She stiffens. “No.”
“Daddy dearest going to send your usual ride?”
Annie rolls her eyes and goes to leave. I wrap my fingers around her wrist and draw her close to my side. She struggles, but I’m stronger. I sling an arm around her shoulders and kiss her cheek.
“Have a nice day, honey.”
“Fuck you very much,” Annie seethes, straining against my arm.
“I wish you would,” I remind her. Taking her hand, I put it over my lap and grind my dick into her palm. “All for you, baby.”
Annie makes a disgusted sound and breaks my hold, kicking my shin hard with her chunky heels. I grunt and let her go. My shin throbs and I reach down to rub it through my slacks.
The door slams with more force than necessary and I look up to watch Annie’s pert ass as she walks away. There’s purpose in her strides. She doesn’t shiver at the temperature, despite not wearing a coat. I doubt her black tights are thermal ones. Her skirt moves with a gust of wind and I almost catch a peek of her ass beneath before she clamps the hem in her fingers to keep it in place.
Knowing her, she’ll probably text her personal stylist to buy a new coat and have it hand delivered to campus between classes.
Two undergrad guys in Columbia hoodies check her out as she passes them. Annie doesn’t notice them; they’re invisible to her. But I see the hunger in their eyes and a surge of fire boils my blood.
I clench my fists and breathe through the rush of jealousy. I resist getting out of the car to confront them. Ruining their lives isn’t worth my time or resources, even if I want to blind them for daring to look at my girl.
My gaze swings back to Annie before she rounds the corner. She doesn’t look back.
I settle against the leather seat. Gino pulls the car away from the curb and goes around the block, heading for the Decker Design Solutions midtown offices, which is a cover for the business the organization conducts there.
Dad insisted on my presence specifically at this morning’s meeting. It’s with one of the organization’s supply contacts. Dad wants me to understand how things work. They’re all expecting me to become the same cog in the machine as Dad, stepping into the role to take over for my father directly beneath Uncle Albert.
I hope it’s not soon. I’ll beat up a guy who owes the organization money, like I did last night, or look the other way when the Night Crew pulls up to an active construction site because there’s always a reason the sorry asshole in the backseat with the black bag over his head to muffle his screams got in that position. But I don’t want to take an active part in overseeing those construction sites with Uncle Albert calling the shots.
Annie’s Chanel perfume lingers in the back of the town car. I inhale and close my eyes, tipping my head back against the seat.
My future wife will learn her place by my side. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her. There’s no line I won’t cross.
I want her, that’s for damn sure. But I want to break her over my knee more. I won’t bend over backwards for Annie. She’ll come to understand how things will be between us soon.
Running my fingers through my hair, I let my mind wander with ideas I can’t voice. Annie would be terrified if she saw the dark musings starring her that occupy my thoughts. In my head I’ve made her mine over and over, in thousands of situations and positions.
Every time she bends to my will and begs me for more.
My imagination runs wild, everything from forbidding her from wearing underwear so I could slip into her whenever I want to keeping her chained to my bed with a shackle, naked and waiting for me to fuck her at least twice a day.
My lips quirk and I stretch, picturing her waking me with a blowjob each morning. If she’s good for me, I’ll reward her, eat her out for hours until her thighs shake on either side of my head. Shit, I think I’d give her head even if she was uncooperative. I want to drive her wild with my tongue, relish her sweet cries of pleasure as I taste her. I lick my upper lip and reach down to adjust my erection, giving it a squeeze.
Annabeth Noble drives me crazy in every sense.
As the car arrives in midtown, a thick square of paper on the floor catches my attention. I reach over and retrieve it, flipping it over in my hands before I step out of the car. It’s the invitation for the masquerade gala on New Year’s Eve.
It must have fallen from Annie’s bag in her struggle to get away from me when I dropped her off.
My lips twitch and I salute Gino with the forgotten invite.
“Things are looking up, Gino,” I crow.
Gino nods, stoic as ever, and closes the car door behind me.
As I make my way into the building, I can’t hold back a smug expression as the beginning of a plan forms in my head. I tuck the invitation into the inner pocket of my suit jacket. I finally have a way to show Annie once and for all that she belongs with me.
Five
Cohen
When I pull up to the estate in the middle of nowhere, Uncle Albert is kissing Mom and Dad on both cheeks on the sprawling front steps.
It took me over an hour to drive from the city. I’m surprised Noble and Dad went with a place so remote when Noble owns plenty of places in Manhattan that can accommodate events. I suppose it’s adding to the mystique of the masquerade theme. I grab my metallic silver mask from the passenger seat and climb out.
A valet springs forward and whistles at my sports car.
“Evening, sir,” the kid says.
Nodding, I toss the key fob to him and cross the gravel drive to meet my parents and uncle.
“Cohen!” Mom trills, holding her hands out to me.
“You look like a firecracker in that getup,” Uncle Albert says.
“It’s fashion, Uncle Al.” I smooth a hand over my red velvet lapel and shoot a finger gun at him.
He chuckles and mutters in Italian to my dad, who snorts and responds in kind. Mom swats at them.
