Elijah scooped a heaping spoonful of garlic mashed potatoes onto his plate. “This has to be Austin’s doing. His wife probably demanded a large wedding but he got to pick the caterer.”
They sat down at an unreserved table with other strangers and then a waiter came by with a bottle of champagne to fill their glasses. Annalise sipped the drink gingerly as she and Elijah ate their delicious meal and chatted with the others around them. The groom stopped by their table a while later and Elijah stood to hug him.
“Austin, I want you to meet Annalise Gallagher.”
The handsome brunet shook her hand and then his eyebrow rose as though he recognized her. “You’re the girl from the museum?” Austin turned to Elijah and slapped him on the back. “It’s about damn time you asked her out. You swoon over her every time she comes in for one of your tours and then you mope if you don’t see her at least once a week.”
“Swoon?” A smile spread across her face as Elijah blushed scarlet. “Please, do tell.”
“No, that’s enough. Go back to your wife, Austin, before I make her a widow.” Elijah gently shoved him and Austin went along with it.
“Details, man. I want details when I come back from Hawaii,” Austin called out before he turned around and skipped happily to another table.
Elijah turned back to Annalise who stood next to him with her arms crossed under her bosom. “I’m sorry about that. He’s lost his mind and—”
“So you don’t swoon or mope where I’m concerned?” Annalise loved the way he hesitated. She felt sassy and desired, and she wanted Elijah to pour his heart out to her.
“Would you like to dance?” He cast his gaze around the busy, noisy area and then indicated the people at their table with a nod of his head. The strangers talked amongst themselves and didn’t appear to pay him or Annalise any attention. The reception occupied three different dining areas, all of which led to the ballroom. Elijah tucked her hand between his side and arm before she could answer and escorted her to the dance floor.
“Sure, I’d love to dance.” Annalise laughed as Elijah wrapped his arms around her waist.
Soft, classical music played from discreet speakers as several couples swayed to the music and several more chatted around the outer circle of the dance floor. She assumed the band left after the ceremony. Her heart pattered uncontrollably in her chest as his lips curled up in what she could only call the sweetest smile ever.
“Well, if it makes you feel better, I feel the same way.” Annalise kept her gaze locked with Elijah’s as they slowly spun on the floor. “I’ve liked you since the first time I saw you but I thought you never noticed me. I’m surprised you recognized me today since I look so different.”
“I always thought you were pretty, Annalise, but then I saw you today and I couldn’t believe it. You’re stunning, and Austin may be a jackass, but he’s right. The highlight of my week is when I see you at the museum. I don’t think I mope but I am disappointed when you don’t come in.”
Annalise trailed her fingers along the back of his neck. Tingles sparked under her fingers and she felt protected beneath his broad shoulders and towering frame. His arms tightened around her and she laid her head down on his chest. His spicy, masculine scent filled her lungs as she nuzzled his jacket and Annalise wished she never had to exhale. Curious as to how tall she was in her new Cinderella body, she estimated he reached around six feet even while she normally stood at five-eight. Though still tall for a woman, she’d do almost anything to reach five-ten or higher so her height would be in proportion to her weight. Or she could just lose fifteen pounds. Either one would work for her. As she stood now, Annalise fit perfectly beside Elijah and she wished this moment would last forever.
“You’re the most beautiful woman here. You definitely outshone the bride.”
She gasped as Elijah’s whispered words filtered through the fog in her brain. “No one’s supposed to do that.” She peeled up her face to stare at him and the gentle caress of his lips on her forehead washed through her like a seductive heat wave.
“I’m sure you didn’t mean to, but it’s the truth.”
Annalise blushed and then gazed up at the wide, sweeping staircase as an elegantly-dressed couple descended from the second story. “Let’s explore. It’s unlikely I’ll ever come back here and I would love to see the upstairs and trespass where I shouldn’t.”
His pearly-white teeth showed in a wide grin. “A woman after my own heart. Come on.” Elijah stepped back and wrapped his arm around her waist.
