AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Zander had a sudden, stunning image of her, in the interrogation room, long, wavy brunette hair spilling over her shoulders and down her back as she submitted to his pleasure. He wanted to please her, to make her dreams come true.
As if sensing his scrutiny, she glanced in his direction. Their gazes met, then held. He angled his head to one side, part invitation part command. She glanced at the floor and worried her lower lip. Would it bruise? If it did, he would kiss away the ache.
He considered going to her. But he’d made his interest in her abundantly clear already, and he wanted her to come to him of her own free will. Dare he hope? As he’d reminded himself earlier, it was Christmas after all.
Slowly, all too slowly, she looked back at him, then started toward him in her too-revealing, too-adorable shorts, and those ridiculous shoes that had tripped her into his embrace. Perhaps he’d have them bronzed and keep them forever.
She stopped in front of him, but when she started to say something, the overhead lights flickered three times before they dimmed. The music stopped, plunging the dungeon into silence.
As a murmur rippled through the crowd, Maddie glanced over her shoulder at him. Zander shrugged. He had no more idea what was going on than anyone else did.
Large monitors descended from the ceiling, and a trumpet blast rent the air.
Everyone looked up to the man on the landing space on the stairs; it was now serving as a balcony of sorts.
“Hear ye; hear ye!”
His image simultaneously appeared on the screens. Aviana had certainly been keeping her AV department busy.
“Tonight, we present to you the royal court.” With a flourish, the crier extended his arm toward the top of the stairs.
Now wearing a cloak, Trinity descended the stairs, stopping to curtsy and wave from the balcony.
Dungeon Master Tore followed. If it was even possible, the burly Viking was larger than usual, and his black vest strained at the seams. Like Trinity before him, Tore paused to bow before continuing his descent.
He was followed by Master Mason and his beautiful and very pregnant bride. Hannah, wearing a long tight fitting black gown. For the first time since he’d lost his wife and child, the sight of a woman in her radiant beauty did not stab Zander with grief.
Rafe Sterling and his fiancée, Hope, were next. Rafe had approached Zander a year or so ago with a business idea, and he never returned the call. Now Zander regretted it. How much life had passed him by while he’d been living in the past?
That ended tonight.
Next, two of Aviana’s slaves made their way down the staircase wearing tight black pants and leather harnesses. Whatever else she had in store for the evening was certainly going to be memorable.
The crier blasted his trumpet again.
Two spotlights hit the top of the stairs, and a camera zoomed in on her.
Arms spread wide, Mistress Aviana invited adoration, and she received it: cheers, shouts, hoops, hollers, applause.
Maddie turned to him. “Wow.”
The club owner was always sensational. Tonight she was spectacular. Her tight silver lamé boots were at least six inches high and went to her mid-thigh.
She was poured into a one-piece silver outfit that fit like a second skin—allowing no secrets.
Her ice-blue cape had an unbelievably long train and a stand-up collar that framed her face.
Her hair, white tonight, reached her ankles. A crown with dagger-like spikes went straight up, at least a foot. The tips were shaped like snowflakes and glowed like diamonds.
But it was her makeup that left Zander speechless. Her eyes were violet—not a color found in nature. And their brightness seared. They were fringed by enormously long, frosty white lashes. Every time she moved, she shimmered. With a precise back-and-forth motion, she waved her hand like the royalty she was.
Two elves joined her, offering support as she made her way down. Unlike the others, she didn’t stop on the balcony. Then she disappeared from view.
The house lights came up slightly, Christmas techno music blasted from the speakers, and the parade began. Trinity waltzed into the dungeon first, followed by a stern-looking Tore.
The rest of the royal court followed with Mason cupping Hannah’s arm for support. How she moved so gracefully, Zander had no idea. But he certainly admired it.
Maddie, with an abandon he adored, waved back to everyone, whooping along with the rest of the crowd.
