Voyeur Extraordinaire by Cora Reilly Page B

hot.”
    My cheeks heated and I didn’t know what to say. After a moment, Amy clapped her hands. “Let's get you ready. There’s still so much to do.”
    “Great,” I muttered sarcastically, but Amy had already disappeared into the bedroom. I followed after her. She’d laid out my dress on the bed.
    “Make up first.” She waved me over to her vanity and with a last longing glance toward the dress, I walked up to her and sank down on the chair she was pulling out for me. In the next hour, Amy did my make up and used a curling iron on my hair.
    I had to admit that Amy had done a marvelous job. My hair was falling in small ringlets down my back and the dark eye shadow set off my blue eyes. We’d gone light on the rest of the make-up because we wanted to focus on my eyes – according to Amy. A bit of lipgloss and rouge completed the look.
    “Now the dress,” Amy said.
    I picked it up and slipped it over my head, relishing in the feel of the soft fabric as it slid over my skin. Amy helped me zip it up. I put on my black high heels, then I faced the floor length mirror beside Amy’s and Jared’s bed. I turned around myself to see my body from every angle. “Thanks, Amy. I couldn’t have done this without you.”
    “No hugging,” Amy warned when I took a step toward her. “It’ll ruin your make-up.”
    I snorted.
    “I’m so glad we found this dress,” Amy continued. “You look sexy enough to catch Adrian's interest but not too sexy. We don’t want him to get the wrong impression.”
    Maybe I wanted him to get the wrong impression. 
    “We are aiming for the sexy-aloofness-look.”
    Whatever.
    I was so nervous, I doubted I'd be able to pull off the sexy-aloof act. I was already doubtful if I'd even manage the sexy act. Or the sane person act.
    Amy touched my arm. “You look nervous.”
    I swallowed. “I am.” I laughed. “Stupid, I know.”
    “No, ” Amy said. “Just be yourself.”
    I couldn't help but wonder , would being myself be enough? So far being myself had only caught the attention of clingy Chris.
    “And remember, don’t think you owe him anything. Even if he’s charming, even if he pays for dinner, even if every woman he’s ever dated jumped into bed with him after the first date, you make the decision. If you don’t feel like having sex, then don’t. You should be absolutely sure you want it, especially with a guy like Adrian.”
    “Okay,” I said quietly.
    My hands were trembling and my heart was pounding so fast, it felt like it was going to burst my ribcage. I was worried about doing something wrong. I wanted this date to be perfect. I wanted to be perfect. Maybe then Adrian would see that one person could be enough, that one woman was enough.
    “I better leave now,” I said in a bare whisper. Amy gave me a worried look but before she could say more, I hurried out of their apartment and into my own. I closed the door and took a deep breath. I chanced a look at the clock. Adrian would pick me up in ten minutes and I was close to hyperventilating. I knew I was overreacting, but I couldn't stop. Calm the fuck down, I told myself. I wanted this. I’d wanted Adrian pretty much from the moment I first laid eyes on him having sex with the redhead. I reminded myself of the way his butt tensed with every thrust, of his muscled chest, of the look of rapture on his face when he came. My heart was still racing but it wasn’t nervousness alone anymore. Tonight was my chance to be the woman in Adrian’s bed. Tonight I’d make all my dreams come true. I wouldn’t mess it up.

Chapter Eleven
     
     
    T he bell rang out, and my heart might have stopped for an instant, only to start racing a second later. I took a look at my reflection, satisfied that it wasn't obvious how nervous I felt. This was just a date. Nothing special. No need to feel nervous.
    Yeah, right.
    I smoothed the non-existent wrinkles in my dress and strode toward the door, trying to look confident and sexy. I grabbed the