by RaeLynn Blue
www.beautifultroublepublishing.com
Copyright © 2013 by RaeLynn Blue
All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or shared in any form, including but not limited to: printing, photocopying, faxing, recording, electronic transmission, or by any information storage or retrieval system without prior written permission from the authors or holders of the copyright.
This book is a work of fiction. References may be made to locations and historical events; however, names, characters, places and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination and/or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead), businesses, events or locales is either used fictitiously or coincidental. All trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, and registered service marks are the property of their respective owners and are used herein for identification purposes only.
Published by
Beautiful Trouble Publishing, LLC
PO Box 61
Colfax, NC 27235
www.beautifultroublepublishing.com
Cover Art: Marteeka Karland
Editor: Rory Olsen
Proofreader: Novellette Whyte
http://authorgurunovellette.blogspot.com/
Formatter: Jim & Zetta, http://www.jimandzetta.com/
E-book Conversion: Jim & Zetta, http://www.jimandzetta.com/
ISBN: (ebook) 978-1-61788-306-4; (print) 978-1-61788-307-1
For Mrs Rhonda. She loved interracial erotic romance, and she loved Dante’s role in Cashmere Sky. Always ready to party, Miss Rhonda knew how to have a good time. This one is for you, great lady. Heaven is more saucy and absolutely more colorful.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thank you Shara and Dréa for reading multiple drafts of this story.
NOTE ABOUT EBOOKS
eBooks are NOT transferable. Re-selling, sharing or giving away eBooks is a copyright infringement. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the author or Beautiful Trouble Publishing.
CAVEAT
This work may contain adult language and sexually explicit scenes. This book is intended only for adults, as it is defined by the laws of the country in which the purchase is made. Keep this book out of the hands of under-aged readers.
Chapter One
The blaring sound of techno-pop thundered through the speaker system of the hotel conference room. The DJ spun tracks from a small corner, but no one really danced except for a handful of partygoers encouraged by booze and bravado. That would change as the night went on. Dante Divine stood at the back of the room, closest to the three sets of entrance doors. Snacks lined a set of fabric tablecloths, but all around the room, sofas, loveseats, and sectional furniture had been situated for more intimate encounters later. Most of the room’s light came from the whirling light show and strategically placed nightlights. Alcohol and laughter permeated the air, made it feel alive and animated. The collective nervousness left, and the hum of conversations rose as an undercurrent to the music. Dante stood back to observe her work as another freak party commenced. Positioned like elegant vases on pedestals, big fishbowls filled with multicolored condoms waited. Her security detail—dressed incognito—roamed through the room, watching the guests closely. Tomfoolery had no place here. Sure, people signed a waiver that reiterated no meant no, but that didn’t stop some of them from lying or acting on their baser instincts.
“Y’all look divine in here tonight!” the DJ shouted into his microphone.
A wave of cheers whirled in response.
Dante smiled, but it melted just as quickly as it had arrived. Nowadays she had to work hard for the fake wattage.
Years ago, she would’ve been one of them—actively walking around in her black lace teddy and six-inch stilettos, surveying the clients, looking for someone to become her own nightly entertainment. Well not just her own, but someone to play with her and her lover, Marcus. Marcus. A pang in her heart banged before she closed it up again. She’d kept the stilettos but dropped the lingerie and Marcus. For her, the costumes, the theatrics, and the drama of freak parties had diminished. None of the pleasure lasted. After thousands of parties like this one, Dante’s desire had been hollowed out, worn down by the sheer monotony of it.
She sighed and sipped some champagne from her gold leaf-rimmed flute. How could something so beautiful and emotional become so mundane and apathetic? She hungered for more—something that mattered. This was a Divine party, which meant everyone had to wear white, blond, cream, or royal purple. Rocking a cream V-neck blouse and ivory dress pants, she still managed to collect invitations from people to join them back in their rooms.
“Even fully clothed, you ooze sexuality.” Kenshin Sato offered his unique type of invitation. His warm tenor was like silk across her neck.
Suppressing a sigh at the feel of his voice, Dante swallowed her more immediate reply. “Ooze? Like a rotting sore?”
“No. Like it’s so tangible and thick, a seductive honey everyone wants to taste, to savor…” He purred this last into her ear, instantly making her hot.
Closing her eyes to stave off the flash of desire, Dante took a deep breath, adjusted her weight to her other leg, and tried to resist him. Kenshin was a flirtatious client, a regular at both her Inferno and Divine parties. Tonight, he wore an ivory mask à la Phantom of the Opera. It covered all but his pink lips, but she knew his voice too well. His dark hair fell like a curtain around his face.
“There are over a hundred people in here—all ready to get their freak on. But I am not one of them.” She gestured to the crowd of people congregating around sofas, food, and television. Already some pairings had taken place. Kissing, touching, and all-out foreplay erupted between couples and sometimes groups. She paused and listened. Already the soft moans and gentle noises of people shifting into various stages of engaging their lusts sounded in her ears.
She opened her eyes in time to see the frown on Kenshin’s face. Almost immediately, it was gone. The playful, jolly persona he sported at parties was back—sorta. His eyes spoke of his disappointment.
