Page 6

One week later – London

Caleb stepped into the Den, speechless. He was in awe of the decadent ball around him. The theme was fairy tales, and the entire estate was decorated so that one felt like they were walking through an enchanted kingdom.

He stood in the great room, watching a man and woman twirl and spin from the top of a tower. He suspected it had been designed and built just for this night. They were acrobats dressed in shimmery clothing that left little to the imagination.

“Christ, that is amazing,” Cordell said, enthralled by the woman.

She was stunning, but not the woman Caleb was looking for.

In another area of the room, a woman was waving around a rod that was lit on fire while she twirled and spun.

Plenty of ladies were dressed as princesses or queens, and most of the men came as knights, including Cordell.

Caleb had decided to come dressed as a frontier man, with a bandana tied around his face.

It was a silly outfit, but in truth, they all were.

His eyes roamed the room, looking for Celeste. Devons said she would be here tonight. He’d only returned to London last night; the time at the Haven Estate had been a heavier experience than he or Cordell expected.

Seeing his father’s family property for the first time unleashed deep emotions in him, both good and bad; oddly, the place felt like home.

Most of the servants from when his father and mother resided there were gone, except for the butler and the main cook.

They all remembered his mother fondly, pleasing both him and Cordell.

He hoped her visit there would help put her at ease.

They moved into a smaller room where a beautiful woman played a romantic song on a piano in the center. Sofas circled her with couples in various states of passionate embraces. Cordell tugged on his collar, and Caleb almost chuckled. His brother didn’t fluster easily.

“The gardens are supposed to hold many spectacles as well. Shall we go see?”

Cordell seemed reluctant to leave the room but finally nodded. They strode into the club's vast gardens. More than one person had informed him that the Den’s grounds were littered with small cottages rented by lords and ladies of the ton for liaisons during the season.

Each building was supposedly designed to have a whimsical feel.

The rumors he and Cordell heard suggested one of the club owners had won the London property in a card game.

The original owner had designed the gardens to house multiple mistresses.

Caleb shook his head, imagining the drama that went with that scenario.

From where he stood, he could only see the roofs. A woman with bright red hair, dressed as a princess, stopped before them. A green mask concealed her face, but she beamed at Cordell. “Games are afoot, kind knight. Would you care to join me?”

She nodded to where a crowd was gathered.

Couples were in the middle of being tied together.

It appeared that it was for some type of foot race.

His brother didn’t need to be asked again.

He held his arm out to the pretty redhead.

Cordell motioned for him to join them, but he shook his head.

He was looking for a blonde-headed temptress.

Caleb had to admit a scandalous ball was a splendid way to make money.

He was curious to learn more details about how Celeste had gone from hostess to club owner.

He suspected that she assumed he judged her for her occupation, but he didn’t.

He simply wanted to know everything about her.

To him, Celeste was like a multi-faceted crystal, every angle revealed something even more alluring.

A familiar laugh stopped him in his tracks.

He turned towards the sound and halted when he found where the voice was coming from.

His Celeste stood with a man dressed as a king.

She grinned at the man, and an overwhelming desire to pummel him filled Caleb.

It was a ridiculous response; he barely knew the beauty.

He stopped and studied her. She looked stunning, dressed in layers of purple lace that hinted at her enticing form beneath.

On her back were sparkly wings, and she had a similar shimmer on her face, outlining her mask.

Caleb swallowed because the shimmery powder also dipped down into the valley of her breast. His body hummed, wanting to know where it stopped.

Her blonde hair was twisted in braids with flowers.

She looked like some type of fairy. Her mask of green leaves and purple lace hid the top half of her face, but he knew it was her.

The king next to her peered down at her bosom.

Caleb clenched his hands before making his way to them.

He may not have any claim on her, but neither did the man leering at her, as far as he knew.

Celeste slapped the man on his arm jokingly just as Caleb arrived. Her eyes widened when she saw him. She knew who he was; he didn’t doubt that at all. The corners of her mouth tilted upward in a smirk. “King Arthur, it seems we have a frontier man joining us.”

The man looked at Caleb, but there wasn’t any annoyance that he’d interrupted their conversation. He grinned and said, “We haven’t seen many of those.”

Celeste’s painted pink lips pursed as if she pondered his statement. Damn it, she was beautiful.

“It is good to see you, Celeste,” he said, partially because he wanted King Arthur to know he had a past with her. It was petty, but he didn’t care.

A bark of laughter escaped the man. “I will allow you to speak with your friend, fairy princess. As always, it is good to see you.”

She smiled. “You too.”

Was this man her lover? He didn’t care that she wasn’t some young, innocent miss, but a primal need to be the only man in her bed right now flared through him.

She turned back to Caleb and sighed. “You do know, frontier man, that names are a secret at the Ball of Sin. You could be kicked out for sharing such details.”

“Is he your lover?”

Her eyes widened in shock, but then she frowned at him. “I don’t think that is any of your business.”

It wasn’t, but it didn’t prevent his stomach from revolting at the idea. He pushed away his possessiveness and asked, “Why did you run away from Derry Hall?”

