He waved a hand up and down. “You know. This. Don’t get me wrong, you look amazing. Did you have a couple of serfs arrange your skirt so perfectly?”
“Serfs are notoriously unreliable. I’ve stopped employing them entirely.”
“Peasants then.”
“They have to earn their keep somehow.” Her mask cracked, softened. “So you came.”
“I came.”
A dark and vulnerable shadow lit her eyes, a direct contrast to the power and strength of her pose. “It is our last night. You understand that.”
He placed a foot on the stair. “Whether it is or isn’t is up to you.”
“You say that now.”
“I’ll say that twelve hours from now.”
She inclined her head. “Come along, then. Let’s go upstairs.”
He climbed the stairs, staying one step behind her, partially so he could stare at her luscious ass outlined in the clinging skirt. Her back was bare but for the criss-cross of her bodice’s ribbons, and he mentally traced the hollow at the base of her spine with his tongue.
“I trust Harris gave you the rundown.”
“Yeah. He’s, uh, very thorough.”
She stopped at the top of the stairs and cast him a sharp look over her shoulder. “Thorough?”
“Yes. He’s got his orgy spiel down pat.”
“Orgy spiel? Usually he just explains which areas of the home are off-limits and where the restrooms are.”
He cast a glance in the direction the butler had gone. “Oh.”
“What did he discuss with you?”
“Breathalyzers. Safe words. Condoms.” He grimaced. “Hard limits. All the things I’d want to talk to an elderly butler about.”
Akira’s peal of laughter washed over him. Something deep within him stretched toward the sound, delight filling him, even though her amusement was directed at him. “He might be holding a grudge. He wasn’t happy I didn’t press charges against you for trespassing when you delivered those flowers,” she confessed.
“Obviously,” he mock grumbled, any annoyance dissipated by the brightness of her grin.That smile. That’s what I wanted.
“So what is your hard limit?”
He let out a soft sigh. “I don’t know. Severe pain, I guess.”
She nodded, thoughtful. “I can work with that.” Still smiling, she lifted a shoulder. “If it helps, I’m very serious about drinking responsibly and safe sex. Those are sort of make-or-breaks for attending. However, I carefully vet the people who attend my parties and personally explain the rules.” She continued walking, taking a left down the hall. “Sorry about Harris, especially if it made you uncomfortable. Consider it a friendly hazing.”
Jacob would do just that, but he’d be on his guard around the man anyway. A knife to incapacitate. Then the gun. Then the cliff. Yes. That was how the butler would do it.
He was distracted from his murderous plotting by the sleek, strong expanse of Akira’s back. Entranced by the two delicious dimples right above her ass winking at him, he was barely conscious of sliding his hands around her waist, pulling her to a halt in the abandoned hallway.
He knew she was leading him to a hedonistic adventure, but he wasn’t sure if he could make it if he didn’t have one taste of this woman. A sip to tide him over. As if they had a will of their own, his hands tightened on either side of her narrow hips. She froze, standing still. Neither protesting nor demanding an explanation. Leaving him free to indulge his instincts.
Dropping to his knees, he leaned forward and settled his lips over those dimples. Distantly, he heard her gasp, but all he could do was lick her, nuzzle her, kiss her. Easing his hands under her skirt, he pushed the voluminous fabric up until her small, firm ass was visible, lit by the low wall sconces every couple of feet.
Anyone could come upon them, but he didn’t care. And judging by the way she widened her thighs, neither did she.
He ran his hands up her smooth legs, the powerful muscles of her calves inviting him to linger. He had no time for that, though. His index finger pushed the thin fabric of her lacy black thong aside,and he inhaled, dragging in the scent of her wet body. He extended his tongue and gave her one, long, slow lick along her vulva. His taste buds demanded more immediately, but he slammed a lid over his instincts, not allowing himself to linger at the button of her clitoris.
