Corden

My mind has been reeling since the meeting with my mother two nights ago. In order to convince her I'm prepared to handle my inheritance, I have to settle down, and I stupidly told her I'm dating Carmen, who has no idea we're dating. In fact, she's dating someone else, and the knowledge of that leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

I've watched her spin around the pole for the past hour, but there hasn't been a time to bring up the lie I told. How am I supposed to tell her that we're fake dating? I don't want to face her wrath and risk getting kicked out of her life for the second time, but thankfully, when she joins me on the couch, she makes a perfect segue without me having to try.

"I should probably mention that Sienna offered for me to spend Thanksgiving with your family at the big event your mom is hosting." Dressed in a lilac purple number tonight, Carmen is a sight for sore eyes. I'm drawn to the see-through mesh material of the one-piece hardly covering her nipples until she clears her throat, bringing me back to the present. "Will it bother you if I'm there?"

I shrug and sink further into the couch. "No. Should it?"

"I mean, no, but..." She waves around the room. "We're doing this in private, and we're trying to keep this lifestyle a secret. If anyone finds out..."

"I've been a good actor so far, have I not? Will Archer be attending as your plus one?"

"No. Sienna and I have always spent Thanksgiving with each other. With her estranged family and mine across the world, it can get pretty lonely. My aunt passed two years ago, so it's just been me and her. Riley is spending it with her parents, and now that Sienna is with Lincoln she offered me an invite to attend with them so I won't spend the holiday alone, but I don't have to come. I'll be fine just ordering Chinese takeout and binging some movies at the apartment."

I scoff. "I'm offended you think I'd let you spend the holiday alone. We've kept the act up this long, right? What's another night?"

This is the perfect time to tell her I told my mother we're dating, but words fail me. I'm embarrassed to tell her I had to stoop so low to get this money, but it's crucial to the entire operation. If I don't secure my inheritance, I'm a dead man walking.

"I guess you're right. How fancy is this party? Should I be worried?"

I tilt my head to the side, amused. "Worried how?"

"I mean should I brush up on my table etiquette? Learn what each fork is used for?"

I snort. "Probably. As I said, I haven't attended in years, but from what I remember, yes. It's fancy."

"Is there a reason you haven't been to the party in years?" Carmen studies me like she always does after our sessions. It used to be strictly dancing, but lately, it's been our long conversations afterward that I look forward to the most. I enjoy getting to know her thoroughly, and I said I'd be open with her, so I give her another piece of me that no one else knows.

"After my dad passed, going home hasn't felt the same. It brings up memories I'm not prepared for, and the holidays are particularly difficult I guess." The reason sounds ridiculous, but Carmen doesn't make it seem that way. Her eyes soften in a way that lets me know she's truly listening, and it's been a long time since I've allowed myself to be this vulnerable with someone.

It feels good.

"I'm sorry you have to deal with that," she whispers. "I can only imagine how painful it must be to be in your childhood home after...everything."

I rest my arm on the back of the couch, careful not to push my luck too far. It's agonizing not to touch her. I'm used to getting any woman I want, but Carmen is more than just the chase. I'm infatuated with her. Like two nights ago when she told me about her village. She used to live there before moving to America. She was animated as she explained childhood games and the inside jokes she had with her friends there. I didn't understand them all, but I found myself smiling at how happy it made her to reminisce about it.

She's different. She's not a socialite like my mother who cares about status, and although she enjoys name-brand clothing and luxurious designers, it doesn't center around who she is at the core. It's for that reason that she deserves the finer things in life, and if my mother is going to believe she's my girlfriend, Carmen needs to be dressed in something finer than Target. Not that she wouldn't look incredible in whatever she found there, but if she's with me? I'll give her anything she wants.

"Enough about me. Do you have something to wear to the party this weekend?" I ask.

She purses her lips together, deep in thought. "I'm sure I have something in my closet."

That won't do.

"What is the one designer brand you've always wanted to wear?"

"I'm not answering that."

"Because...?"

"Because I know what you're doing, and I'm not accepting any more gifts from you, Corden. We aren't dating."

The thought irks me. I have no idea what she's doing with Archer, but I know it won't last. Carmen isn't going to settle for a domestic lifestyle, or maybe I don't know her well enough yet. Maybe I have a bad case of tunnel vision, only seeing what I want to see because deep down, I hope she's the woman who will accept the craziness I call my life. I've never trusted someone this much. Never fallen into a predicament where I could trust someone this much. Carmen is the only woman who has seen both versions of my life, and I don't plan on letting her slip away.

"Do you ever wonder what it would be like if I hadn't been such an idiot?"

She gulps, diverting her eyes to the stage rather than look at me. The sultry music floating through the speakers creates a romantic ambiance that only increases the tension of the question. "What do you mean?"

"I mean if I hadn't let you walk away and had decided to open up sooner, do you wonder what it would be like?"

"I have a boyfriend," she replies. "So, no. I haven't thought about it. Have you?"

"Too much." The response is immediate, and subconsciously or not, Carmen inches closer, her knee almost touching mine.

"What do you... I mean, how do you envision it? You know, if things worked out between us?"

"Well, for starters, you'd be spending a lot of time at either the warehouse or the townhome I rented. Delano would have a field day getting to know you. I'd take pleasure in buying you what your pretty little heart desires most, and that's not to entice you to change your mind, it's just the truth. You're fucking stunning, Carmen. It's only right that you're draped in the most luxurious fabric created."

Her breath hitches when I reach out to twirl a braid of hers around my fingertip, smiling softly. "I think it'd be fun showing you the life I've hidden from everyone. Introducing you to the people I've grown fond of since my father passed. We'd probably have a lot of nights making frozen pizza in the kitchen, and this time..." My eyes drag down to her exposed collarbone, then dip to her breasts which are on full display. "I respect that you're being faithful to Archer, but Carmen, if I ever get the chance to make frozen pizza with you again, I'm sure as hell not going to decline your offer to get on your knees for me."

Her eyebrows fly to her hairline. "Corden."

"I know. I know it's inappropriate, but I had to say it. I think about it all the time. In fact, I probably wouldn't let you get on your knees for me. I'd get on my knees for you. Something I've never done for a woman before." I don't miss the way her pulse thrums harder or how her pupils dilate at the thought. "Would you like it if I did that? If one of the most dangerous men in New York completely submitted to you? Worshipped you?"

I swear I hear a whimper, but she quickly recollects herself and clamps her thighs together. "I think our session today is up." When she rises to her feet, I catch her by surprise and take advantage of her back being exposed to me. I dip two fingers into the lingerie piece and flip the tag up so it's exposed, thankfully catching the size before she whirls around, goosebumps spread across her skin.

"What are you doing?" It's meant to be snappy, but she sounds breathless.

Normally, it'd be rude to grab a woman's clothing size like that, but Carmen won't tell me, so I had to take matters into my own hands. She deserves to feel like the most beautiful woman in the room this weekend, so that's exactly what I intend to do.

"You'll see. Have a nice night, Hadari."