* * *
The car horns of the busy Manhattan street honked in annoying rhythm. Trying not to fidget in the seat, I peered through the window at the city scene. I crossed my legs as uncertainty crept up on me. This would be the first time in my life that I gave in to impulsiveness. A thought that sent terrified chills down my spine.
Was
I really going to do this? Finally feeling those blunt-fingered hands position me. His tattooed arms encircling me as he pushed into me from behind. Would I be able to separate business from personal? Compartmentalize my feelings, keeping them tucked away from being infiltrated by lust and desire?
These
were all issues I never had to worry about with any other man because no man was ever close to getting into the dark recesses of my heart. But this time, there was nowhere to hide. Not that I was ready to admit it aloud, but I wanted this—no, I needed this. And if I could keep this fling with him firmly in the temporary category, then there would be no fear of the Credence Curse rearing its ugly head.
Light
fidgeted with her hair. “As much as I hate to say this, I really think we should try and get in touch with our mothers. There's just something about this whole reporter situation that's not sitting well with me.”
I
continued to look through the window. “Please, Light, not now. Believe me, it’s not pride that keeps me from calling them. It's self-preservation. If they find out how bad we messed this up, they’ll kill us. Let's give it some time to work itself out before panicking.”
Rubbing
the invitation printed on expensive ivory paper pensively, she responded, “Hmmm, I'm working with you, sweetie. But I'm out of my depth right now. After this weekend, things better improve or I'm flying up to Hawaii and dragging their asses back here myself.”
I
remained silent as the driver stopped at the long private-gated entry that led to a circular drive and entrance to the residence through a private courtyard with a fountain. After pulling up to the front of Ryker's palatial mansion, he stepped out and opened the SUV's door grandly.
The
crowd was diverse. Young. Old. Some women wore expensive black capes covering them from the neck to their ankles. Some were scantily dressed, leaving nothing to the imagination. But one thing was for sure: I could smell the money in the air as I stood on the sidewalk, trying not to fidget as the impatient pedestrians pushed past us.
Literally,
I was paralyzed with apprehension as I caught my reflection in the glass façade, assessing how the see-through panels of the black gown hugged my curves like a glove. The sleeveless bodice pushed my full breasts up sexily. The hem swirled around my ankles as my stilettos clicked against the pavement. I felt and looked sexy. It was daring, seductive, feminine, and something I would’ve never picked out for myself. Something that Knox knew.
Bones
stalked over, looking like a model who just stepped off a photo shoot. He gave me a wink before letting his eyes wander up and down Light's curvy body encased in an ornate crème lace gown, a perfect foil for her glowing skin.
Light
pursed her full lips with displeasure. “Hey, cowboy.” She snapped her fingers in his face. “You're staring at my damn breasts.”
“I'm
appreciating the view.” His eyes sparkled. “Lightning?”
Light
ignored him. “Storm? Really? I have to put up with him all weekend?” She pushed past him. “You owe me big time,” she mumbled under her breath.
I
winked at him. “Okay, that's not a good first impression, Bones. And for the record, it's impolite to leer at a woman's breasts before you acknowledge that she actually has a face.” I pushed past him, suppressing my laughter as I walked up the stairs. Not having to wait, Bones’s long strides easily caught up to me.
“Is
she seeing someone? Because she sure doesn't smell mate-claimed,” Bones asked in a low voice. He nodded toward the two men, who promptly pushed open the doors with flourish.
Stepping
into the grand entrance foyer, I was thoroughly impressed by the tall ceilings and stone flooring with cherry accents. I weaved through the glittering women and cigar-smoking men sizing each other up. My eyes swept through the large room before I responded. “Bones, let me give you some advice. If you want a chance with Light, no crowding her space. She'll run the other way. Trust me on this. Credence women have a thing about aggressive men. We're allergic to the testosterone. It makes us crazed.”
He
smiled widely. “So you must be having a hell of time with Knox, then.”
“Yep.
But he's like a tiger who's chased me around the Serengeti and this zebra is tired. And resigned to the fact that she will be eaten… literally.” I winked at him saucily.
Bones
laughed heartily. “Why do Ryker and Knox get all the hot, feisty ones?”
I
liked Bones, so I looped my arm through his leanly muscled arm. “Have no fear, shifter. There's a Credence running around here unfettered and wild. Let's see if I can help you catch her.” The party was in full swing as we blended smoothly into the crowd of businessmen, models, and music artists. The high-octane mixture of new and old money was intoxicating.
“So
where is the man of the hour?” I asked casually, snagging a glass of champagne with a canapé from the passing waiter.
His
jaw tightened. “Knox and Ryker had some business to attend to. They should be here shortly.”
“Strange.
I don’t get this relationship between Ryker and Knox,” I stated casually, trying to get some gossip out of Bones. I really didn't understand how they knew each other. They both moved in completely different circles. Knox was all rocker and Ryker was all wolf-shifter. The combination didn't mix.
He
nodded at a guest before responding. “How so?”
I
stepped closer, not wanting to be overheard. “Come on, Bones. They both come from completely different worlds.”
His
sky-blue eyes narrowed. “Wow, isn't that hypocritical? Especially given all the prejudice crap your family endures for being Fae-witches?”
“It
wasn't meant to be prejudice. It was a logical question that's been bugging me. I just don't get why Ryker was so adamant about getting Knox an Other escort. You and I both know that it's just too dangerous.”
Bones
raised an eyebrow. “What's so strange about it? Humans and Others hook up all the time. We just don't talk about it.”
I
arched a brow.
