TWELVE
CLAIRE STARED AT HERREFLECTION in the mirror, barely recognizing the woman in front of her.
“Wow,” she said, still a little stunned when the gorgeous creature in the mirror mouthed the word back at her.
“Mmm hmm, wow is right,” said Andre, looking up from packing his tackle box full of make-up.
The man Luke’s assistant had hired to do her hair and makeup turned out to be a completely affable gay black man with eyelashes longer than Claire’s – or at least longer than they been. He’d glued dozens of clumps of false eyelashes onto her own, giving her a doe eyed look rimmed with a fringe of impossibly long dark lashes.
“You might be my best work yet, darling.” Within moments of their meeting he’d put on a soft southern drawl so campy and over the top. It would have been easy to take offense if he hadn’t been such a playful good natured person. As it was, it had taken about fifteen minutes for Claire to decide she adored him.
“Hell yeah,” she said with a smile, her full shiny crimson lips curving up in the mirror.
Andre had powdered her skin to a smooth porcelain canvas, painted her lips and smudged smoky shadow around her eyes making them look twice as large and much greener than usual. Her nails were painted scarlet, and her hair had been blow dried and brushed to within an inch of its life and then piled in careless waves on her head and pinned with what she was afraid might be real diamond pins. She hadn’t had the nerve to ask, but Andre admonished her more than once not to lose them.
“You have fun tonight,” he said, giving her shoulder a squeeze. “You’re going to be the hottest looking woman in the place. He won’t be able to keep his hands off you.”
“Thank you, Andre,” she said, getting to her feet. “I mean it.” She wasn’t some naïve girl. She’d been handling her own business in a sometimes unfriendly male dominated world for years. Going out with Luke in a social situation made her more nervous than any of the contracts she’d negotiated. He was used to having stunningly gorgeous women on his arm – something she’d never be even with Andre’s help. But he’d helped her feel more sure of herself, and she was grateful.
“My pleasure, darling.” He laid the accent on thick at the end and gave her a wink.
“Here, I’ll walk you out,” she said, catching herself before she stumbled in the impossibly high sandals.
“Don’t worry. I can see myself out. You’re not dressed and you need to practice walking in those shoes. If you fall on your ass, you’re going to ruin my hard work.”
“Nice,” she said, smacking his arm. “Don’t let the door hityouon the ass on the way out.”
He gave his butt a little wiggle, threw her a wink over his shoulder, and sashayed out the door.
When she was sure he was gone, she stood in front of the dressing room mirror and untied the green silk robe. After her shower, she’d dressed in the lingerie Anna brought her, starting with the garters and ending with the tiny black thong and stockings so whisper soft she barely felt them against her skin.
She let the robe slide from her shoulders and looked at herself, painted and primped, barely covered in black lace. The strapless bra held her breasts out like an offering, the black a delicious contrast to her ivory skin. The scrap of lace between her legs, covered her dark curls. Just. She kept her bikini line trimmed but she’d never waxed or gone bare. Maybe Luke would like it if she did.
Thinking about offering him her completely smooth pussy made what little there was of her panties damp. It shocked her how much she liked the idea of him licking, sucking, teasing her bare flesh. Definitely something she wanted to try.
She wanted to try everything with him. Her body ached being near him, and he’d already made her come more times than she could count. If she admitted it to herself, there wasn’t anything she wouldn’t let him do to her. Nothing she wasn’t willing to share with him. With him she felt feminine, delicious, like a wanton sexual creature. If those feelings came with pesky emotions attached, that was her problem.
Hearing footsteps in the bedroom, she turned in time to see Luke striding toward her.
“Am I too late to …fuck, Claire,” he said, stopping in his tracks.
“Andre did my hair and makeup.” Her mouth went dry at the hungry look on his face, and her reaction scared her. It was like somewhere low in her belly she was tethered to him, and all he had to do was tug on the cord. She wouldn’t – no couldn’t - deny him anything, and for a woman like Claire that was the most frightening thing of all.
“I see. Who the fuck is Andre?” He stalked toward her, all heat, energy, barely restrained power and she felt every bit the prey to his predator.
“The guy you hired to do my hair and makeup,” she said, managing the smallest eye roll in spite of the tightness in her throat.
“Did he see you like this?” He raked his hungry gaze over her body. and her skin bloomed to life.
“No, I had a robe on. And he’s gay. Don’t be an ass.” She threw her shoulders back, pretending more confidence than she felt. She may not have known him long, but she’d already figured out a good offense was the best tactic to take with Luke. Otherwise he’d own her.
“Good,” he said, coming to stand behind her, not touching but close enough that she could feel the heat radiating off of him along her almost naked back.
Somewhere along the way he’d taken off his jacket and tie. His dress shirt hung open at the collar with the sleeves rolled up, revealing his tan skin and strong forearms. Her gaze caught on the belt in his pants sitting low on his hips, and she licked her lips. That was all it took to prod him into action.
He uncoiled like a big cat, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her against his body. She felt the long, thick length of his hard cock pressing into the small of her back. With his free hand he grabbed her throat, forcing her head back against his chest.
Claire froze, mesmerized by the incredibly erotic feeling of his strong hand holding her neck, firm without squeezing. His tan skin was in stark contrast to her pale skin, his forearm and hand so strong and incredible masculine. Seeing the rolled cuff of his shirt and the round dial of his watch against her bare skin made her seem somehow more naked than she was.
