Page 51 of Bitten By the Basilisk

“Think about something else,” she muttered. “Literally anything else.”

Like being a surprise guest at an exclusive and reputedly lavish function while on the arm of its host—a stranger to nearly everyone there, including her date’s emotionally distant parents.

The reminder cooled her ardor as quickly as an upturned bucket of ice water. She put on new underwear and was just about done fixing her clothes when her phone buzzed on the guest bed, notifying her of a message.

Bruno will be at your door at eight.

A second later, another message arrived.

I’m looking forward to seeing you in the gown I chose.

She smiled grudgingly, practically hearing the words in his deep, measured drawl, and tapped out a reply on her way to the dining room, where she planned to sit and wait for her mom to return.

What kind of dress is it?

Her text was instantly read, and three dots appeared as he composed a stack of responses. Knowing he was currently looking at their chat sent a dangerously happy thrill through her middle.

I want it to be a surprise, but I’ll give you a hint.

Red.

If you don’t like it, there’s more than one backup.

Alice doubted she’d be unhappy with his choice, but his forethought was both considerate and generous in a way that so many human men weren’t.

What if it doesn’t fit? she asked.

I promise it’ll fit you as well as I do, he said in response, followed by a wink emoji.

She sat there in wide-eyed, red-cheeked amazement, trying and failing to devise a reply that wasn’t Nothing fits me as well as you do.

Before she could come up with anything, he sent her another message.

Would you like to see the venue?

The photo he sent made her gasp. In the foreground was a narrow cobblestone road that ribboned toward sunny castle ruins about a hundred feet in the background. A small box truck was backed up to a stone gateway that was too small for it to pass. From the back of it, several individuals were carrying or wheeling in setup materials for a grand event—rugs, cases of wine, tables, and enormous baskets of flowers.

She recognized the location instantly and sent back,

Seacliff Castle???

It took a moment of typing before he sent a reply.

Don’t worry about staying warm. If the braziers aren’t enough, I’ll wrap myself around you. We’ll keep each other comfortable.

Alice’s cheeks burned, as she could guess what he meant by “wrap.” She was still dazed when he sent her another text.

What are you doing right now?

As she typed her reply, the faint whir of the building’s elevator said her mom was on her way back. She thought about retaliating for his flirty texts and sending something like Wondering how many times your tail can wrap around me. But she didn’t want to dampen another pair of panties.

About to go to lunch with my mom.

His reply came just as the elevator door slid open and her mom called out.

I hope you enjoy yourselves. Tell Grace I said hello. And keep in touch, kitten.

Chapter Fifteen