They wove around the other dancers, slowly climbed the staircase to not draw attention to themselves, and then headed down a long corridor to the left of the stairs. Electric-lit sconces adorned the burgundy-painted walls, and large photographs of the Krinard gardens hung every few feet and between every mahogany doorframe. They peeked into several rooms—most were a mess due to the people temporarily staying there—but then Annalise strode inside a clean, elegant bedchamber at the far end of the hall.
“I don’t think anyone’s used this one,” she called out to Elijah as he checked another room. Annalise braced her hands on her hips and marveled at the gilded furniture and the festive, over-the-top decorations. “The bed is made. There aren’t any clothes strewn about or suitcases on the dresser. I would absolutely love to have that yellow bedspread.”
“Finally.” Elijah followed Annalise in and shut the door behind him.
Her eyes widened as she turned to face him. “What are you doing? I thought we were exploring. There’s another wing to see.”
“We are exploring, but I don’t care about the house. I’d rather explore your body.” He locked the door and closed the space between them. “Do you want to explore mine?”
She barely breathed and nodded in answer. Elijah circled his arms around her like two steel bands and then kissed her as though he needed the air in her lungs to breathe.
Chapter Four
“I’m so happy you came by today.” Elijah’s hot breath teased the sensitive hollow of her throat. His lips trailed across her shoulder blade, down her bare arm, and Annalise almost melted. Then he firmly grasped her waist with his palms and stared deep into her eyes. “I promised myself I would ask you out the next time you came in. If I’d known you worked across the street, I would’ve made time and stopped by to see you.”
“I should’ve put my insecurities aside months ago and just asked you.” Annalise felt vulnerable under his keen gaze. “I don’t ever wear haute couture clothes—this is the first time in my life that I’ve ever worn a dress like this—and I don’t want you to get the wrong idea. I’m not sexy. I’m not a little badass who wears safety pins and skulls on her clothes all the time. I’m just…Plain.”
He cupped her cheek in his palm. “I disagree. I remember the first time I saw you. My nerves were through the roof, I hated using cue cards for my first tour since I hadn’t memorized the information or studied the artwork on my own yet, and there you were at the back of my group. A blue scarf covered your curly hair—it rained that day and I could tell you were self-conscious about your hair because you kept patting it—and a white and blue striped dress hugged your body. You also wore a bulky denim jacket over it.”
“I bought the dress on a whim but I didn’t wear it until my friends dared me to. I felt uncomfortable in it, hence the jacket, so I later donated the dress to a thrift store.”
He sighed. “That’s too bad. Memories of you in that dress keep me awake at night.”
“You’re such a flatterer.” She lightly popped his chest with an open palm.
“True, but I’m not a liar.”
Her smile faltered. Grateful Elijah thought she was pretty before she made her wish on the locket, she doubted he’d want the old her since the former didn’t compare to the new her. She planned to go with Cami to the retirement community sometime next week and
visit her grandma. Annalise needed to know everything she could about the magic locket.
“I just want to think about tonight.” Annalise shifted her face out of his grasp and licked his index finger. “Just you and me in these gorgeous clothes and in the most elegant Victorian-style bedroom I’ve ever seen. I’m not perfect, Elijah, and I have baggage you don’t want to know about, but let’s put everything else aside for tonight. Will you make love to me, and accept whatever happens in the morning?”
Elijah tilted his head to the side. “I think you’re underestimating me about something but I don’t know what.” He reached up and removed a few strategically-placed jeweled bobby pins from her hairdo. Her curly locks cascaded around her shoulders. Then he pulled her shawl off her arms, took her purse and laid it on a nearby vanity. His chest rumbled as he spoke. “Okay, tonight will be about sex. Tomorrow, I want an explanation.”
Her words clogged her throat as his mouth claimed hers in a searing kiss. Their bodies meshed, the organ between his legs throbbed against her lower stomach, and the air he breathed into her mouth calmed her nerves. He feathered kisses along her neck like a gentle lover even though he held her in an unbreakable embrace. Then his fingers grazed her back. He found the concealed zipper of her gown in pleats of fabric and slowly tugged the metal down. Sparks raced along her spine as Elijah pushed the sleeves off her shoulders and the tri-colored gown cascaded down her body. The fabric bunched in waves around her feet and she felt ultra feminine as she stood proud before him in nothing but her underwear and high heels.
