I slip my heels on and take one final look at myself in the mirror. My hair is pulled up into a bun with soft strands flowing freely around my face. I was all about keeping my hair down tonight, but the back of this gown, or lack thereof, deserves to be shown off.
I lean into the mirror and paint on one final coat of my favorite deep plum lipstick while glancing over my makeup. Ember convinced me to try fake eyelashes, and damn, I’m all about the fake eyelash life now. I wonder how I’d look with extensions.
“What did I tell you about being even one second late?” Carver’s deep baritone voice comes shooting up the stairs from the open space of the foyer.
I roll my eyes and light up the screen of my phone. 7:58 p.m. “I’m not late,” I yell back at him, “but keep yelling bullshit like that and I’ll make sure that I am. You know, I’m not really feeling this dress. I think I need a whole outfit change, hair, and makeup as well.”
I grin to myself as I hear his muttered grumbling from downstairs. “Either get your ass down here, or I’m coming up to get you.”
“Ooooooh,” I tease. “Should I be scared? Are you going to tie me up, throw me over your shoulder, and spank my ass?”
“You’re an asshole, Elodie Ravenwood.”
“Come up here and tell me that, Dante Carver.”
Not a second later, I hear the sound of Carver on the stairs, taking them two at a time.
My stomach drops.
Oh, fuck.
I run to the door grabbing hold of it and slamming it shut, only I’m not fast enough as Carver reaches the other side and pushes against me. “No, no, no,” I squeal, nearly tripping over my dress. “Get your douchey ass out of here.”
“Why don’t you get your douchey ass out here?”
My strength is absolutely no match to his and he quickly overpowers me, pushing the door wider with ease. I groan and grunt, trying my hardest, but I have absolutely no chance of winning this. Sometimes it’s just best to know your limits and work out a way around them.
Being far too stubborn to give up without a fight, I dart out of the way, letting the door fly open under his pressure and watch with a wicked smirk as he comes tumbling into my room, only just catching himself before he trips and smacks his head against the frame of my dresser.
“Have a nice trip?” I laugh, watching as he straightens out only to be struck by how fucking amazing he looks in his black suit. His messy hair looks as though it’s actually had some attention put into it, while that light smattering of stubble across his jaw makes me weak. He’s like a dark knight, but not the kind who’s there to save the princess at the end of the day. He’s the one who the princess is going to think about while she’s screwing her Prince Charming.
Dante Carver is fucking everything.
His suit shirt is black and he’s ditched the whole tie thing, leaving the top two buttons undone and making everything ache within me. “Holy shit,” I breathe, taking him in from head to toe only to notice the way his dark eyes scan over my body in awe. “I didn’t think it was possible, but you actually look a little alright.”
Carver scoffs, having to clear his throat before quickly glancing away as though the rest of my room suddenly just became extremely exciting. “Right back at ya, babe.”
“Smooth,” I laugh, grabbing my phone and shoving it deep into the hidden pocket of my incredible dress. While that was the worst kind of compliment a girl could receive, from Carver, it means the fucking world. “Are you this awkward with all your dates? Maybe you need to spend some more time with Cruz. I’m sure he could teach you a thing or two about talking to a girl.”
Carver laughs. “Cruz doesn’t know shit about talking to a girl, all he has to do is flash a fucking smile and chicks go stupid,” he says, giving me a pointed stare. “Case in point.”
I roll my eyes as I walk right into him, tilting my head as his hand falls to my waist, his fingers gently digging in. “I think you’re underestimating Cruz,” I tell him. “The things he’s murmured in my ear that have gotten me on my knees would make even you blush.”
Carver’s stare hardens, and for just a second, his rigid exterior fades away and his emotions come screaming out, hitting me right in the chest. “What’s the matter, Carver? You look jealous.”
“So what if I am?” he questions, his voice deep and gruff, filled with everything he refuses to say out loud.
I push up, hovering my lips right in front of his. “It doesn’t have to be that way,” I remind him. “You’re the one putting limitations on us. All you’d have to do is open yourself up and you’ll see just how good it is.”