Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 58442 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 292(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58442 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 292(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
Then his lips are on mine. The masks knock together, but it doesn’t make him taste any less addictive, doesn’t make the sensations burning through my body any less real.
“Okay, it works,” I say, moving away.
He keeps his hand on the small of my back, pinning me in place. “You’re not going anywhere. Now, you belong to me.”
“Yes, sir,” I murmur, thinking of the fifty K, of saving the shop, of Grandma.
He keeps his hand on me the whole time until we’re in the grand dining hall. A long table dominates the room with a raised chair at the head of it, where Evangeline sits, wearing the same outfit as earlier. Waiters and waitresses in masks crisscross the room with our d'oeuvres. Men and women in suits and elegant dresses, all masked, talk in small circles.
When Evangeline stands, everyone moves toward the table. I follow Raiden’s lead. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t intimidated. Everyone else seems to know what they’re doing.
Waiters and waitresses bring out glasses of champagne for the fifty-some guests, laying them in front of us.
Evangeline raises her glass. It takes me a beat to follow suit when everyone does the same.
“Welcome, esteemed guests,” Evangeline says in a loud voice. “Strangers, mystery men and women, hidden pleasure seekers and masters of society. Here, you are free to forget about the world, about your responsibilities, indeed, about yourselves. Here, masked, you are no one. And no one is here to judge you.”
“No one,” everyone repeats in unison.
“And everyone is free to be whoever they wish!”
“Everyone,” they all say in unison.
“Drink, and be forgotten! Drink, and never remember!”
Everyone raises their glasses and drinks. I take a small sip, not wanting to get drunk or even tipsy. Many people drain their glasses and then immediately gesture to the waitstaff for another.
“Now what?” I ask, leaning into Raiden.
“There are several rooms we can go to. We can eat, dance, drink, or… do other things.”
Evangeline is looking over at us as the other guests climb to their feet and go their separate ways. Perhaps that’s why Raiden is leaning in so close, why his arm is so obviously wrapped around my shoulders. Like I’m his property.
“We’ll dance,” he says when I don’t reply.
He stands, then offers me his hand, helping me to my feet. I try not to enjoy the relinquishment of responsibility, but it’s difficult.
It’s easier when he takes the lead.
We step into a large hall with a live band playing slow-dance music, all of them wearing masks. Raiden wraps his arms around me and pulls me against him. I lay my cheek against his chest so the mask isn’t disturbed, feeling his strong steady heartbeat, the firmness of his body.
In my memory, he’s naked, his chest corroded with muscle, every sinew of his powerful body tight with need. His manhood was huge, and I wonder…
No, don’t got there. I won’t start thinking about if I can take him.
We’re not doing that.
He gently brushes the hair from my mask, and tucks it behind my ear, then smooths his hand down my back and takes my hand. I go with the flow.
“I’ve never been much of a dancer,” I whisper.
“You’re doing great,” he whispers back.
A couple spins by us.
“Don’t look at anyone else,” Raiden growls. “You only have eyes for me.”
That all too familiar warm tingling pools in my belly. Obeying him is far easier than it should be.
We gaze into each other’s eyes as we dance. It’s simpler with the masks on. Pretending has never felt more natural.
Two songs pass with us pressed together. It’s like our bodies feel none of the doubt, or, at least, I feel. I push that thought away and just try to enjoy it for what it is. A slow dance with a handsome, muscular man.
Constantly monitoring myself, making sure I’m not growing attracted to him, is becoming tiring.
He glides his hand down my body, toward my ass.
“Do you want other people to see this?” I whisper.
“No one else exists. Just us, Aurora. Just my greedy touch and your perfect ass.”
The compliment should mean nothing to me, but it swims through me with an undeniable warmth I can’t tame or ignore. Before his hands come to rest fully on my ass, I place my hand against his chest and gently push away.
“Maybe we could explore the rest of the Retreat.”
He smirks. “Afraid you’ll get too excited?”
Maybe. Just a little.
I seriously shouldn’t have peered into the en-suite.
“Sure,” he says, his smirk never leaving his face. He knows the effect he’s having on me.
He places his hand on the small of my back again, as if sending a message to everyone else. She is mine…
As we walk through the party, it strikes me that I have nothing on my mental to-do list. Normally, there’s a task waiting for me, whether at college or the shop or with Grandma. Now, all I have to do is let Raiden lead me down a windowed corridor and into a beautiful garden.