“You know I hate to be teased.” She sounded so mournful that she wanted to retract the words. They didn’t mesh with the sexy, laid-back euphoria unfurling around her and Kenshin.
He nodded and turned his gaze to the dance floor, where a trio of scantily clad women danced together. With loud encouragement of the surrounding voyeurs, the women wrenched up their level of sexual bravado.
Dante took that moment to look at Kenshin—a habit of which she never tired. Dressed in fitted, bleached-khaki pants, a soft yellow button-down shirt, and shoes, he looked like every other businessman at the Divine party—with a catch. He resembled a model; the others, merely businessmen. These tamer gatherings required people to be fully dressed and catered to clients who wanted a more refined party. By contrast, Inferno parties set sexual fantasies on fire. Scorched inhibitions to ashes. The Divine parties, well, were divine, Olympus-type gatherings, hence the white dress code and royal ambiance.
Unlike most of her clients, Kenshin didn’t discriminate; he came to both types of parties.
The first time she saw him had been at an Inferno party in Kenosha, Wisconsin. A small gathering, she had thrown it together last minute at the behest of a local politician. Thinking back, she recalled she had worn these exact same stilettos, a hot pink corset, garter, and nude stockings. She liked that corset! Her matching studded collar had caught his attention, thus bringing the gorgeous man into her orbit. He’d placed his muscularly fit torso on display for the Inferno members. Speechless, she’d had to force words through her own gaping and salivating mouth just to answer his questions. Because of the nature of her business, she’d seen thousands of men nude,
but Kenshin blew the others away. Her buttoned-up Asian was fine. His dragon tattoo, a jade-green, ornate illustration crawled over his right arm, down his torso, and across the beginning of his abs. With intricate details and vivid colors, it stole her breath. Muscles, cut and well defined, caused the dragon to ripple when he walked, lifted a wineglass, or groped an ass. Floored, she’d wanted nothing but him that night, but so did many others—paying others. Backing off, she’d attended to her duties as a hostess, leaving others to swoon over him.
At times, she regretted her decision not to press for his attention that first night.
Taking another clarifying breath, she pushed the idea and the memory of Kenshin’s athletic body and his roaring dragon out of her mind. She did love the Japanese, but physical attraction meant very little to her anymore. She longed for something more substantial.
“So, go after that cute little blonde in the Greek toga,” she suggested to him. To her it sounded halfhearted, and she figured Kenshin would pick up on it too.
“There are none like you. Trust me. I have tried to find them. They do not exist.”
“That’s a very kind thing to say, and it is true. There’s only one Dante. But I’m not on the menu.”
“Even better. I want you all to myself.” Kenshin turned around to face her.
Dante laughed until he stepped in front of her, blocking her view of the dance floor, hell, blocking her view of everything. He pushed his mask into his hair, revealing his face. Gazing down at her, his almond-shaped eyes seemed to glow like melted chocolate. He smelled expensive and exotic. Wrapped up in his close proximity, his scent, and the thudding heat of his body, Dante squeezed her thighs together to try to satisfy the budding arousal. The look of lust on his face made her even hotter.
“I’m hosting. I can’t…”
“You have beforethat time in Kenosha”
“It’s different now,” she said, avoiding eye contact. Something about the sincerity in his eyes pricked her resolve.
Dante stepped back from him before her senses made her do something she could regret. Not that she really thought she would regret being with him, but she’d made a promise to herself that she wouldn’t engage in brief encounters. The emotional havoc wasn’t worth it.
He scowled in confusion. “Are you pregnant?”
She smiled and decided to share her secret. “Really? No, Kenshin. I’m retiring. This is my last party. So, I want to savor it.”
His face fell. “What? Why?”
Poor guy. He really must love her parties! Perhaps that was all he had in his life. Shaking her head, she touched his arm to comfort him. “I know you enjoy my parties, but there are others.”
He smirked. “You don’t understand, Dante.”
“No, really, I do. I get it. My parties are the best, but there are others. I’ve got contacts. Some in Madison too. It’s a drive but…”
Kenshin threw back his head in obvious frustration. He leveled a look at her that gave her pause. Clearly, she’d missed something.
“You must forgive me. You’re right. I can attend any party. But I don’t come to these parties for the food, the entertainment, or the dancing.”
“So, why else attend a party?” Dante was thoroughly confused about the situation. If he can get food and adventurous sex at any freak party, what is his problem?
“For you. I come to these parties for you, Dante.”
Chapter Two
Raw energy raced through the partygoers. It prickled Kenshin’s skin. He could tell Dante felt it too. Dante had been trying to fight it off since he’d seen her walk in. Closing herself off from the others, she stood apart from the scent, sounds, and sensuality scampering through the room. She hadn’t realized that all it did was make her more attractive to him. Around them, conversations dwindled down to moans and cries for more and the faint pants of hurried breaths. Already the dance floor gave testament to the fact that all pretense of partying had dissolved. Couples and a few trios had carved out spaces on the couches, chairs, and floors. Some people left to go upstairs to hotel rooms. Kenshin only wanted one partner tonight.
Dante.
