“I’m not the only one with an agenda, Miss Vixen-of-Vengeance,” Talia says, her voice pitching slightly. “Care to call yours off?”
Making sure the choker around my neck is centered, I adjust my own black mask once more. Talia doesn’t know the whole story. I told her about Celeste setting me up, but not what came later at Shelley’s or the fact it dragged on. I just couldn’t put the rest of the painful memories into words. I’d done enough rehashing in my own head to last a lifetime.
If Talia knew everything, she’d pass up her opportunity to interview Mina just so she could help me. But if there’s even a remote possibility she’ll also have a good time tonight, I want her to. She works entirely too much. My gut tells me her own past drives her to succeed, so I want her to take some time out for herself, just once. “Not a chance I’m giving up.” Needing a distraction from dark thoughts about the past, I smirk and flick a foil wrapper in front of my roomie’s face. “Just in case.”
Talia’s cheeks explode with color. “Put that away,” she hisses, smacking my hand.
As I fold it under my fingers to ring the bell, I can’t help but laugh at her muttered “Classy” comment.
While the chimes ring alongside the upbeat dance music playing inside, and Talia’s distracted with her own nervous thoughts, I slip the condom into her cape’s pocket. I do it partially in the hopes she’ll discover it and finally get laid—I can’t believe she’s still a virgin at twenty-one—and partially to keep myself in line.
I learned a long time ago that sex can be as easy as breathing. It’s like playing a game of pool or watching a movie. It’s no big deal, so long as I control the when, with whom, and the how. Without protection, I’ll only be able to get “Celeste” into so much trouble tonight. No wrapper, no body slapper. I have standards.
The real Celeste might deserve more for her part in humiliating me the way she did back then, but I didn’t come here to completely smear her reputation. I’m not evil. I just want to rub away some of that gold, “better than the rest of you” veneer she projects to the world, and reveal her “common person” gritty metal underneath.
Talia and I arrived at the party forty minutes late on purpose. That way it would be in full swing and people would be less likely to pay attention to our entrance. As the butler pulls open the door, my best friend and I exchange knowing glances. He notices our well-chosen “costumes of lowly status,” but doesn’t skip a beat in inviting Celeste Carver and her friend inside.
All the guests should have arrived by now. I open the car door, excitement thrumming through me.
Tonight I’m taking full advantage of this exclusive costume party’s strict “mask and anonymity” rule. Maybe I’ll frolic and play a little.
Through the darkness, two girls walking up the Blakes’ driveway draw my attention. A blonde and a brunette.
I frown and close myself back in the car with a soft click. I don’t recognize the blonde, but the brunette…surprise tightens my chest. At first anger flares, but then I calm down and mutter to myself, “Look who decided to show up after all. Tonight just got a lot more interesting.”
With her face plastered on all the society pages, Celeste Carver is recognizable anywhere, even with her mask. It’s the way she carries herself, that better-than-others stick up her ass, the arrogant tilt of her chin. The girl has the attitude down to a science. My gaze narrows. Pretentious bitch. But no one knows her like I do.
The girls disappear inside and the door closes behind them, muffling the party sounds. Before they showed up, I’d been content to just mingle.
When others don’t know they’re being watched, that’s when their true selves rise to the surface. I could learn a lot that way.
But Celeste’s presence changes everything.
I open the door and slip out, heading to the side of the house, my movements quiet and sure-footed.
I need to know what happens.
I must see her every move.
Study her. So I can own her.
The Blakes’ gorgeous “beach” house, with its sweeping dual stairwells and opulent Italian villa style, is an open floor plan that spreads over to a bank of French doors, where a covered porch, a custom designed pool and private beach stretch beyond. The massive house highlights the wealth of one of the most prominent families in the country. My father’s business didn’t take off until I was in high school. Even now our family business isn’t anywhere near this level, but we now have a house in the Hamptons ourselves.
I grin when the youngest Blake son, Damien, walks straight up to me. His black mask highlighting dark eyes full of wicked intent, he sweeps his short black cape back. Clicking his tall, shiny boots together, he reaches for my hand in an exaggerated formal bow.
