“Sorry about that,” he said, eyes slightly glassy and unfocused. I knew he was drunk the second he put his hands on my shoulders in an attempt at steadying me. “Didn’t mean to.”
“It’s okay, no worries. Excuse me.” I tried to slip out of his grip—
But his hands tightened. “Well, hold on now, hold on. What’s your name? I saw you around. I’m Senator Lee.” His breath smelled like onions and whiskey. I wanted to gag.
“I’m Cora. Excuse me, I have to go find my husband.”
He still wouldn’t let me go. “Cora, pretty name for a pretty girl. Who’s your husband? Actually, I don’t care. I have a wife somewhere around here, but what’s that matter? Listen, you’re a pretty girl, real pretty, and I saw you around, and I was thinking we could spend some time together. I’m Senator Lee.”
My heart raced as I tried to think of a way to get out of this without making a scene. His fingers dug into my shoulders and I had the sudden urge to knee him in the crotch. I knew it would work, since the guy was too drunk to block me, but he’d probably shout or yell or something, and I knew we couldn’t afford that sort of attention.
He pressed closer as I struggled. “I’m sorry, Senator, please. I need to go find my husband, and I’m sure your wife is looking for you.”
“Don’t you worry about my wife,” he murmured, coming close, pushing me back toward the wall. I hit it with a thump and a painting of a boat on a stormy ocean rattled in its frame. “She’s somewhere. I’m Senator Lee, didn’t I mention that? You’re a pretty little thing.”
I clenched my jaw. I knew I’d have to hit him in a second, but I didn’t want to. I struggled again, tried to slip his grip—“You’re hurting me,” I said, but that didn’t seem to register—and looked around wildly for someone to help.
The bastard leaned down to press his lips against my bare chest with a hand appeared on his shoulder. I let out a gasp as he was yanked backwards. His fingers still dug into my shoulders, but they were torn away as he was spun around.
Reid stood there, his eyes wide with hate. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” he growled.
“Who are you, you little shit? I was trying to get to know this young lady right here, and—”
Reid cocked his fist back and slammed it into Senator Lee’s face. I gasped, hands flying to my face, as the senator’s face snapped back and blood spurted from his nose. He gave a single grunt as he dropped to the floor in a drunken heap. Reid stood over him and I had to step up and grab his arm before he could do more.
“Stop,” I hissed. “What the hell are you doing?”
“I saw that bastard,” he said, eyes wide with rage. “He was touching you.”
“He’s drunk.” I pulled him. “Come on. We have to go.”
For a split second, I thought he’d do something worse. He looked like he wanted to murder the senator right then and there, wanted to kick the man until he stopped moving completely, and there was some horrible part of me that wanted to see it. Instead, he let out a frustrated, angry growl and let me pull him away.
“No violence, remember?” I said. “I was going to handle that myself.”
“That motherfucker. Are you okay? Did he hurt you?” Before we reached the main room again, he dropped and pulled me back toward him.
I stumbled in my heels and let him wrap his arms around me. “I’m fine,” I said, looking up into his concerned eyes. “Really, he didn’t do anything.” Though the ghost of his fingertips still lingered in my shoulders.
I knew he wanted to do more. I could see him wrestling with the idea. I reached up and touched his face and put on the best smile I could before standing up tall and tilting my chin up toward him.
He kissed me then. I knew it’d be a good distraction for him—but didn’t realize how badly I wanted it. We held that kiss for several seconds before I relaxed and pulled away.
“Come on,” I said, taking his hand. “Let’s go before the senator wakes up.”
“State senator,” he said. “The fat fuck.”
I couldn’t help the smile that crossed my lips as I pulled him back through the party. We got some looks, but I didn’t think anyone knew what happened, and I had a feeling Senator Lee wouldn’t be talking about it anytime soon, not if he didn’t want his wife to find out.
We stepped out into the cool night and Reid got his car back from the valet. He got inside and I squeezed into the passenger side. He leaned across the center console and kissed my neck, sending a shiver down my spine, before pulling out and leaving that house behind us.