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“My name is Elle,” she replied softly.
He arched a brow at her less-than-revealing reply. “And your last name?”
Her teeth grazed across her plump bottom lip as she contemplated her answer, and God, she had such a soft, lush-looking mouth. The kind that made him imagine all the hot, dirty ways he’d like to feel that mouth on various parts of his body.
After a few moments, she looked up at him through the long, thick lashes framing her blue eyes, her expression flirtatious and coy. “Tonight, it’s just Elle.”
So, she wanted to keep things anonymous, which certainly played into the fairy-tale aspect of the ball. That totally worked for him for the night. It wasn’t as though he was looking for anything more than a few hours of a pleasant diversion, and she certainly fit the bill with her sweet demeanor and generous curves. Not to mention, the mutual attraction flowing between them held a whole lot of promise and possibilities he wasn’t opposed to exploring.
“Okay, Just Elle,” he said in a playful tone as he bent his arm for her to slip her hand into. “Will you be my date for the evening and accompany me to the Wilder Way ball?”
She nodded, her eyes shining with delight as she accepted his offered arm. “It would be a pleasure to be your date for the evening.”
He placed his hand over the one she’d settled on his forearm, touching her more possessively than he’d planned, though he didn’t lighten his caress, because he suddenly did feel very territorial toward her. Her skin was smooth and soft beneath his fingertips, teasing his senses and making him curious to discover if she was just as supple everywhere else. If everything played out his way tonight, he’d definitely find out.
Giving her a slow, seductive smile, he decided to be honest about his interest, and from there he’d let her decide how far she wanted this evening to go. If he had his way—and he was a very persuasive guy when it came to something he set his sights on—she’d end up in his bed.
“Trust me, beautiful girl, before this night is over, I have a feeling the pleasure is going to be all mine.”
The slight hitch of her breath, along with the reciprocating desire flaring to life in her brilliant eyes, was more than enough to let Hunter know that she was just as interested.
Chapter 4
As Elle let Hunter escort her into the ballroom, she felt as though she was walking on air. Light-headed. Giddy. Beyond shocked and delighted that a gorgeous, charismatic man like Hunter Wilder had chosen her to spend the evening with when she’d been so close to leaving the premises with her stepmother and stepsisters enjoying her humiliation.
The three of them were still standing in the same spot when she and Hunter entered the room and walked past them. Helena did nothing to disguise her furious glare, while Gwen’s and Claire’s faces were pinched with disbelief that not only was she attending the ball, but her date was none other than Hunter Wilder, one of the hosts of the party.
In the span of a few minutes, she’d gone from persona non grata to the woman on Hunter’s arm who was evoking curious glances as they strolled side by side. She wasn’t used to being the center of attention, and the more heads that turned their way, the more uncomfortable she became.
“People are staring,” she murmured, feeling her face flush.
Hunter glanced down at her as he guided them toward what looked to be a huge dining area. “They’re staring because you look stunning,” he said, the warmth in his gaze genuine. “I’m sure the women are curious to know who you are since I haven’t been at a public event with someone in years, and the men are eyeing you because they’re wondering how the fuck I got so lucky to be with the most beautiful woman in the room.”
Though his flattery made her stomach flutter, she couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “I highly doubt that.”
“Don’t doubt any of it.” He stopped walking and turned toward her, his eyes dark and intense. “You are stunning, and I’m extremely lucky to spend the evening with you.”
Yet he’d just said that he hadn’t been to a public event with a woman in years. A waiter in a formal uniform came by with a tray of champagne and Elle accepted one of the flutes while Hunter declined a drink. She took a sip of the sweet, bubbly liquid before expressing a curious question.
“Why did you allow me into the ball when I wasn’t on the guest list?” she asked. “Your security guy was pretty adamant that it was protocol to turn away anyone who hadn’t RSVP’d.”
A small, teasing smile tipped up the corner of his mouth. “Because you don’t look like the type to crash a party.”
She got the feeling that was the easy answer. “And you asked me to be your date when you just stated that you haven’t been to a function with a woman in years,” she said, and didn’t miss the slightest tightening of his jaw, as if she were traversing into too personal territory. “So why me?”
He took her chin between his thumb and forefinger, startling her with that firm grip as he tipped her head back so that she was staring directly, and intimately, into his eyes for anyone to see. It made her entire body aware of him as a man who liked to be in control of a situation. The thought sent an unexpected thrill through her.
“I asked you to be my date because I’m attracted to you, in a way I haven’t desired another woman in a very long time. That’s the honest truth.” Then his voice lowered to a husky, for-her-ears-only pitch as he rubbed his thumb across her glossy bottom lip, the glide of his finger erotic and suggestive. “I don’t have any ulterior motives, unless you count the fact that I’d very much like to get you naked and in my bed at some point tonight so I can fuck you. But I’m pretty sure I insinuated as much right before we walked into the ballroom together.”
Trust me, beautiful girl, before this night is over, I have a feeling the pleasure is going to be all mine. He released her chin and she shivered as his words washed over her again like a provocative caress, causing her nipples to pucker tight against the bodice of her gown, not to mention the throb between her legs.
Yes, he had put the sensual possibility out there in the open. She should have been satisfied with his answer, but she couldn’t help but wonder why he’d deliberately avoided dating women for years when he was such a good-looking and successful man in his late twenties. Her question had given him the opportunity to reveal his reasons, but he clearly wasn’t going to provide details. And really, was it any of her business? Tonight wasn’t about dating in the real, get-to-know-you sense, even if she did have the urge to learn everything about him.
She had to remind herself that anything that happened at this ball wasn’t reality, but fantasy, and it wouldn’t be smart to mix the two. The man standing in front of her was not her Prince Charming or happily ever after—he clearly wasn’t offering her either one, and she was in no position to do anything more than enjoy this magical night with him before she had to deal with her stepmother and make some very difficult decisions that could cost her what little she had left of her parents’ legacy.
She took another drink of her champagne before speaking again, this time keeping the discussion more neutral. “I want you to know that I really was invited to the ball. I wasn’t trying to con my way in.”
He smiled at her, softening the harsh lines that had settled across his features during their conversation. “I know.”