Cool air from the AC tightened her nipples within the confines of her strapless emerald-green bra and she almost moaned as her nubs ached for relief. The way he stared at her sharpened her breath and heated her loins.
“Magnificent.”
His muttered praise filled her with warmth as his gaze traveled down her body. Elijah stripped off his tux jacket and bow tie and then kicked away his shoes. He dragged her closer for a deep kiss and she immediately worked on freeing his vest buttons from their respective holes. His thick white dress shirt felt soft and rich under her shaky fingers.
The grand estate, champagne and dancing felt reminiscent of Cinderella’s ball and now, in an upstairs bedchamber away from prying eyes, the handsome prince stared at Annalise with a desire she’d never known. A desire and desperate need that scared her, intrigued her, and she was more than ready to raise the fairy tale bar up to spicy levels.
Annalise unbuttoned and pulled back his linen shirt, tugged it free from his slacks, and grinned at the snug undershirt that shaped his muscled chest. A low hiss escaped his mouth as she grasped him with reverent hands and her blood flamed hot. She pushed the dress shirt and vest off his shoulders, Elijah jerked off his undershirt, and the clothes landed on top of her gown in a disheveled heap. Dark blond curls covered his chest, trailed beneath his waistband, and heat radiated from his skin like a beach bonfire on a summer night.
He abruptly bent on one knee and frowned as he grazed the area on her back where her scar should be. She almost wondered if he saw the three-inch rugged white scar and staple marks even though it had disappeared, but then he licked the smooth skin around her belly button and she lost her train of thought.
A gasp filled her lungs as Elijah stood and picked her up in his arms. He carried her like a baby, he didn’t strain as though she weighed too much, and he eased her onto the four-poster bed before he crawled in with her. A man had never held her that way and she wanted to cry.
You’re beautiful, Annalise. Enjoy this while you can.
And then Elijah pulled down her panties with his teeth and she knew she would.
They made love twice over the next few hours and Annalise fell asleep in his arms. Chirping birds woke her the next morning and her heart nearly stopped.
Morning? It’s past midnight. Oh crap.
She craned her neck and felt all color leave her face as Elijah slept beside her. She slowly shifted out from his embrace and planted her feet on the floor to stand just as he patted the bed as though in search for her. Air lodged in her throat until he dropped his arm and rolled away from her. Elijah hugged a large pillow with both arms, his muscles bulged even in his sleep, and she licked her lips. Annalise wanted to crawl back in bed and ride him like a naughty cowgirl—he’d pinned her twice and ravaged her body, slow and sweet—but she couldn’t face him. Not like this. She hurried around the room to gather her clothes and sought refuge in the private bathroom to dress.
Tears filled her eyes as she examined her reflection in a gilded mirror.
Messy light brown hair replaced her silky dark curls and the scar on her back felt rough under her palm. Cellulite filled her bottom like a creampuff and her stomach rolled and curved in all the wrong places. Her breasts appeared a cup size smaller and her pale nipples lay flat against her areolas.
Well, at least I didn’t turn into a pumpkin.
She needed to pee and wash her face but she didn’t dare turn on the faucet in fear her lover might wake. Annalise dressed as quickly as she could. Surprised her new bra still fit and the couture gown didn’t rip as she zipped it up, she wiped the tears from her eyes and opened the bathroom door to sneak out of their borrowed bedchamber.
Her back snapped straight. Elijah waited for her on the edge of the rumpled bed with her high heeled shoes in his hands. He’d dressed in his slacks but left the rest of his clothes on the floor. Her gaze dropped to his happy trail. She never had the chance to lick the golden hairs or pleasure him with her mouth. Embarrassment raked her skin red as he scowled at her.
“You planned to leave.” Elijah didn’t ask the question. His voice sounded deeper than usual and she detected hurt in his tone. “How? We came in my car and I have the keys.”
She didn’t think of that. “I’m sorry. I just didn’t want you to see me today.”