Oh the doors Celeste’s face so easily opens. I’m going to enjoy making her have to knock before entering after tonight.
Spinning me around, the rapier at his trim waist swinging with his movements, Damien says, “Celeste, my love. You’re going to be very distracting tonight.”
“Ah, ah...” I wave my finger and drop my voice to bedroom husky. “It’s Naughty Maid Yvette.”
A confident smile crooks Damien’s lips. “Ah yes, Yvette, then. I’m so very happy your plans changed. Would you allow this fox the first dance?”
I internally snicker at his affected Spanish accent, since the Spanish word for fox is zorro. This Blake definitely has a sharp wit. I bat my lashes. “Ah, Z, how can I deny a wily hero such a simple request?”
Gesturing toward Talia, I say, “I’ve brought a plus one. I figured you wouldn’t mind. This is Scarlett.”
As Damien smiles appreciatively at Talia, I notice Gavin’s sudden focused interest in my friend before he starts across the room toward us. He’s the one she’s most worried will recognize her. My stomach tenses and I keep one eye on Talia, while I flirt with Damien.
Then a very tall, broad-shouldered guy dressed in light brown buckskin pants and a matching shirt steps beside Talia just before Gavin reaches her. Clasping her hand, he lifts it to his lips and says, “I think the two ‘hoods’ should dance together for solidarity’s sake. What do you say, Scarlett?”
Once Robin Hood pulls Talia away from Gavin and toward the dance floor, I allow myself to relax and take the glass of champagne Damien hands me. “Shall we dance?” he says as he tugs me the few steps down to the level where the crowd is dancing to an upbeat song.
As we weave through the crowd, a few people apparently recognize Celeste despite the mask and call out her name. One dark-haired guy dressed as Batman grasps my free hand, grinning widely. “Hey, Celeste! I’m glad you made it after all.”
Just as I start to speak to him, a curvy blonde girl in a very revealing harem girl costume runs up, her boobs bouncing as she squeals in my ear. “Celeste!” Draping an arm around my neck in a vise hold, she spins me as she gestures to the crowd. “Look at this rocking party. So glad you made it.”
“Yeah, uh…I couldn’t stay away,” I mumble, shaking off the champagne from my hand her fast movements had sloshed from my glass.
“Ooopsie…guess I’ve had a bit too much champagne,” she whispers loudly in my ear, the smell of alcohol strong on her breath.
“Did you see Gavin, Jordan?” Damien says to the girl. “I think he was looking for you.”
“Really?” Her eyes widen and she swivels around, looking for Gavin. “Where is he?”
While Damien untangles the girl’s arm from my shoulder, then turns her in the direction of the bar, pointing out his brother, Batman guy says in a low voice, “Save me a dance later?”
“Sure,” I say with a shrug just as Damien takes my hand once more. Draining my glass, I set it on a side table, then wave to Batman as my host steers me into the mass of dancing people.
Damien has always been a flirt—I remember seeing him in action in high school, but tonight his hands have a mind of their own. While we engage in light banter about a party Celeste had supposedly attended last weekend
but left before he got there, he slides his hands from my waist to my hips.
“So, Yvette…care to pick up where we left off…” he suggests in a low voice next to my ear, his fingers trailing lightly down my spine and across the top of my rear.
Tensing slightly, I paste on a smile and tilt my head, my grip on his shoulders tightening. “When was that exactly? I’m a little fuzzy on the details.”
Damien barks out a laugh, sliding his hands back to my waist. “I don’t know if I should be insulted or not.” His voice lowers in smug confidence. “But if you need a reminder…” As he leans in close, his warm breath rushes against my neck with his kiss before his brown eyes meet mine. “I haven’t forgotten the image of you standing in that greenhouse, water glistening on your skin after the misting system came on. If we hadn’t been interrupted by Matt, I’d have made good on my promise to make you scream my name that night instead of his. Since Matt’s out of the picture now, I have to believe the fates are shining on me. I’ve enjoyed each time our group has gone abroad and the obscene money we spent, but that weekend trip to Prague last year is one of my all time favorites.”
