Why not leave my mask on as well? The air of mystery was a powerful aphrodisiac.
For a man used to both taking and keeping control, I was somewhat surprised at my reaction. Then again, her beauty was transcendent, alluring in a way that I wondered if she was aware of. With the elevator taking its sweet time, I allowed my gaze to fall very slowly from the angle of her chin to her long neck, her sculpted arms and breasts that would fit perfectly in my hands.
My cock was already throbbing while filthy thoughts of ravaging her body shifted into my mind.
She threw a glance in my direction only once and the fiery look in her eyes was different than before. Then again, I’d been appreciative of her dance instead of her voluptuous body.
When the elevator doors opened, she offered a deep, intensely personal and positively annoyed smile. I allowed her to step into the cold steel box first. Once inside, she lifted her head, offering me the exact same slow and easy onceover that I’d done with her.
Filled with amusement, I stepped into the elevator a beat before the doors closed. That afforded me another heated look.
And to say I was hooked was an understatement.
When I reached over, pressing the button for the lobby, my arm grazed hers. The jolt of electricity was enough we both noticed. But the feisty goddess took a step further away.
You bet I turned my head in her direction.
“Didn’t your mother ever tell you it’s not nice to stare?”
Her question was filled with a sultry lilt that allowed a series of images to play out in my mind. In my very dirty mind.
“Yes, she did, along with reminding me that women are the most beautiful creatures on earth. Didn’t your mother ever tell you to be careful garnering the attention of monsters?”
“Yes, she did. She also taught me how to kill them.”
With another toss of her heated gaze, her nose wrinkled and at that moment, I knew that I’d be spending the night with the precious gem.
Whether she knew it yet or not.
CHAPTER 3
Anna
Tall. Dark. Handsome.
An electric connection that continued to startle me.
My prince. At least he was exactly as I’d pictured once upon a time.
Yeah, right. He was probably a toad in disguise. However, he was lovely to look at.
The man standing only a few feet from me was the perfect epitome of that and much more. With the gold flecked black mask and in his impeccably tailored tuxedo, he could be considered every woman’s bad boy with attitude fantasy.
He also carried himself as if he owned the ballet or perhaps the entire city. Given every other man at the benefit had been seventy or older, I’d enjoyed the eye candy if only for a little while. However, being this close to him I sensed sheer arrogance and danger, an undesirable combination.
I’d heard he was another benefactor, a rich man with money to burn. I couldn’t care less except the donations were likely the reason I’d been hired during a hiring freeze. The smart girl inside chastised me for flirting with him.
At this point, I was still reeling from emotions that were eating at me. After being asked to participate in the special performance the day I’d walked into the New Orleans Ballet, I’d been shocked and thrilled, able to use one of my own choreographies for the night’s festivities.
The honor had been bestowed on me by Irina herself. She’d been eager and happy to see me join the team.
She’d been just about the only one, other than the choreographer, who had managed to say a few nice things about my dancing abilities before openly criticizing several of the most basic moves. Including my plié, an elementary position.
I’d been mortified, furious with myself and embarrassed at the same time. Even worse had been the haughty attitudes of the other dancers.
Of course with me coming into the group, the announcement I’d be taking the principal dancer’s place for the four-day performance schedule ofSleeping Beautyhadn’t gone over well.
While I couldn’t blame them for their pissy attitude, I didn’t deserve a dead rat in my locker or almost being tripped going down the stairs after practice.
