Iris

Anxiety made dinner taste like sawdust, but I dutifully shoveled in every bite of my meal while Garrett watched with a smirk twisting his lips. Lexi, sitting across the table and too far away to make conversation, snuck glances at the two of us whenever she could. I did my best to ignore her.

It was only after I set my fork down and put my hand over my full stomach that I wondered if I'd made a mistake. Better to be hungry than bloated while trying to look sexy for a man. Especially one who believed you were some sort of sex kitten.

When dessert was served, the first speaker took the podium, and the hum of conversation in the room lessened only slightly. I tried to be polite and professional and listen to her talk, but the heavy weight of Garrett's hand on my thigh created a dull roar in my ears. A roar that turned to alarm bells when his hand slipped through the slit of my dress and slid to my inner thigh.

"Cheesecake or chocolate cake?" The server asked, hovering beside our table with a tray.

"Ch-cheesecake," I squeaked out.

"I think I'll pass. Neither is quite what I'm in the mood for," Garrett said, his pointer finger sliding long the seam of my pussy.

My teeth nearly cracked on my fork as I clamped down around the tines to stifle a gasp. Creamy sweetness flooded my mouth as moisture pooled between my legs.

"I can check the kitchen," the server replied, blissfully unaware of the act of debauchery happening right in front of him.

"No need. I might have a bite of my friend's here if I change my mind."

The rough pad of his finger settled over my clit, applying a gentle pressure that had me leaning forward in my seat. My hand shook as I cut another bite, and a low moan escaped as Garrett started making circular motions around the sensitive spot.

"Maybe I should have gotten the cheesecake," the woman at my side said—maybe Emma—if a gun was to my head right now, I couldn't say for sure that was her name. Every single one of my senses was zeroed in on the pleasure happening between my legs.

"Garrett," I hissed as he continued to rub, edging me closer toward the precipice.

My breasts threatened to spill out as my breathing quickened. God, this was so much better than any toy I'd ever used. I usually had to spend at least thirty minutes creating wicked scenarios in my head to get close to an orgasm. If anything distracted me, it retreated far faster than it had arrived. Garrett had been touching me for less than five minutes, in a crowded room, and I was ready to explode.

The fork clattered to my plate, and I reached between my legs, grabbing his hand to hold him against me as I came with a shudder. His green eyes never left mine as pleasure rolled through me. When the last tremor faded, he pulled his hand back, raised the finger still wet with my come to his lips, and sucked it clean.

"Delicious," he whispered.

"What was that?" I asked, my limbs limp as I tried to pull myself together.

"The appetizer," Garrett replied.

"I can't believe you just did that." Picking up my water, I pressed the chilled glass to my overheated cheeks.

"You're the one who picked the dress." Hunger grew in his gaze as he raked his eyes over me. "I think I'd like you to leave it on when we get to the room."

"What has gotten into you?" I whispered, gripping his arm and wishing desperately that we could skip out on the rest of this dinner party—prize or no prize. If that was just a taste of what our night was going to be like, I was going to be ruined after this. Celibacy and vibrators would never do again.

"It's all you, Ivy."

He was going to kiss me. Right in front of all these people. His peers. And that somehow felt more scandalous than what he'd just done to me underneath this table.

But before his lips could claim mine, the speaker at the podium said, "And now we would like to announce the winner of this year's Seed Pitch to James, Jones, and Associates."

Thunderous applause broke out, and in a blink, Garrett shifted into a model businessman. He straightened his tie and stood, shaking hands with those closest to him as he headed toward the stage. Pride filled me as he accepted the massive prop check from a man I assumed was Simon Thornton. I'd missed his introduction since I'd been too preoccupied with coming on Garrett's hand. I made a mental note to include a scene like that in my book.

Holy crap, Iris. 

How did I go from not wanting to write a sex scene to coming up with an excuse to include more? It was all him, and I was going to give him everything.