“I-I’m sorry?” Dante said. “I don’t understand what you mean.”
She knew exactly what he meant. They both knew it. In all the years he’d attended her parties, he’d never failed to let her know his attraction to her. The problem resided in the fact that most people wanted Dante too. How could he blame them? Even now, with her hair curled into loose, supple waves, she looked incredibly sexy. Her breasts filled out the V-neck blouse in such a way that it made other women envious and horny at the same time. He wanted to nibble along her neck and cup her sizable bosom. The light color of her blouse warmed her already toffee skin, and her grace and confidence transported mundane clothing into a sensual outfit.
“I only attend these for you—to see you, to talk to you, to be near you.” He brushed his fingers across her cheek, slowly so as to not startle her.
She turned her head, leaning out of his reach. “I’m sorry, Kenshin. I can’t do this anymore.”
“You’ve invested so much into your business…”
“You don’t have to tell me.”
He stopped and nodded. A sick feeling rolled through his stomach. This didn’t seem to be going well. Kenshin couldn’t let her get away. It was now or never. He’d watched her for years. Longing uncoiled inside him. He’d respected her open relationship with a man she called Sugar Bear. Yet, for Kenshin, she had always seemed so sad. If she had him, she would never need others to fill the vacancy inside her. Obviously her ex-boyfriend failed to see her need and damn sure couldn’t fill it.
“Go play,” Dante said, walking away.
With interest, he watched her stroll away. The ivory slacks cupped her ass like his hands itched to do. He imagined his stiff rod gliding between her tight buttocks. With a smile, she caught him looking, winked, and waved bye to him over her shoulder.
She can’t just walk away. Not now. I’m so close.
“Hear me out!” Kenshin hurried to her. “It sounds like you need a break.”
Dante sighed and spun on her heels to face him. She crossed her arms under her breasts and tried to keep her face blank. But he saw how her body reacted to him, and he watched her battle its hunger for him. Throughout their shared time together, Kenshin had fallen in love with her spirit, her candor, and her savvy. Some people wrote her off as just a superior lay. He saw beyond her luscious body. Dante was complex, smart, and business savvy—one hell of a woman.
“What are you playing at, Kenshin? What exactly is your game?” She looked at him with suspicion. This time she fully met his gaze. There, in those dark depths, hope flickered.
“There’s no game. I mean to make you mine.”
“Is this what you want? A sexy black woman in your arms?” She pressed closer to him.
“Yes.” His body on autopilot, he slipped his arms around her. This was heaven, a dream come true. Divinity in his arms. Dante.
“Once you have this wonderful package all sexed down in your bed, will your life be complete?” she whispered softly.
Her champagne-scented breath was cool against his face. Sweet. He couldn’t wait to taste her.
So he nodded and pressed his lips to hers. He closed his eyes and tried to deepen the kiss. Right before his cheek burned and he was stumbling backward. His eyes opened and he blinked to clear the mist of horniness. It took about two seconds to register. She’d slapped him!
“Dante!”
“You are just like every other horny-ass man here! I’m not some expensive, exotic piece of ass!” she growled at him, keeping her voice low to avoid disturbing the party. With her fists balled up and her chest heaving, she swore before storming off.
“No, no, Dante! Wait!”
Damn his hunger. He obviously hadn’t heard her tone. With his head a lot more clear, he cursed at her trap. She’d deliberately tested his motives, and he’d failed—epically. When he tried to fol
low her, two large men barred his path. Ren and Rob shook their heads. Dressed in white tuxedos, the security guards resembled two ivory pillars.
“Let me pass.” Kenshin had to explain to her that he didn’t just want her for sex.
“Ms. Divine said for you to either stay here or exit the hotel.” Ren’s long blond hair had been tied tightly behind him in a sleek ponytail. It seemed at odds with his polished clothes.
“You two know me. Have I ever hurt her? Or any woman?”
“No means no,” Rob added. His scarlet-red hair had been tied back like Ren’s. “Divine Party’s golden rule.”
“She didn’t tell me no.”
Ren looked at Rob. “He is the first guy to really get under her skin.”
“She has been moody lately,” Rob agreed.
“We should see where this goes,” Ren said.
“You can always tell her I used my martial-arts skills to kick your asses,” Kenshin suggested.
Ren and Rob chuckled. “As if she’d believe that.”
Kenshin growled from deep in his throat. His patience with them waned. “Please.”
Ren nodded. “She’s in suite 1001. But one scream from her and I’ll snap your neck.”
He hurried beyond the guards and out into the hotel’s lobby with Ren’s warning fading from his memory. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt Dante. Besides, she would probably stab him with her stiletto herself. Both elevator cars headed up, so Kenshin took the stairs. He pushed through the doors to the stairwell and raced up. His sole goal was to catch her before she entered her suite. Once that door closed and locked behind her, he’d be shut out.
Sweating and panting with excitement, he reached the tenth floor. Only a few doors lined the hall. Dante’s scent lingered and he hurried to catch her. Already at her suite’s door, she seemed lost in thought, seemingly oblivious to the sound of him walking quickly behind her. She opened the door and stepped into the suite. Running, he managed to slip inside the closing door.