“He wants to look nice, so let him. You did the same thing when you were his age to get my attention,” Mom reminds my dad. She belts out a laugh when Dad tries to play it off. “Let’s go in.”
Mom tucks her arm in the crook of Uncle Albert’s elbow and I follow alongside Dad as we enter the estate, one of Victor Noble’s property holdings. I admire the intricate details in the old architecture while my parents get swept into greeting a few higher up guys in the organization. I continue through, following the echoes of the live band playing a jazzy holiday number.
The main ballroom is impressive and huge. Serving staff weave through the guests with towering trays of champagne. I snag one and survey the other party guests. A few wave to me and I nod back. After I slide my silver mask into place, I find Mario leaning against a marble column near one bar wearing a mask with a beak-like nose pointing out of it.
“Your little wifey show up yet?” Mario asks, bumping his fist against mine. Instead of champagne, he’s cradling a whiskey.
“Haven’t seen her yet.”
“She won’t be able to miss you.” Mario looks me up and down and tries to muffle his snickers. “You look like some whack ass devil.”
“It’s dapper,” I scoff.
“Dapper—what are you, sixty?”
“Shut up, asshole.”
I know I look good in the bold red velvet tuxedo. I’m eager to see how Annie reacts to it.
We watch the guests for a while. It’s still early.
“I’m going out for a smoke. Come find me when your girl gets here.” Mario claps me on the shoulder.
“Why?”
“Gino’s out on a job and I promised him I’d take a picture of her fine ass.”
I bite back the growl that threatens to erupt from me, balling my fist at my side. I could knock out another one of his teeth like I did last year when we got in a fight. The implant is well done, so I can’t tell which one is the fake, but I’ll punch him until there are no teeth left if he says any more shit about Annie.
“Her fine ass is all m
ine,” I say in a warning tone. He inclines his head. “And if you and Gino know what's good, you’ll leave her to me. I don’t fucking share.”
Mario shrugs and lifts a palm in surrender. “Just yanking your dick, man. If you’re getting married, it means more pussy for me.”
“Whatever. You have to flash green to get a chick to put out for you.” My mouth slants in a mean grin. “It’s the only way they can live with themselves looking at your sorry face with your cock in their mouth.”
A shadow crosses Mario’s face. “At least my dick gets sucked. Last I heard you haven’t banged any of the girls that hang off your arm. And from what Gino tells me, your little bitch doesn’t put out.”
“Keep going,” I say in a cold voice, grabbing hold of his collar. Mario’s jaw clenches and his attention drops to my fist. “I’ll take you out back and straighten you out.” I jerk his body. “Do not talk about this. And let Gino know the next time I see him? He better fucking run.”
Mario looks like he might try to take me on, but something he spots over my shoulder makes him slump in defeat.
“Do we understand each other?”
“Yeah man,” Mario mutters.
“Good.”
I leave Mario. It’s better to be far away from him in case Annie spots me. I have to make sure she sees me around the party before I put my plan into action.
It takes me a few minutes to calm the violent rage boiling my blood. I take a deep breath and gulp the rest of my champagne.
One of the serving staff stops beside me and leans in to be heard discreetly. “Your garment is being held upstairs.”
“Thank you.” I slip the guy a fifty and select another glass of champagne from his tray.
I have big plans for Annie tonight.
Excitement swirls through me as I lay out my strategy. If it all goes well, in a few hours we’ll be in my sports car heading toward the sunrise and the cabin I bought a while back.
Tonight is about making her mine.
But after I break her, I want to give her everything her father doesn’t.
Finally, I catch sight of Annie across the room.
The corner of my mouth lifts. First things first…
I keep my distance from her, staying within her field of view without approaching her. She needs to think she knows where I am, but I can’t give her too many clues by getting close. Even when her dad and mine borrow a microphone from the band to welcome everyone, I stand with my arm slung around my mom’s shoulders instead of seeking Annie’s company.
“Welcome everyone. Thanks for coming tonight.” Victor squeezes Dad’s shoulder, a shark’s smile on his face. “Not only are we all here to ring in the new year together, but Morris and I are proud to announce that our kids are bringing our families closer than ever.”
Dad takes over. “They’ve known each other since they were toddlers and now they’re tying us together. Join us in congratulating my son Cohen on his engagement to Annabeth Noble.”
Cheers ripple through the room. Annie has her fake smile plastered in place. Uncle Al even sidles over to her and makes a show of cupping her face in his hands and pecking her on both cheeks.
Mom leans over and gives me a kiss on the cheek, too. “You make me so proud.”
“Ma, please,” I protest. I wrap her in a hug and meet Annie’s eyes over Mom’s shoulder.
The look flickering behind her mask is clear to me, even though everyone else falls for her act. The anticipation for what’s coming spurs me on. I give her a cocksure wave and keep my eyes locked on the prize.
Just you wait, little bird.
When I think enough people have seen me, I slip into the shadows of the party and go to the room the server told me of earlier. My prepared garment bag waits. I unzip it and reveal a white tuxedo with classic black silk lapels. Inside the bag there’s also a simple black mask.
Once I change, I peek out through a crack in the door before leaving the storage room a new man.
Annie will have to face the truth that we belong together, because I’m the only one for her.