He stared down at her shoes and fiddled with a silver heel. “Why?”
“Are you really going to make me say it?” Bile churned in her stomach. “I’m not pretty anymore. I had beautiful hair, a slim waist and big boobs yesterday but they’re gone now. You said I looked different. Can’t you tell I’m the old me again?”
“What are you talking about?” Elijah stood from the bed, confusion clear on his face. “You acted self-assured and confident yesterday. Your clothes were different but you looked the same. Your hair was always curly, your breasts are the perfect size for my hands and I could nibble on your waist and stomach for hours.”
Annalise shook her head. “You’re wrong. You don’t make sense.”
“Me?” His forehead crinkled and he dropped her shoes on the floor. “I like you, Annalise, and I know you like me. You may glance away whenever I try to get your attention at the museum, but you watch me when I’m busy or if you think I’m distracted. I sometimes notice you in your car across the street when I leave work. You’re a bit of a stalker, but I like that.” He tunneled his hands through his bed hair. “Why do you think you looked different yesterday? Physically different?”
“Because of this.” She snatched her purse off the vanity and dug through it for her cell phone. “My friend, Cami, sent me a photo yesterday. Cami, Raven, Tess and I all made a wish on a magic locket to look beautiful like Cinderella and our wishes came true. I know it sounds crazy, but it’s not. Here’s the proof.” Annalise opened the new picture message Cami had sent her as she showered yesterday before her date. She handed Elijah the phone. “I was a babe at the coffee house, but now I’m just regular old me.”
His brow arched as he looked at the picture. “You haven’t seen this, have you?”
“I’m in the picture. I don’t need to see it.”
“Yes, you do.” He held up the phone and her gaze darted to the picture.
“What the hell?” She snatched the flip phone from his hand. “I’m normal.”
“You’re
hot.” Elijah folded his arms. “Now I know why you asked me if I believed in magic. I don’t understand why you thought you looked different, but I promise you were beautiful yesterday, today, and five months ago when I first saw you. You’ll still be just as beautiful twenty years from now.” He traced his fingertips along her jaw as tears stained her cheeks. “Maybe the magic necklace did work, but only in your mind. You and your friends saw what you wanted to see. I see what you really are: a good person and a sexy woman.”
“You saw my scar then?”
He nodded. “I almost asked you about it but I didn’t want to ruin our playtime. What happened?” Elijah returned to the bed and patted the spot next to him. “You might as well tell me, Annalise. I’m not going anywhere and neither are you―at least not in my car―until you explain to me why you don’t think you’re beautiful.”
She wiped at her tears and sat beside him in concession. Her explanation burned on the tip of her tongue but she felt so ashamed. “I guess it all started when I was five. My dad left town with his girlfriend and my mom started to drink soon after. Sybil held down a job for most of my childhood but government aid helped a lot and provided us with a rent-for-cheap apartment. We had money left over after she’d paid the monthly bills, but I still went to school dirty and barefoot sometimes. Mommy Dearest needed her whiskey more than I needed clothes.” She couldn’t keep the bitterness from her tone even though she’d told herself countless times she no longer cared.
“Sybil?”
“My mom. I can’t call her Mom. It just doesn’t feel right.” She twisted her fingers around Elijah’s as he grasped her hand. “Anyway, her druggie boyfriend smacked her around and called her all sorts of horrible names one night after my tenth birthday. They didn’t know I watched from the doorway and I rushed into the room to defend her just as Sybil threw a bottle at the wall. It shattered and a piece of glass lodged into my back.”
A shudder ran down her spine. “I can still remember the pain and the oozy feel of blood that gushed between my fingers as I grabbed the wound. My mom rushed me to the ER and I nearly died from blood loss. They kept me under observation for a week and, though the stitches itched, the wound didn’t become infected.” She scratched at her back and silk bunched under her nails. “Someone in the hospital called Social Services and, after a few weeks of investigation, the social workers decided to leave me with my mom. She’d already enrolled in AA and she promised everyone—the doctor, the State, my school—that she’d be a better mother.”
Cinderella Body Club Boxed Set Page 16