He
pushed me forward to escape a throng of exuberant partiers. He sighed heavily. “Knox is vital to Ryker,” he stated firmly.
I
didn't have a chance to ask how before I saw Knox moving through the crowd, wearing a tux obviously made to accommodate his muscular frame. His green eyes narrowed on Bones, who immediately stepped away from me, his hands out.
“Whoa!
Relax, Knox. I was just keeping her company while we waited for you to get here,” Bones said quickly before disappearing through the crowd.
Knox's
eyes caressed me greedily. “You look beautiful.” His husky tone skated across my nerves, arousing my senses.
“Thank
you,” I responded, deliberately keeping my tone cool.
My
breath caught in my throat when he pressed a hand on my lower back, moving me through the crowd into a secluded corner. He swiftly turned me, letting his eyes rake over my body. “So, are you good with the paperwork I sent over?”
I
squirmed remembering the documents that confirmed that he was disease free and healthy. A process we required for all clients and escorts as a matter of procedure, not necessity. Others by nature did not carry diseases and females did not get pregnant unless they were mate-claimed.
I
looked at him coolly while my insides felt like jelly. “Yes, Knox, I did. You got mine, I gather.”
“Yes.
So we're both healthy and disease free. I'm glad we got that bullshit out of the way.” His eyes held mine with cool intent that tightened my abdomen. “Because I don't want anything to interfere with my pleasure when I take you tonight.” He abruptly pinned me to his side, navigating us through the excited crowd, weaving through a hallway that led to stairs blocked by two men. They nodded at him, making way for us to go up the windy stairs.
My
mind was still buzzing with all of the things I knew that he would want from me tonight. Frankly, I just wasn't sure that I was up to the task.
All
business, he briskly pushed open the huge, ornate wood door, leading me inside. “This is my suite. And that’s the outfit I want you to wear.” He gestured over to the scraps of material lying on the bed. “Once you're done, Harper will be up to escort you down the back stairs to the show.”
I
looked at the outfit and then back at him. “Outfit for what?”
“Your
sexy dance performance.” His eyes were cold.
I
poked him in the chest. “You are out of your damn mind. I'm not dancing, Knox.”
He
crossed his arms, looking down at me like I was some misbehaving child. “Of course you are. I volunteered you to perform on stage like all the other females brought here by their Doms. It's for charity.”
I
marched over to the bed, glaring at the black leather and lace corset bodysuit ensemble. “You think I'm going to do some strip show for some perverted old men to get their rocks off?”
“Don't
forget the women too.” He smirked.
I
tapped my foot. “You’re a fucking mean bastard. You know that, right?” Just when I thought we were making progress on the forgiveness front, we take three steps back. “What kind of game are you playing now?”
He
stormed over to me, cupping my jaw. “When will you realize that this is not some game, Storm? Call it liberation. I'm unchaining you from your vanilla life.” He brushed his lips against mine. “You want this. You want to be onstage for me to see you touching your body in all of the naughty ways you want me to. Call it foreplay, baby. Getting me all ready to bend you over that bed and take you to heights you've never been.” He licked my lips before patting my ass. “Now get your ass in gear.” He turned on his heels, walking out of the room without a backward glance.
He
was such a bastard. I slumped onto the bed, staring at the walls and not knowing what to do. My first instinct was to walk out of here and never turn back, but I knew that would only make him angry—so angry that he might do something I might regret… destroy Credence O. This was so wrong. I hadn't danced in years and taking my weekly cardio dance class did not count. Stripping off my dress, I pulled on the tighter-than-hell body suit that was cut so high in the back that my ass hung out. I gritted my teeth as I pulled on the shoes provided.
I'm
going to kill that jackass.
This was freaking maddening to know that not only was I Knox's private sex toy, but I was also his public one too. To make matters worse, there's nothing more frightening than a room full of rich Alpha men impatiently waiting for some balls-to-the-wall strip show like I was some agenda item at a quarterly board meeting.
The
loud knock on the door sounded loudly and Light peeped in. Her eyes widened. “Damn, that's hot.”
“Oh
, shut up! I'm freaking out here. I've been volunteered to shake my money maker”—I did air quotes—“for charity.”
Light
smiled, blinking her eyelashes dramatically. “But it's for the children. Just think of all the families you’ll provide with affordable homes just by shaking that ass. Besides, it will be an enriching experience… for all involved.”
My
fingers clenched. “Then why the hell don't you do it?”
Light
fingered the body suit like it was a piece of art. “Are you out of your mind? You know I'm rhythmically challenged.” She bopped her head. “But you know that if I could, I damn well would. I'm an exhibitionist, baby, with not a shy bone in my damn body.”
That
much was true. Now I was really annoyed at myself for panicking like some coward. I wasn't even a panic kind of girl. “I can't do this. I haven't danced since college.”
She
smirked, walking around me with eyes wide. “Oh, give me a damn break. You shake that toned ass five days a week in cardio dance class. Shit, you could probably teach the class. That's how good you are.”
I
adjusted the back of the corset in vain. My ass was determined to make an appearance. “This outfit is horrible.”
“It's
H.O.T.” She dragged me over to the huge floor mirror tucked into the corner. I just stared in shock. The tight leather corset made my waist look extremely tiny, pushing up my breasts appealingly. The high-cut sides made my legs look long and sleek. She turned me around grandly. The lace-up back revealed a naughty glimpse of skin. My apple butt was tight with cheeks peeping out suggestively. Light looked down at my black Crystal cutout shoe booties. “And I want those damn shoes when you're done.”