I’m the only person that can give her everything she needs.
There’s no way she can deny she’s not mine after tonight. Not after I become the dream guy she thinks she wants.
One that will sweep Annabeth Noble off her feet and then bring her world crashing down around her ears when I reveal myself.
Knocking her from her high horse to prove her wrong is going to feel so fucking good.
Six
Annabeth
The event designers have outdone themselves, transforming the building into a magical fantasy. Glitzy elegance drips from every corner. A sea of stars hangs overhead in thousands of tiny lights between the crystal chandeliers.
I’m too stubborn to admit it after all my plans to avoid this party so I could make a run from my life, but it is beautiful.
Dad’s threat was too great to risk, so here I am.
A champagne flute dangles from my fingers. It’s my third—one more than Dad said I was allowed to have. If I have to suffer through the party, I plan to be drunk throughout most of it.
Pleasant warmth fills me as I sway to the music from the live band, head tipped up to marvel at the illusion of twinkling starlight above the crowd.
The party is packed, everyone wearing their masks. At midnight we’re supposed to reveal ourselves. Below the balcony where I watch, people on the dance floor twirl in sleek tuxedos and glamorous designer gowns.
The one I’m wearing is a couture Elie Saab designed for me. It’s cream and encrusted with embroidered beading and Swarovski crystals with a high slit in the skirt to mid-thigh. The full length sleeves are illusion-style and there’s a plunging back that exposes me to every touch as Dad made me greet Mr. Decker and his wife.
It didn’t escape my attention that it could pass as a wedding dress for me to wear to my engagement party.
I stood there with a fake smile nailed in place while Gloria Decker’s eyes lit up. She said I’d make a beautiful bride. My stomach had twisted painfully as I was forced to thank her while she got misty-eyed about her baby boy growing up.
The only small blessing is that Cohen hasn’t found me yet.
I touch the strip of dainty black lace that covers my eyes, my mask for the evening. It’s different from the elaborate carnival masks most other women selected. I wanted something simple that wouldn’t bother me all night.
“A beauty like you shouldn’t suffer the tragedy of an empty glass. Can I offer you another?”
A voice that almost sounds like Cohen behind me makes me jump. I was counting my blessings too soon; he must have found me. I spin around.
It’s not Cohen. I saw him earlier with a velvet red suit and this man looks dapper in his classic white tux with black satin lapels.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you jump.” The tall man with tousled dark hair and a simple black mask smiles, holding up a fresh glass of champagne. “In my head this played out a lot more debonair. There was swooning involved.”
I raise an eyebrow and a smile plays in the corner of my mouth. “Swooning? You’ve got the wrong girl. Maybe the wrong century, too.”
He steps closer, leaning against the intricate stone balustrade. His attention sweeps over the party below. For a moment, his profile looks like Cohen and I stiffen. But then the mystery man turns back and grants me a charming smile. This one actually reaches his eyes.
Cohen doesn’t smile like that.
“Here.”
The guy offers me the glass again and I take it, setting my empty one on the tray of a passing server. I take a small sip and survey the guests below.
“That one.” He points out a middle aged man with a flashy red mask on the dance floor shaking his backside in front of a woman half his age. Mystery Guy tosses me a crooked, playful grin.
“What about him?”
I haven’t decided whether this man is friend or foe. Maybe he’s just trying to flirt with me thinking
I’ll be an easy lay if he butters me up with some chivalry and banter. He probably arrived late and missed Dad and Mr. Decker’s big announcement kicking off the party, declaring my engagement to Cohen.
Either way, I know it would piss Cohen off if he found me enjoying myself with someone who isn’t him. I plan to enjoy myself and half-hope he finds us just to see his reaction.
That’ll get him back good for the car incident the other day.
“Wall Street shark,” he says. “Secretly wears lacy garter belts, but only his secretary knows because the poor dude was accidentally copied in on an email with photographic evidence meant for Wall Street’s mistress.”
A snort escapes me and I smother it with the back of my hand. Mystery Guy grins, soft gaze traveling over my face as I laugh.
“I hope the secretary has a good therapist,” I say after I recover. I decide to play along with his game. Smoothing a hand over my gown I search and point out my pick. “There.”
“The lady with the bee theme going on?”
The woman in question is in a garish bright yellow and black bandeau-style dress. She’s wearing a gold mask with flower details and her hair is piled high on her head like a hive.
“That’s the one. Three time divorcee—she cleans them out every time. Part-time Domme with a collection of rainbow butt plugs.” I toss Mystery Guy a sharp smirk. “Absolute cougar in the sack.”
Mystery Guy claps his hands together in delight while we snicker, leaning against each other. I catch the scent of his aftershave, a clean and fresh smell that I like so much more than the harsh and spicy cologne Cohen wears.
Our game continues. We take turns picking out unsuspecting party guests to give hilarious secret life stories. After a few minutes I tip my head to the side.
“Do you have a name, or should I keep calling you Mystery Guy in my head?”
“Tall, Dark, and Handsome,” he jokes.
“Okay, but really.”
“Husband material?”
I roll my eyes and huff out a laugh. “For real.”
Unmasked Heart Page 3
