I nodded. “Yes. We sort of hit it off and… slept together. What the fuck?!”
Her eyes were wide and her mouth was parted. She just stared at me. I tossed my head back and closed my eyes. What a fucking mess! I’d hope she’d forgotten about me, but with her little nickname, that hope was crushed. What was she going to say before Eloise interrupted her?
“Okay, I have a few comments, questions, concerns. One being, she is hot as fuck! Excuse my French. But that leads me to my question of, I thought that wasn’t your type? Have you ever dated a butch before?”
I shook my head. “No, I haven’t. And we aren’t going to be dating. That’snotmy type, I just. I was drinking, and she was charming, and one thing led to three others. You heard her voice. None of it was my fault!”
She laughed. “Oh yeah, I did. And if pussy was my thing right now, I’d be all over that. Again, sorry for my French, I’m just in shock here.”
“So am I! What the fuck, Eloise? When I woke up the next morning, she was already gone. I thought I’d never see her again and now, here she is, and here she’ll be for months? What am I supposed to do with that information?”
“Ask for a repeat?”
I snorted out a laugh. “That was a good one.”
“I’m serious, Cara. Was it bad?”
My knowing blush was all the answer she needed and she shrugged. “Exactly. “
“Well, when you put it like that, how can I argue that logic?” I scoffed, barely believing the absurdity of the situation I had found myself in. “No, Eloise, I will not be asking her for a repeat. As earth-shattering as it was, it won’t be happening again.”
I was thankful she didn’t say anything more on the subject. I didn’t want to talk about it. She’d be gone in a month andI’d never see her again. We wouldn’t have this grand reunion, we wouldn’t fall in love and live happily ever after. Which was exactly what I wanted. I wanted to move on and pretend that entire magical night never happened.
Chapter Five
VERA
“Vera, come on. Get back to work,” Nico called as I turned around.
“Did you forget who the boss was? I’m coming.”
I had to blink a few times to clear my head. That was Cara.MyCara. Mi princesa. I’d been thinking about her since I came back to my room and she was gone.
I had only gone to the masquerade ball because my abuela wouldn’t stop hounding me about getting out there. Who knew it would’ve turned into the best night of my life?
When I first saw those baby blue eyes in the elevator, it felt as if my heart literally stopped. I knew nothing about this woman, but something in those eyes told me I’d be a fool not to learn.
Her voice was like a soft blanket fresh out of the dryer, with candy-scented dryer sheets. It was warm and sweet. When we danced, and our body’s touched, it was electric. And her kiss? It set my whole body on fire.
Being able to touch her and see her let someone else take control was getting me worked up all over again. I had to shake it away and think about it later that night, after work when I was alone with my trusted vibrator. I wasn’t ashamed to admit that ever since our night together, she’d been the star of all my fantasies.
I had tried to block her out. It was one night and I’d never see her again. But it was like once she was there, my brain wouldn’t leave it alone.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her, on top of me, coming apart. I heard her cries and begging for more. What the hell was wrong with me? I’d never been this hung up on someone before.
I knew it was my mystery masquerade woman as soon as I turned around and saw those blue eyes. I’d know them anywhere. And that smile. I’d never forget that smile, but I could tell she hadn’t recognized me until Nico called for me. I didn’t know what to make of that.
It didn’t bother me, not really. It had been a few months since we’d seen each other, and we were both wearing masks. I’m sure she was busy with work and didn’t think about our night together. I wish I had been so lucky. I thought about it all the time. The way her skin felt underneath mine. The way her laugh brightened up the whole room.
“Who’s the hot blonde? Is she single? I’d take her for a ride.” Nico nudged my shoulder, shaking me out of the memories.
I glared in his direction. “Get back to work. I’m sure she doesn’t want an unemployed man.”
He put his hands up in surrender. “Okay, okay, damn. Relax, V. I’m a feminist, remember?”
“Shut the fuck up, and get back to work, Nico. Now!”
That shut him up, and I didn’t hear a peep from him for the rest of the day. I knew any man, unemployed or not, wasn’t her type, but was a woman who worked with her hands? The way she left the next morning, I wasn’t so sure, but was I going to give up? Not a chance in hell. I’d get her to talk to me, and I knew just the way to do it.
