It stated only today’s date and a time, seven p.m. Certain he was missing something given his bleary, sleep-deprived eyes, Jacob flipped the single page over, but there was nothing else there.
There could only be one person behind this. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed a number he had stolen off his sister’s phone weeks ago.
It was answered on the first ring. “Yes.”
Tenderness, irritation, and annoyance warred within him at the sound of her voice. Since she hadn’t bothered with pleasantries, he didn’t either. “What is this?”
A pause. “What is what?”
He didn’t buy her light response. “This card I got. What is it?”
“How did you know I sent it?”
Because it was very much in her style. Bold. Dramatic.
Confusing as hell. “Kati likes to tell me I don’t have many friends. The list of potential senders wasn’t long.”
“Hmm. Maybe you should try being more charming.”
He resisted amusement. “What is it, Akira?”
She paused, as if gauging his tone. “It’s an invitation.”
“An invitation to what?”
Another pause before she spoke, the words uttered in a soft purr which reached through the phone and stroked up his spine. “You said you’ve heard of my house parties.”
He almost bit his tongue. His heart stopped before starting up again, clipping away at a too-fast rate. “I have.”
“Then you have your explanation.”
He stared at the date on the thick stock paper. “Tonight?”
“That’s what the date says.”
He hesitated. “The things I’ve heard…are they accurate?”
“What have you heard, Jacob?”
He glanced around, but the house was silent. He was alone. They were alone. “That you sponsor orgies.”
“Sponsor,” she repeated slowly. “Like one sponsors a marathon runner. Or a starving child.”
“Host, then.”
“Yes, Jacob. This is one of the orgies I host.”
She was cool and calm, but he had seen so many of her moods over the past week and a half, he couldn’t quite buy the act. He tapped the invitation on the counter. “What changed your mind?”
“Maybe you’re not the only one who’s obsessed.” Before he could process that bombshell, she continued. “You wanted your last night. You’re getting it.” She paused, and he could picture the smirk on her face. “You can come tonight or not at all.”
A power play. If he didn’t go, he would sacrifice his last night with her. If he did go, he would be throwing himself into the deep end of the pool, as Ben had called it.
She didn’t play around.
He smiled, and he didn’t need a mirror to know it wasn’t a friendly one. Well, hell. Neither did he. “Is this a test? You think I won’t call your bluff?”
“I’m hoping you will.”