A weekend trip to Prague? Private jets, estate homes, boatloads of money. I can’t fathom living so extravagantly, even though I can picture what it must be like in my mind’s eye. All that opulence on display. Maybe one day I’ll capture a scene like that to add to my slowly growing portfolio. I took the photography class just to fill an elective requirement, but lately I’ve found it more interesting than my business classes.
“Fate has nothing to do with it.” I breathe out a low, sultry laugh. “I’m sure all the build-up in your mind as to what could’ve happened between us would pale in comparison now.”
“I’m willing to take that risk.” While people dance all around us, he rubs a strand of my long hair that I’d curled in subdued waves instead of the big curls Celeste usually wears. “Are you?” he asks as he edges into my personal space to brush his lips against my cheek.
Before I get a chance to answer, someone taps him on the shoulder. “You’re wanted over at the bar, Damien.” The guy in a formal white military uniform jerks his chin toward the crowded bar. “Something about the beer taps being clogged.”
Damien sighs and releases me. “Keep dancing. I’ll be right back.”
As he starts to walk away, I turn to follow. “I’ll come with you...”
But uniform guy clasps my hand, saying in a low voice for my ears, “Stay and dance with me instead.”
I barely give him a glance as I attempt to shake free of his grasp. “I’m good.” I don’t want to lose sight of Damien. He’s the biggest partier in the Blake family—not to mention the richest guy here—which means he’ll be the center of attention. Celeste needs to be fully in the spotlight tonight when she does something beyond embarrassing.
The fingers around mine tighten, holding me in place. I frown and glance down at his hand on mine. “You can let go of me now.”
“Why are you panting after Damien? Will only a slick billionaire meet your needs…instead of a lowly sailor?”
The arrogant challenge in his tone instantly stiffens my spine. I jerk my attention to his face, ready to lay into him for his assumptions, but I’m thrown off guard by his focused gaze staring at me.
As much as I want to study his defined cheekbones and angular jawline, it’s his green eyes that hold my attention. Even shrouded by his hat’s black bill, they’re the clearest color I’ve ever seen. Lush, Ireland green. And currently full of judgment. Instead of taking the harshness in his tone too seriously—it’s not like he isn’t partially right about my agenda—my thoughts shift to how much I’d like to photograph him.
Shaking my head to get myself back on track, I scan the rest of his face. “You’re not wearing a mask.” As a matter of fact, he’s the only one not following the “masks must remain on or you will be asked to leave” party rule.
He smirks. “Observant.”
“Smartass,” I retort, rolling my eyes. When his eyebrows shoot up as if surprised, I remember that cursing isn’t Celeste’s style. She’ll cut you down to size with her elitist attitude instead. Giving a half-smile, I tilt my head and gesture to his uniform. “Navy branch, right? Since you’re not trying to hide, does that mean you’re really in the military? Or are you just that incredibly arrogant?”
“And astute,” he continues his assessment of me, his mouth crooking in amused appreciation as he runs his thumb along mine. “I’m in the Navy, and yes to your last question too.” A shrug. “I can’t be anything other than who I am, so why fake it.”
His realness disarms me, while the warmth of his touch sets my nerves on edge, taking my stomach on a rollercoaster ride. I ignore the signs of interest blooming and instead focus on my inner “revenge vixen” who’s currently rubbing her hands together in glee. He could be even better than Damien. Celeste would never spend more than a nanosecond socializing with a military guy. Then again, at least one of the Blakes must know him, because he’s walking around unmasked. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Navy, I’m Yvette,” I say, shaking his hand. “When do you ship out again?”
“Day after tomorrow.” Turning, he leads me through the crowd. Once we reach the other side of the dance floor, he tugs me close as we begin to dance to the fast-paced song.
“Leaving so soon?” I say, letting disappointment creep into my tone.
His green gaze heats right before he clasps my waist and bends close to my ear. “I’ve developed a talent for getting to know people who interest me in record time.”
“Really?” I raise an eyebrow as he straightens. “What’s your secret?”
