Escape Across the Pond

Chapter 22

The ride to the event being held at the Assembly Rooms was short but tortuous. I sat between him and Grandmama in the car, his side was pressed firmly up against mine and his fingers were trailing softly up my thigh over the smooth fabric of my dress driving me crazy. If that wasn't bad enough, I was surrounded by his masculine and enticing cologne drawing me in like a moth to the flame. I had to remind myself more than once that Grandmama was literally sitting right beside me in the car.

Needless to say, when we pulled up to the gorgeous, well-lit, light gray stone building I was thankful to exit the car and take in a deep breath of the fresh air to try and clear my head of the lust coursing through me. But Alex got out first to come around the car to help out Grandmama and then he held his hand out to help me as well and gave me his full smile that I see on rare occasions. I put my small hand in his much larger one and he helps me out and to my feet with a protective hand on my hip. I can feel his hot touch through the thin material of my dress and I'm still trying to tamp down the lust but also other feelings. He speaks low and raspy in my ear, "Fuckin hell. I'm not going to be able to keep my hands off of you tonight." and leads me over to where Grandmama is waiting. He then holds one arm out to escort her in her beautiful, shimmery, navy dress with a gorgeous shawl wrapped around her shoulders.

"Oh thank you, dear," she says taking his arm and I take the other one he's now holding out for me to hold on to. "Coraline dear, are you ready for your first outing here? I know I'm looking forward to introducing you to a few people. It wouldn't hurt to know others that live in the area." she carries on while we walk up to the front door where a man dressed in uniform opens it for us to enter. I hear a low rumble come from Alex and this gets a chuckle from Grandmama.

"I'm really excited. I've made quite a few friends since I got here but I suppose it couldn't hurt to meet a few more people. Thank you again for inviting me." I respond but I give Alex's arm a reassuring squeeze. Grandmama is just trying to do something nice but I do find it incredibly sexy when Alex gets all alpha male. It's a total turn-on.

"Of course dear," she says and with that, we walk into the most incredibly decorated room with people dressed in the finest clothes I've ever seen. The tables are set up all around the room with ornate centerpieces and gorgeous china and silverware. The table clothes are a crisp white and nothing looks out of place. There's a small stage set up at the front of the room that the tables are set in front of. On one side of the room, there is a long bar set up and it already has several patrons. On the other side, there is a small area for dancing and a band set up in the corner. It looks like the string instruments will be lulling us through the night. I'm taking in the splendor of the room when I realize I've stopped walking.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Where are we going? Do you want to find our table or grab a drink or something?" I ask looking over to Alex and Grandmama.

"I'm going to see who's here that's worth talking to dear. If you and Alexander would like to get a drink I wouldn't mind. I'll come to find you before it's time to take our seats." she says smiling at the two of us and then wandering off in the direction of a group of women.

"Come, love. Let's get you something to drink." Alex says softly and places his hand on the bare skin on the small of my back and leads me towards the bar. It's like his touch is searing into my skin and I feel the chills break out across my skin while we cross the room. Once we reach the bar, Alex starts to ask, "What would you like to..." and when I look up I see that he is staring straight at my chest. I look down to see that my chills may have shown up somewhere else and the material of this dress is very thin.

"Oh no," I mumble and look down at the ground trying to fight my blush.

Alex pulls me close to him and I realize we're close enough that maybe nobody else has noticed. "Fuckin hell, love. Are you not wearing a damn bra? I was already struggling to try to keep my hands off of you." he growls and plants a firm kiss on my lips and I can tell he's frustrated.