Tonight her attention was split between the
stage and Derian. She couldn’t seem to stop stealing glances at her, and every
time she did, all she wanted was to be alone with her. As the various awards
and categories were announced and awards given, Derian leaned closer.
“How many of Winfield’s authors have been
shortlisted?”
“Quite a number,” Emily said quietly, “but
not as many as should be, in my opinion.”
“You’ll have to tell me some other time how
this all works.”
“We’ll have a breakfast postmortem.”
“Tomorrow works for me.”
Derian chuckled, a low seductive sound that
slashed through Emily like lightning, making her forget everything that was
happening in the moment. Impulsively, she said, “For me too. I always love to
start the day with a business discussion.”
“That’s the best offer I’ve ever had,” Derian
said. “How soon can we get out of here?”
Emily was thankful the lights were turned
down low in the room and no one at their table was close enough to hear their
conversation or notice her response. She wasn’t in the mood for pretending she
didn’t know what Derian was talking about. She was in a very different mood
altogether.
“We have to stay to the end of this,” she
whispered. “But I did happen to come by a very nice bottle of wine I thought
you might like to share afterward.”
Even in the dim light she could see the
predatory glint leap into Derian’s eyes. She loved knowing she brought out the
hunter in her and, ridiculously breathless, reveled in the wild surge in her
depths.
“I would love nothing more.” Derian leaned
closer until their shoulders touched. “Waiting is exquisitely painful.”
“I know.” Emily turned back to the stage,
clapped in the appropriate places, and tried without success to concentrate on
the rest of the ceremony. She caught Ron glancing their way more than once and
envisioned another social cross-examination from him in the near future.
As soon as the last award had been bestowed,
the lights came up and the audience began to disperse. The award recipients
gathered by the stage for photographs with their respective agents and
publishers and those who waited to congratulate them.
“Now?” Derian leaning closer, her mouth
almost brushing Emily’s ear.
“Yes,” Emily said, grabbing Derian’s hand and
pulling her away before they could get caught up in the aftermath
conversations. “Now.”
*
The car was waiting and they rode in silence,
Derian’s arm once again around Emily’s shoulders, their bodies touching. Emily
leaned in to Derian, anticipation electrifying every sensation. The warm air
caressing her skin made her long for Derian’s hands to do the same. By the time
they arrived and climbed the stairs hand in hand, she ached. She let them into
her apartment and switched on a table lamp that gave just enough light to fill
the room with a pale glow.