Page 33 of Desired By the Dragon

Muttering under her breath, Taz pushed me aside. “Fine. I’ll do it — Are you seriously closing your eyes?”

“Yes.” I scrunched them shut and felt vaguely nauseous as the sound of the zipper lowering flooded the room. Taz’s intake of breath told me nothing. “Well?”

“Open your eyes,” she whispered and I huffed but opened one and then the other, locked in on the open garment bag.

“Shit.”

Taz nodded. “Yeah, he knows you, babe.”

It was calf-length, silky, and black. The hem fluttered slightly and had a slit in the side that was sexy while still being appropriate for a work event. The front was cut in a v-shape and it was sleeveless, coming in under the bust in a slim band of black beaded gems that sparkled in the light. I knew without putting it on that it would fit perfectly, and I would look hot as fuck in it.

Two hands squeezed my arms from behind, and Taz let out a low whistle. “There’s jewelry too, and it must have cost a pretty penny because it’s from Stone’s.”

The matching earrings were simple, tasteful, and stunning, black diamonds that sparkled like they held their own inner light.

“He did good.” Taz gestured for me to take off my robe and step into the dress. Reluctantly, I allowed her to direct me.

The silk slid over my skin in an exquisite brush that was made for pleasure, moulding to my curves easily and draping over my legs to make them look longer than they really were.

“Yeah,” I murmured, watching myself in the mirror as Taz fussed over my hair and make-up. “He did.”

* * *

I’d told Max that I’d meet him at the college and I was nervous enough that I was there early. So much so, that I saw him before he spotted me.

The suit he wore was a more elevated version of the slacks and smart sweaters he usually had on to teach, and if those looked good on him then the suit was delectable.

It was dark, matching his trousers, with a silky stripe down the side that reminded me of my dress. His shirt was open, without a tie, revealing a peek at his dark tattoos beneath the material.

I could only stare, oblivious to everything else around me, until his head turned and our eyes met.

A smile broke out across his face and he prowled toward me, steps sure and confident as his eyes drank me in.

“Thank you for the dress,” I said breathlessly when he paused in front of me. “It’s beautiful.”

“You’re beautiful,” he murmured and then cleared his throat. “You’re welcome.”

“You look good too,” I stammered and had to suck in a deep breath. What was wrong with me? I’d never been reduced to a stuttering mess by a man before.

Max’s mouth tilted in a half smile and his arm slipped around my waist, the touch seeming to burn into me. “Want me to grab us some drinks?”

I nodded, needing a minute, and watched as he walked away from me and up to a refreshment table set up along the back wall.

Flames above, his ass looked incredible in those trousers.

The crowd had started to fill in while I’d been gawking at Max, a sea of suits and tweed, the occasional bow tie, and I even spotted Taylor further away chatting with someone I didn’t know.

Suddenly, a conversation to my left pricked my attention.

“I heard they took everything except one ring and beat up the security guard pretty badly,” an older woman was saying, shaking her head even as her eyes lit up, clearly enjoying the fact that she knew the inside scoop. “Second robbery in the area this month.”

“What are the cops doing?” Another woman said, her voice nasal, and I looked away when they caught me watching them.

Two robberies in the area this month.

It all started to feel little too coincidental for me to deny — because that had been Derek’s MO. Somehow, he knew where to find me and wanted me to know he was coming for me.

Max had returned with our drinks, his smile fading as he took in whatever was on my face. “Everything okay?”