“No!” Layla grinned wide. “Were you – when you sent her over to my apartments to share chocolates and chat a few months back? Had you two been together that night?”
“We’d just finished.” Dusk’s gaze was merciless, teasing and delightful. “She didn’t have time to get dressed in her Guardsman gear before I insisted she go check on you. Rikyava hates me but whenever she wants a good, uncomplicated romp, she comes to my bed. She likes to take her fury out on me, and I really don’t mind.”
“You devil!” Layla grinned, swirling her wine. Somehow she knew it was true, even though she also knew her Swedish Blood Dragon friend and Head of the Hotel Guard Rikyava Andersen would deny it to hell and back.
Raising her glass, Layla saluted Dusk and he saluted back. Layla was starting to believe the rumors of him being a ridiculous playboy. He was just like that; full of energy. Sometimes he felt like a live wire when he stood next to Layla at the Concierge desk, as if an electrical sub-station was held inside that tightly wired soccer-player’s frame. It seemed strange that Dusk was close with Adam, a man Layla had judged badly. But then again, Dusk hadn’t made the best impression when he and Layla had first met, either.
“So do you solve people’s problems in bed?” Layla laughed, shaking her head.
“As often as I can.” Dusk grinned back, then sobered, downing the last of his wine. “But if you’re finished, we really should get dressed and discuss the party tonight. Adam isn’t likely to be the only Dragon who will test you this evening, and I’d like to prepare you for what you may face. Shall we?” He gestured toward the walk-in closet.
“Sure.” Layla pushed away from the table. Moving to the doors of her gargantuan closet, she stood back as Dusk unlocked one crystal garment-case and took out his suit. Exquisite, Dusk’s suit for the evening was the slim modern Italian look he favored, the sleek charcoal weave of the jacket holding a shine that caught the light. The pants were similar, a midnight-blue pocket square and luminous sapphire tie to match. Inside the jacket’s lapels, sapphire piping and a sapphire fleur-de-lis silk lining showed. The ensemble came with a smaller crystal case and as Dusk opened it, Layla saw a platinum and sapphire cufflink set with diamonds, plus a matching men’s Rolex.
“Holy hell, Batman.” Layla whistled as she reached out to touch the cufflinks.
“Wait till you see your gown.” Dusk glanced at her with a sly grin. “Amalia outdid herself this time.”
“Your design or hers?” Layla asked as Dusk reached out to unlatch the crystal case containing her evening gown. “And brainstormed in the bedroom or out of it?”
“A bit of both. On both counts.” Dusk grinned.
He finished undoing the latches and the case came undone with a spill of crimson silk draping over the carpet in long, sleek folds. Dark like blood but with a shine that threw the light, the gown was a mermaid cut, a long train cascading from the back. Bias-cut so the silk smoothed down in sleek folds, the waist was a corset, the strapless bodice entirely beaded with rubies, garnets, fire-opals, and diamonds. The unholy wealth of gems swirled like a mirage, the dangerous opulence arresting Layla as she watched the pattern shift like a desert wind through blistering sands. Dusk opened a jewelry-case next, displaying a ruby and diamond tennis-bracelet to match, plus earrings.
“Holy fuck.” Layla stared at it all, dumbfounded.
“Like it?” Dusk smiled gently, something careful in his eyes.
“Adrian’s not the only man who can pick a gown, apparently.”
The careful look in Dusk’s eyes cleared, replaced by pleasure. “Amalia gets the credit. It’s her magics that make the gems and fabrics dance, I just picked out the color. Shall we?”
“I guess so.” But staring at that hot red gown, knowing she would be wearing hundreds of thousands of dollars in gems tonight, Layla paused. She reached out, her fingers fidgeting with the sleek silk, wondering it she should attract that much attention or if it would be better to wear something more plain to the party.
Or maybe not go at all.
“What’s wrong?” Dusk spoke as if he could read her mind, though Layla knew he was only reading her emotional vibrations.
“Do I want to call this much attention to myself?” Layla asked, watching the diamonds shift upon the dress’ corset like a desert mirage. Dusk reached out, smoothing his strong fingers over hers and clasping her hand. As she glanced over, a lower-than-sound vibration eased through her. It was Dusk’s calming vibration and didn’t raise Layla’s Dragon except for a soothing stretch, like stroking a hand down a cat’s back. His sapphire eyes were kind as he gazed at her, a mysterious smile upon his smooth lips.
“The world needs to see who you are, Layla. You are a Royal Dragon Bind. Once mature, your magic will rival Royals of any Lineage in the Twilight Realm. You’ll be considered Adrian’s equal in the Moroccan clan – or his rival. Everyone wants to meet you. Because you will be a power to be reckoned with someday. I know it. And so do they.”
Gazing at Dusk and hearing how the Dragon clans viewed her, Layla realized she still didn’t know anything about this world, not really. She’d learned how to navigate tricky international politics in grad school, but that was for humans – the politics of Dragons was entirely different. A spike of icy trepidation drove deep inside Layla, a dark worry with the sensation of a black pit beneath it, and she shivered.
“I’m not ready for this, Dusk.”
Dusk’s gaze softened. Lifting his fingers, he stroked Layla’s cheek with his knuckles, his touch smooth even though Layla could feel the scaled ridges on the backs of his fingers. “Just be yourself. Some Dragons will want to curry favor with you tonight; others will want to test you like Adam did. I’ll be by your side the entire time, to buffer anything that gets out of hand. You don’t have to worry about controlling your magics at the party – we’ll be far enough from the rest of the Hotel that it won’t matter. And once we see how the clans respond to you, I’ll be able to advise you on next steps. Breathe, Layla. I am on your side in this venture; not Adrian’s, not Adam’s, not any of the clans.”
“But I thought you were representing the Hotel and your own clan tonight?”
“I will be. Butyou’remy priority.” Dusk’s gaze was serious as he lifted her hand and kissed it. His lips were smooth and his gesture made Layla’s heart clench. As if Dusk knew what she needed to help her through this, his sexual nature was just gone, replaced by a smooth, supportive presence. “Come on. Let’s get dressed. Quit fretting and get your sexy ass into that hot red gown so I can see it.”
“You just want to see me naked.”
Layla couldn’t stop her flirting; it just came out. Her Dragon enjoyed Dusk’s touch and it was like its thoughts had suddenly hijacked her mouth. Dusk laughed. A bright sound, it was a very good laugh, rumbling with masculine basso. Still holding Layla’s hand, he stepped close – growling down with a hot, sexual thrum and making a ripple of pleasure cascade through her.
“Get in that closet, wench,” he growled, his sapphire eyes dark with glee. “Or I swear I’ll tear your clothes off and stuff you into that gown myself.”
Though he teased, something suddenly unleashed inside Layla at Dusk’s growling vibration and sexy, forceful words. A roaring energy snapped between them, so hot and fast it left Layla breathless. Like her Dragon had dug fangs into Dusk and his did the same to her, heat tightened between them in a hard rush – far harder than with Adam.