“I state my intentions right up front.” He flashes an unrepentant grin. “Doing so cuts through the BS. Everyone wins.”
The double meaning in his comment is hard to miss. This is probably the fastest come-on I’ve ever had. I love this guy’s swagger. He’s so damn cocky, he’ll at least be fun to verbally spar with. The fact he’s shipping out in two days and prefers to eliminate the BS in his life means he obviously isn’t looking for more. I couldn’t have planned a more perfect scenario. I’ll get to have as much no-strings-attached fun with Mr. Navy-Hot-Pants as I want tonight, while at the same time stirring Celeste’s snobby friends into a frenzy about her slumming it. I can already see their sidelong looks and hear the mumble of hushed gossip circulating around us. Idiots.
As unbidden excitement rushes through me, I laugh and tug free of his hold to grab two flutes of champagne from a passing server’s tray. Turning back, I offer him a glass. “To an evening full of potential conquests…er, interests, Mr. Navy.”
He shakes his head. “I’m staying sober tonight. And there’s only one interest I’m focused on,” he continues, moving closer to me as we dance to the song’s rolling base.
Taking a long sip of my drink, I hold his steady gaze, ready to be enthralled by his methods. Or at the very least…entertained. “So, how do you employ this talent of yours?”
He rests his hands on my hips, the corners of his lips tilting in a predatory smile. “Blunt honesty.”
At least he’s consistent. “Honesty only gets you so far—” I gulp back a gasp when he pulls my hips fully against his. As he moves our locked bodies to the music’s seductive beat, I’m shocked by his aggression, but even more surprised by his obvious erection pressing intimately against me. I quickly down the rest of my drink, letting out a low laugh. “Then there’s the direct approach.”
Determination shines in his green eyes flecked with bits of grey. “Damien’s going to be pissed that I sent him on a fool’s errand, but he’ll just have to get over losing you. I’m not letting you go,” he says in a low rumble, tracing his thumbs slowly down my hipbones.
I try to ignore the chill bumps quickly spreading across my skin from his arousing touch, but the resolute steel in his voice and tightening of his hands on my hips send a shiver of delight rushing through me anyway. I drain half the other glass, appreciating
the warm buzz that’s starting to spread through me. I’m well aware this seduction is all part of his “I must get laid before I ship out” plan for the evening, but for someone who’s in total deception mode tonight, I appreciate the upfront honesty. “I didn’t realize I was a prize to be won.”
“Taken,” he corrects quietly.
His husky double entendre rockets my heart rate. “You’re pretty confident in yourself,” I say evenly while my mind screams, “Love it, damn it!” Any other time I’d be all over this opportunity, but not tonight. Stepping back, I try to slow the mutual attraction down to super sexy verbal fencing. “You…ah, do realize there are two pieces to this puzzle you apparently want to complete.”
Chuckling, he takes my glasses and gives them to another server, then lowers his face close to mine. His hat’s bill briefly shrouding us in our own little shadowed space as he slides his hands around my waist, amusement settling. “Hmm, puzzle pieces...how is it that I’m just now noticing you have so many intriguing angles, Celeste?” His serious gaze drops to my lips, then slowly slides down my neck to my cleavage before moving back to my face. Touching my jawline, he captures my chin with his thumb. “I’m going to enjoy fitting myself against every one of your curves until we lock perfectly into place.”
His seductive metaphor knocks me in the gut, wrecking havoc on my senses. I’m really glad I gave that condom to Talia or I’d get Celeste into so much freaking trouble tonight. I can’t decide if it’s Mr. Navy’s charmingly irresistible confidence that’s doing crazy things to my insides, or his amazing smell.
He’s not wearing cologne like half the guys here, but his clean, crisp scent tightens my chest with an unbidden craving for more each time he draws close, like some kind of perfectly timed pheromone dispenser. My physical reaction to his hold on me is so unnerving that I swallow, hoping to settle the sensation. Just how far can he take this metaphor? Nothing is hotter than a guy with sharp wit. “Let me guess. You’re a master puzzler?”
Gold Shimmer Page 2
