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“Apart from my vibrators, you’ll find nothing there,” I said, trying to lighten the mood.
He didn’t react. A brooding darkness seemed to come over him, and a frown line creased his forehead. I wished I’d never asked him about his sister. The abuse she’d received sounded like a heartbreaking time in his life.
“More champagne?” he asked.
I finished what I had left. “Why not?” I handed him my glass. When he took it from me, I placed my hand on his forearm. “I really am sorry about your sister, James.”
“I know, pet.”
He leaned close, and I held my breath, waiting to see what would happen next. His lips were inches away from mine. “Thank you for coming with me tonight. I’m the luckiest man alive to have you on my arm.”
Sincerity filled his eyes, and that made me think that maybe he was telling the truth. Maybe he did think of himself as the luckiest man alive.
I wasn’t anything like the beautiful woman who threw themselves at him—the ones he wanted to avoid at these parties. I wasn’t Lyla, who was part of the New York elite, and I didn’t look like a stick-thin model. But some junk in the trunk wasn’t always such a bad thing.
He smiled at me sexily. The man could seduce anyone at any time. Could have anyone as his pet. I wasn’t sure why he’d chosen me, but I wasn’t complaining, and I would do anything he asked of me.
***
The house wasn’t a house. It was more like a fairytale castle in the middle of a forest. The drive from the gate alone took about fifteen minutes, and that was after we’d gotten through the Fort Knox security gate.
I stared out of the window. “I half expect to see deer and bears running in front of us.”
“Deer roam freely. Bears sometimes show their faces looking for food.”
I glanced at him expecting to see a smile on his face, but he was dead serious. After we got through the forest, we came upon bright green lawns big enough to play pro ball on and no snow. Were we in some made-up kingdom like Belgravia or Madelvia?
“How is it possible that there’s no snow here? Did we go through a portal when we came through the security?”
“Not quite. Money can make anything happen.”
“You’re not kidding.” I knew people lived this way, but it didn’t seem real, and I hadn’t even been inside the house yet.
“I can’t believe we’re in Pennsylvania.”
“We are. This property come from old-money and a different era. Back in the day, the Bellmores were real estate moguls. They built in in the 1800s I think.”
“They’re in technology now, aren’t they?”
“They’re in everything.”
“You have friends in high places.”
“I have friends in many places.”
What kind of world had I entered into by agreeing to be his pet and his party date? Flight or fight kicked in, and even though we hadn’t stepped through the door yet, waves of anxiety washed over me. “I don’t know why I’m suddenly so nervous.”
He reached out and laid a hand on top of mine, which was now clenched around my stomach.
“Breathe, pet. Don’t let anyone scare or intimidate you. I’m not going to lie. Some of the women may try. You’re worth a million of anyone here, and I know you can hold your own.”
“Is there anything I need to be aware of before we go in? Who I should avoid?”
He reached up and straightened his already straight bow tie. “Lyla will be there.”
It took a few seconds for my brain to process what he’d said, and then my mouth dropped open. “You’re kidding?” The high-pitched tone of my voice shocked me. “Your ex will be there, and you didn’t think to tell me?”
He shrugged. “I didn’t think it would be important.”
“Not important?” I did some deep yogic breathing. Now wasn’t the time to go all Tasmanian Devil on him. “You thought wrong.”
“Remember, you’re on equal footing here. Don’t pay any attention to her or anyone else for that matter.”
I felt a surge of annoyance towards him, but I swallowed it down. Once we had some time alone, I would let him know exactly how pissed I was. Then he would discover how sharp his pet’s claws were.
“Ready?” he asked.
I gave him a brilliant if somewhat fake smile. “As I’ll ever be.”
We pulled up to the front of the house and needing some reassurance, I gripped his hand.
“I promise you’ll be fine, pet.”
“This is billionaire-land. Everyone will take one glance at me and know I don’t come from money.” That and your cover-model-looking ex will be there.
“Believe me, money doesn’t make a person. The world you’re about to enter is all smoke and mirrors.”
“If you say so.”
“I do.” He touched a fingertip to my cheek. “If it gets too much for you, we’ll leave.”
