Page 57 of False Promises

“Yeah, it’s super Daughtry. I wouldn’t have pictured anything less spectacular.”

I squeezed her hand, and my lips connected with her cheek. “You’ll be fine.”

We exchanged a soft gaze. For a moment, I got lost in her darkening irises. Savannah had a pull on me. It was physical. My entire body couldn’t resist it. And somehow, her nervousness tonight made her look vulnerable. And enticing too. A weird combination, but on her, it worked.

“I’m glad you’re here with me. It means a lot.” I intertwined our fingers.

“What are you waiting for then? Introduce me to those people.”

Rita L. Sterling, a music producer I’d worked with in the past, neared us. “Mr. Hills, how are you doing?”

Before I could even shake her hand, Savannah took it between hers. “I’m so happy to meet you. I’m Savannah Prince, Hollywood’s next shining star,” she said with a high-pitched laughter I’d never heard before.

Why the fuck would Savannah introduce herself this way?

Rita watched her with a frown.

I shrugged over my date’s enthusiasm. Was she this anxious about being here or oblivious to civilities at such parties?

I wound an arm around her waist, bringing my attention back to the music producer, who clearly wasn’t impressed by the woman beside me.

People came and went, and every time, Savannah stole the conversation, only talking about herself and her projects. I hated the attention, and right now, Savannah was attracting a lot of it. And I saw the gazes the other guests exchanged between themselves. Not that I usually cared what people thought about me—about us—but tonight, part of me did. This was our first official outing in my world as a couple, and I didn’t want it to be awkward.

My hand returned to her waist, and I pulled her closer. “Hey, I know you’re nervous, but maybe you can drop it a notch,” I whispered in her ear when we finally found ourselves alone.

“What?” She stared at me with wide eyes as if I’d spoken another language.

“Steering all the conversation toward you. These people don’t need you to give them the four-one-one about your career right now. They just want to mingle and have fun. It’s not a business gathering; it’s a birthday celebration.”

Savannah stepped back with a pout, her eyes brimming with tears. “Oh no, you’re ashamed of me?”

Wait. What? What was she talking about?

“No.” I moved forward, but she took another step behind.

“Then why don’t you want your friends to know all about me?” She looked genuinely taken aback by my comment.

Were my words confusing? I scratched the side of my head, not sure how to broach the subject now. “That wasn’t what I meant. I—”

“I’m your girlfriend. The most important person in your life, the one you can’t spend your days without. And we live together. It’s only natural to want these people to learn all about me, no?”

I blinked. “Huh?” Okay, this wasn’t where I thought the conversation would go. I sucked in a long breath. “Listen, I want them to know about you. But can you do it with more subtlety? Like introduce yourself and slip info in the discussion when it fits or if they ask you. Don’t just spread it all out in one go. Does that make sense?”

Her teeth sunk into her bottom lip. Savannah’s eyes stayed locked on mine, but she said nothing. Then her demeanor changed, and sparks returned to her eyes. A devilish smirk tilted her lips. “Want me to suck you off?” Her palm closed over the crotch of my pants, and she fisted my dick, stroking it as she pressed her front to mine. My throat bobbed. Fuck. This woman.

For a fraction of a second, I relished the sensation arising inside me. Soon I snapped out of the enchantment when I remembered where we were and took a step back. “No. Not here and not now. Let’s wait until we return home.” I removed her grip on me and held her hand in mine.

Savannah watched me with a confused expression. “You don’t wanna have sex with me?”

“Huh. I didn’t say that. I said later.”

“But—” Her lips shuddered. “I wanna make it up to you. You’re upset with me, and I want you to forget about it. To make you feel better. I know you can never resist my lips.” She straightened her posture and flushed away her hesitation. Her pupils dilated. Her tongue darted out to moisten her lips in an alluring manner. Under my eyes, Savannah transformed into the sex vixen I’d gotten to know when we were alone.

“Later,” I repeated, with no conviction in my words, as her fingernails dragged over my chest, sending shivers through my whole body.

She seemed to take it as an invitation because she ate the gap between us and with skillful fingers, she attacked the buckle of my belt.

I jumped back. “Stop.”