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Chapter 1
Liz
Thenightstartedoffwith champagne flowing and the air buzzing with excitement, but now I find myself pressed into a dark corner, feeling the weight of expectations bearing down on me. My dress suddenly too tight, I fought the urge to rip off my bedazzled mask and flee from the masquerade.
Everything’s riding on this night.
People have to know they’re not dealing with just another NPO.
Heather’s words of warning had been on a loop in my head all night, reminding me just how much I still had to prove to her. This night means everything to me. As if I hadn’t been doing exactly that for the past three years. They say I’m too young, too green, too inexperienced to carry my weight. Their doubts of me have been echoing in my head all night, reminding me of the obstacles I’ve had to overcome to get to this point. But it’s not just about proving them wrong, it’s about proving to myself that I can rise to the occasion.
The string octet went into overdrive, a swell of music seemingly buffeting the dancing couples like buoys on rough waves. It took my agitation with it, and I reached out for the cool brass doorknob to my left before it got the better of me.
Rushing out onto the cobbled balcony, I gulped in the chill of the fresh night air. The decadent Grecian decor continued from the ballroom with luscious silk draping that created a dream-like maze outside. Even better for me to hide and catch my breath for a few minutes.
“I’ll keep your secret, if you’ll keep mine.”
A chill went down my spine at the sudden realization I was no longer alone. Gasping, I whirled round and was met with a hulking figure - tall, dark, broad shouldered. The tux wasn’t a rental, I could tell, and the diamond-encrusted matte black mask confirmed that. A woody scent wafted over to me, instantly entrancing, like masterful spellwork that made me want to know more.
“That depends… What’s your secret?” I couldn’t see the doors to the balcony, but the muffled sounds of the revelry inside told me the stranger had closed them.
He smiled at me, a beaming smile that seemed to glow in the moonlight. Like he himself was enshrouded by the dream I’d escaped into. And his eyes… Bottomless pools of the deepest brown held me captive with their wordless warning of what could happen to me should I look away.
So I didn’t.
The chiseled stranger took another step toward me, electrifying the shrinking space between us. “That I’ve been watching you all night, and find you incredibly enchanting.” Closer still. I could feel the warmth of his body, feel his slow, steady breath on my cheeks. “That I followed you out here with the worst intentions.”
My heart skipped in my chest and it suddenly became hard to breathe again. I couldn’t see much of his face, but I didn’t need to. Everything I needed to know was plain as day in his eyes - he wanted me.
Skin blazing under his sensuous consideration, I found myself closing the last distance keeping me from him. My mind reeled with rational, logical arguments against what I was about to do, but the dream state in which I found myself softened the blow. This is exactly what I needed.
I was tired of not getting what I wanted. Being told to wait. To work harder and grow more.
So I reached up and grazed his chiseled jaw with my fingertips. His eyes flickered over to my wrist and he kissed it, before locking with mine again.
“Your secret’s safe with me,” I said.
He snaked his arm around my waist and pressed his body close against mine, eliminating time and space and every single reason why I shouldn’t be allowing it. And when he lowered his face to mine, I lifted my chin, ever so slightly, accepting the invitation with parted lips that tingled in anticipation.
His first touch was sweet, almost hesitant, the way his mouth ghosted over my own. But it was enough to awaken something in me, something I hadn’t felt in a very long time. A flame sprang to life in my belly, spreading out in pulsing, fiery waves that settled between my legs. More, was the only thought in my head. The only thing my body knew to ask for.
I ran the tip of my tongue along the length of his top lip, beckoning him to give me just that. More.
The stranger’s tongue came out to meet mine, warm and promising. I opened for him, and the moment I did, he plunged into me, deepening the kiss with a feverish passion that made my head spin. Dizzy and floating, I clung to him, barely aware that he had both his arms around me. That my feet were no longer touching the ground.
He set me down against the outer railing, his hand absorbing most of the pressure on my back. There was another pressure, a fervid one, calling my attention. His hips pressed into me, the evidence of his arousal teasing me through several layers of my ballgown. And through it all, not once did his lips leave mine.
We devoured each other as though that kiss was the culmination of a century of yearning. Like old lovers reunited, bodies recognizing each other in the dark and hankering for what they knew would come. Our lust spilled out of and into each other in a heady force that was as dangerous as it was passionate.
“I’m going to need you to be very quiet,” his breath was hot and ragged on my lips.
All I could do was give a whimpering nod, and lunged forward to capture his mouth again. I couldn’t be without it. I didn’t like my face without his attached.
Through the growing desire ringing in my ears, I heard him free himself. Then, urgent hands rifled through the voluminous lengths of my ballgown. I sucked in a shaky breath when his skin finally brushed against my naked thighs, a feathery touch grazing all the way up to unburden me of my underwear.
He ran two fingers through my slick folds and I bit my lip to keep from moaning out loud. My swollen clit pulsed and ached with a carnal need for absolute release and somehow, even though I had no reason to believe it, I knew this man was going to give it to me.
