“You were in the restaurant at the hotel a few days ago. My friend overheard you and that other man speaking of this place and…” She slips a hand inside her pocket, drawing out a burgundy-colored card she hands to me. “You dropped this.”
“A friend?” I ask, rubbing the card between my fingers.
“Hayley. She’s my attendant, but she’s also my friend.” Her chin comes up a notch. “She helped me.”
“Does your brother know you’re here?” She shakes her head, her curls trembling. “Doesmybrother know you are here?”
Her forehead wrinkles. “Why would your brother know where I am?”
Ahh. Jesus. No one has told her who she’s supposed to marry. My back teeth grind hard enough to crush stones. “Have you spoken to your brother about your… future?”
Addy bites her lip. “You mean my wedding?” She draws her shoulders back, the dark velvet rippling around her. “I know my brother met with your family about an arrangement. Were you not involved in those conversations?”
“I have been.” I fold my arms over my chest. “I assisted with negotiations on behalf of my family. For your marriage to my brother.”
Her fingers fly to her mouth, and I wish I could take back the words. “Your brother?” Her voice drops to a whisper, and I have to lean in to hear her. “No!”
“Your presence here tonight is concerning. Is it an attempt to avoid marriage entirely?”
She hugs herself and I glance around. This is not the time and place for this discussion. “Addy.” She lifts her head. “We can go upstairs and finish this conversation, or I can take you back to the hotel and we can pretend none of this ever happened.”
“And I’ll marry your brother?” Her voice is strained.
I search her eyes behind the mask. “I’ll never let you marry my brother.”
“Take me upstairs.”
My breathing quickens and I escort her to the top, handing Gary my card. Gary ushers us to one of the large, private suites and passes me a small, leatherbound book, before discreetly closing the door behind him. I take a seat in one of the gray velvet wingback chairs, steepling my fingers under my chin. Adara stands like a statue in front of the floor to ceiling windows. The windows are dark and I can see her reflection in the glass.
“There are a few things we need to sort out here first,” I say. “Take off your mask.”
Her hands come up and untie the gold ribbons, letting the mask fall into her hands. Her beautiful face is revealed, her round cheeks and plush lips, begging to be kissed. She moves towards me, but I hold up a hand. “Stop.”
Adara halts, a frown settling on her face.
“We need to talk, and I can’t do it if I’m distracted by you. So you need to stay there, where I can’t touch you.” I hold up one finger. “First, I need to know why you’re here.”
“I followed you.” Her chin tips up with defiance.
“Why?”
“Because no one has ever made me feel the way you did, that day in the garden.”
My groin tightens at her soft words, uttered in such a determined tone. I hold up a second finger. “If you stay, I’m going to put my hands on you, and I need to know you understand what you’re getting into.”
“If I stay, you won’t treat me like a princess.” She unclasps the hook at the base of her throat, letting the cloak slip from her shoulders. Underneath, she’s wearing a blush pink negligee that flows over her curves, both concealing and revealing her body. Her nipples are a dusky shadow through the sheer fabric and my mouth waters at the thought of tasting her.
I grip the arms of the chair, tightly, nodding in affirmation. “If you stay, I won’t treat you like a princess.” I meet her eyes. “I’ll treat you like a queen. My queen.”
Her chest is rising and falling rapidly. “I’m a virgin,” she says almost inaudibly, her eyes shadowed by her thick, luscious lashes as she looks down. She’s restless, shifting her thighs together and I can tell she’s torn between holding onto her innocence and unleashing the passionate woman I caught a glimpse of in the rooftop garden.
“A very curious little virgin.”
She nods, biting her lip, her round cheeks pink. I can’t take her here, a virgin, in this club, even though I want to pretend I’ve just bid on this luscious virgin at the masquerade auction and now we’re here for a night of untold pleasure.
“The offer stands, Addy. I will take you back to the hotel if you change your mind. But once I touch you, you’re mine.” She’s mine anyway, but she needs to know she has a choice tonight.
“What kind of place is this?” she asks, looking around. The room is as opulent as any suite in any of my hotels. There’s a large four-poster bed, made up with Egyptian cotton and silk bedding. The carpet is plush, and the sitting area contains two wingback chairs in gray damask silk, a low velvet chaise and a fireplace. Beautiful paintings in bold colors hang on the walls but the only thing I’m interested in looking at is the incredible woman in front of me.