Her eyes flared. “I do not run from anyone.”

He leaned in so close that his lips brushed her jaw before touching the part of the mask next to her ear. “Liar.”

***

Want flared within Celeste at Caleb’s closeness.

It was such a shame that this man was a lord.

Temptation swirled in her to forget her rule, at least for one night.

She turned her head, and their lips were a breath apart.

She placed her hand on his chest, and he gently brushed his mouth across hers.

She stumbled back, and he ran a hand through his hair; his eyes filled with unconcealed desire. Celeste looked around, hoping no one was watching them. Not that it mattered. Nothing that happened at the Ball of Sin was mentioned outside the event. Those who overshared were banned from future balls.

Celeste touched her mouth and glanced about again. Standing here as an attendee kissing a man felt odd, instead of hosting and managing the event. Still, she was glad she wasn’t in charge tonight. This night was hers to do with as she wished.

Her gaze roamed over Caleb, really taking in his costume for the first time. He wore no mask but a bandanna around his face. He truly embodied what she imagined a villain in a western tale would look like. She giggled. “You look so out of place.”

His eyes turned mischievous, making her heart thump wildly. “Not all fairy tales are from this part of the world.”

“True.”

Silence wafted between them, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. From the moment Celeste met Caleb, they had a natural ease. She didn’t often find that with others. The thought disconcerted her, and not wanting to focus on it, Celeste asked, “What do you think of your first Ball of Sin?”

“It is not like anything I have ever experienced. Did you plan it?”

She sighed. “I normally do, but Derry and Devons insisted they arrange it this year. They wanted me to be here as an attendee. They said I work too hard.”

“Something tells me they aren’t wrong,” he murmured.

He looked around, and disappointment flared in Celeste that he might leave her.

Why did she want him to be at the ball for her, instead of exploring the vice that beckoned most of London—well, everyone but the innocents.

Making her happy, he turned back to Celeste and said, “I have a proposition for you. Tonight, how about I’m not the type of man you dislike?

You can introduce regular Caleb Monteith to the Ball of Sin. ”

She doubted this man had ever been a regular anything. Celeste asked, “As a friend?”

Her stomach clenched as his gaze darkened. “No, Celeste. Definitely not as a friend.”

She leaned forward and said, “You must not say my name.”

Caleb looked down at her, amused, and ran his thumb along her lower lip. “Then what am I to call you if I only have this one night?”

She grinned back at him. “I’m Thumbelina.”

He laughed. “That is not who I would have expected.”

“Well, I’ve never proclaimed to be predictable.”

“No, I wouldn’t dare think such a thing of you,” he said softly.

Desire flared between them, and Celeste decided she wanted one night with Caleb. She would never be his mistress, but for this one moment, she would choose him. Shocking them both, Celeste held out her hand to him. “Only one night. It is all I can offer you.”

A grin filled his face. “I will take it.”

He took her hand, and she said again, “I mean it, Caleb.”

“Who is using names now? Give me a tour of the gardens, Thumbelina. I’ve heard about the Den’s whimsical cottages.”

She pulled him down a pathway. They crossed by the Turkish cottage. A fire had been lit inside, making the multi- colored glass windows glow. “This is a popular cottage for liaisons. It has a heated pool inside.”

He groaned as if she’d just tempted him with a treat. Laughter escaped her, and she guided him further down the pathway. Next was the Swan Cottage. “This one isn’t very popular. It has lots of feathers and a gigantic bed shaped like a bird.”

Caleb laughed. “I’m assuming not your favorite based on your lack of love for geese.”

She giggled. “No, definitely not.”

He smiled and wiggled his eyebrows playfully. “I will take it if I get to spend more time with you.”

She shook her head. “Shockingly, this one is booked as well.”

Celeste continued on. Caleb still held her hand, gently stroking the inside of her palm as they walked.

His touch was leisurely and tender, making her ache to lean into him and let him roam his hands all over her, but she didn’t.

They stopped at the conservatory cottage, the club’s most popular building for interludes.

The walls were all glass, and privacy came from the flora covering them. “This is our most booked cottage.”

“I’m guessing also not available.”

She gave him a small smile and pulled him back towards the main building, stopping at a discreet door.

“Where does this go?” he asked.

“My apartment.”

He studied her carefully. “Celeste, I’m enjoying this game, but I don’t expect anything from you tonight.”

She ran her hands along his chest, knowing his words were true, but she’d already decided. “All we have is this one night. Normally, I have other responsibilities that keep me occupied, but right now I’m free.”

“I want more than this,” he said quietly.

Celeste brushed her lips against his. “This is all I can give you. It is your choice, Caleb.”

He pulled her firmer against him and kissed her deeply.

His tongue prodded hers open and then slowly teased and tempted moans from her.

Celeste allowed herself to be seduced and enticed.

She liked it far too much to resist. Still, warning bells sounded in her head that she was playing with something that would have serious repercussions.

Yet, that didn’t stop her from leading him inside and up the stairs. After all, it was the Ball of Sin—the one night where those in London could indulge and be as decadent as they liked. Why should she deny herself what she wanted most?