entertainment and had a small stage and a dance floor already in place.
"This is how you grew up?" I asked, in disbelief. It amazed me how down to earth they all were, despite the abundance of wealth and high society people milling around.
"It is, but my parents are remarkably normal people, considering some of the stuffy and arrogant acquaintances they have to interact with in their day-to-day lives."
I had to agree; none of Sawyer's family appeared arrogant or entitled, as I would have expected, had I known his circumstance before meeting them. The only person who had tried to make me feel inferior was Charlotte.
As the night wore on, my apprehension grew in anticipation of our engagement announcement until every minute felt like an hour.
At one point I almost got cold feet when I glanced around the room and wondered how the heck I could fit into a world so steeped in affluent history. In my mind I was bound to stand out like a sore thumb.
Fortunately, my thoughts of running off into the night were frequently interrupted by various polite people who were curious about Sawyer and me, and some who genuinely wanted to talk to me about how happy Sawyer appeared to be. I was holding my own in conversation until I saw Charlotte and James arrive.
It took all of three seconds for her to find me in the crowded room and scowl. I managed to take in the incredible slinky, silver crystal-beaded dress with another plunging neckline she wore before she made a beeline for me.
As if they'd been looking out for her, Sawyer and Caitlin appeared by my side out of nowhere and Charlotte's pace immediately stalled. "I got your back," Caitlin mumbled, her hand reaching for mine by my side and giving it a tight little squeeze.
Glancing toward me, Sawyer bent his head and whispered in my ear. "Nothing matters but us," he reminded me and I glanced up at him, flashed him a mock seductive smile, and he chuckled. Before his ex could gather her wits for her next move, Sawyer turned me away from her and led me toward the music in the tent. "Dance with me. I want to see how your ass feels when you move in this dress."
Glancing over my shoulder, I saw Caitlin walk toward Charlotte, effectively blocking her from reaching me as Sawyer and I left through the French doors and into the entertainment tent. As we stepped onto the dance floor "Senorita" by Shawn Mendes and Camilla Cabello began to play.
Wrapping his arms around my waist from behind again Sawyer began to sway with me as the sensual tone of the music washed over us.
"Thank you," he whispered.
"For?"
"For everything you've done to me … for making me fall in love, and for all the things you've let me do to you." He chuckled, dipped his head, and brushed his lips over my bare shoulder. A small thrill of delight shot down my spine before he placed a firmer kiss on my shoulder and rested his chin there. The intimacy of this drained all stress from my body.
Singing quietly in my ear, the sultry words of the song made me shiver as tiny electrical pulses radiated through me. "This would be a great song to eat you out to," he muttered, making my feet falter and my core pulse.
"Sawyer," I admonished, spinning in his arms at his dirty confession. Pulling me tightly against him, he chuckled heartily and despite my shock, I found myself laughing along with him.
"I love catching you off guard." He chuckled again. "But not quite as much as I love burying my face in your pussy." My jaw dropped in utter shock at his filthy words and I glanced around to make sure no one could hear him. Before I could protest further, he grabbed my hand and slid my engagement ring back on. Lacing his hand in mine he led me back inside.
