Page 4

4

ARCHER

A s I spin my Queen of Hearts around the dance floor, I can’t look away from her gorgeous mocha-colored eyes. There’s so much mystery in those chocolate depths and, instead of asking each other a million questions, we’re quiet, caught up in the moment, and relishing it.

There’s something about her that intrigues me like no other woman has in a very long time. Hell, maybe ever, if I’m being honest. Of course, I’m attracted to her friendly smile and pretty eyes, but she’s wearing a mask. I can’t even see her face completely, but who am I kidding? I know she’s gorgeous underneath that mask and she smells like the sweetest dessert. Like some kind of sugar-dusted flower.

And the way that gown lifts her full breasts and cinches tightly to emphasize her tiny waist is making my body respond. I mentally scold myself to keep it together and not come off like a creep, rubbing his hard-on against her. It’s not like I haven’t ever seen a beautiful woman before or been in close proximity. But, well, it’s been a while since I’ve allowed myself to indulge and this lovely woman is making me want things. Sexual things. From my experience, though, the more beautiful a woman is, the more trouble she is later.

So, yeah, just because this little beauty has my full attention right now doesn’t mean she won’t turn out to be a pain in the ass. It’s one of the reasons I’m not engaging her in conversation. I just want to enjoy the moment of us being strangers and not knowing anything about each other. I like the mystery of it. The attraction is also undeniable, hot as hell, and once the song ends, I take her hand and spin her right off the dance floor.

Privacy. I need to whisk her off somewhere so we won’t be disturbed because I’m dying to know if her soft, pink lips taste as sweet as she smells. I’m willing to bet they do. Guiding her away from the crowd, I head down a quiet hallway off the main ballroom and open the first door I see.

Empty. It looks like some kind of meeting room because there’s a long table and ten or so chairs surround it. After closing the door, I turn to my lady in red hearts and pull her back into my arms. This time there’s no music. Just the thundering of our hearts as I trace my thumb over her lower lip.

“You’re insanely beautiful,” I whisper.

“I’m wearing a mask.” Her tone is dry, but also a little full of disbelief.

How could she not believe me? She has to know how damn stunning she is, right? Unless…

Well, if she doesn’t then this woman is a rare find. Not an ounce of ego to her. That makes me think someone hurt her, made her feel unworthy, and maybe her self-esteem took a hit, getting knocked down a few pegs.

I want to know who hurt her so I can crush him. I would, too, without a second thought. Because this queen should never doubt herself. She’s fucking magnificent.

Her lips part slightly and I can see her pulse beating hard in the hollow of her throat. Her breasts rise and fall faster as I close the distance between us, lower my face, and catch her mouth in a kiss. With a soft sigh, she leans further into me, and I wish I could feel her body against mine better. But all those long, full, damn skirts are in the way.

At first, the kiss is slow and soft. An introduction. But the moment she opens her mouth in invitation and whimpers for more, I give it to her without hesitation. My tongue slides into her mouth and takes control. Exploring everything. Each recess and corner, every soft place. I deepen the kiss and our mouths fuse together. Her hands wrap around my neck and her fingernails lightly scrape the skin there. She makes some kind of soft purring sound and it’s sexy as hell.

We’re so caught up in each other that I forget about the masks. They’re not in the way too much, but I don’t think either of us is ready to take them off just yet. Something about staying anonymous, not knowing each other’s names, seeing only part of each other’s faces, and remaining two strangers attracted to each other and making out is the biggest turn on.

Lust fuels me and I grab her small waist, lift her up and set her down on the wooden tabletop. It’s smooth, a nice polished cherry color, and I step forward between her legs, still kissing her. Our mouths have grown more frantic—deep, wet, needy kisses that have me aroused and aching.

Placing my palms flat on the tabletop, not trusting them to touch her, I devour her. But the need to touch her quickly becomes overwhelming and I move my hands onto her thighs. Curling my fingers into the satin skirts, I slowly drag them up to reveal her slender legs.

Her skin is so soft, like velvet, and I curve my hands around her thighs, slide them up and grasp her ass, pulling her to the edge of the table. One step forward and my aching dick meets her satin panties and, holy fuck, it’s good. So damn good. She rolls her hips and I grind against her, holding her close, creating a friction that has us both panting for more.

I’m not sure where exactly this is going and it’s not like I have a condom in my jacket pocket. I don’t normally start making out with complete strangers, but goddamn, this woman feels like more than a mere stranger. Something about her feels almost familiar. I’m sure that’s complete bullshit and just my hormones talking, but whatever. I’m going to dry hump her until I can’t take another second. Until I’m on the verge of blowing. Because the alternative is letting her walk away and I’m not ready to do that yet.

Just because I can’t slide my aching dick inside her doesn’t mean I can’t pleasure her more, though. Releasing her plump ass, I round my hands over her thighs, spreading them further. Then I glide a hand between her legs and touch the center of her panties. A little gasp escapes her and she briefly tenses, but then relaxes. I trail a finger over her satin-covered slit. Fucking drenched.

Pure masculine satisfaction makes my chest puff out a little and I move the soaked material aside and touch her wet folds, continuing to stroke her. Her breaths are coming hard and fast now and when I sink a finger inside her wet pussy, her inner muscles clench and her hips begin moving against my hand.

“You like that?” I ask huskily, and she makes an incoherent sound as I add another finger, scissoring them. “Damn, you’re tight, sweetheart. So tight and so wet.”

I begin to kiss the side of her neck and she drops her head back with a little moan. She’s so responsive and I’m loving it. Her legs try to squeeze closed, but I nudge them open with my knee, forcing them further apart.

“No time to be shy now, my masked beauty. Take what you need. Ride my hand until you come,” I encourage her.

Our eyes lock and her hips begin moving faster as I thrust my fingers in and out.

“Oh, God,” she rasps, nails digging into my arms. She’s clutching onto me for dear life.

I plunge my fingers a little deeper, then coat my thumb in her juices and circle her clit. With just the right amount of pressure, she fractures in my arms, a soft cry erupting from those pretty red lips.

With my fingers still inside her slick channel, I can feel her muscles spasming, and I kiss her hard. A sudden knock at the door startles us both and we jerk apart. The red haze of lust lifts fast as I stand up straight, pulling her dress back down with one hand and licking my fingers clean.

She hops off the table just as the door opens and a man in a devil mask appears. “Oh, sorry,” he says. “I didn’t realize anyone was in here.”

He makes a quick exit, dragging a giggling masked woman with him, and I let out a low breath, and turn back to my Queen of Hearts. Suddenly, I’m desperate to know her name. The urge to know everything about her fills me, but I also need to do what I came here to do—meet my potential new client and keep an eye on the Rossi family. So far, I’ve been a little preoccupied.

“I have a couple of things I need to do,” I tell her, glancing down at my watch. Holy hell, how has an hour gone by already? Reluctant to let her go, I grab her hand. “You aren’t leaving any time soon are you?”

“No,” she whispers.

“Good. Meet me outside at the fountain in a half an hour, okay?”

She nods. “Okay.”

I press a kiss to her knuckles.

“What’s your name?” she asks softly, tilting her head. Big, dark curls spill over her shoulder and a fresh wave of need pulses through me.

“I’ll tell you at the fountain,” I promise, suppressing my desire. Even though I don’t want to, I release her hand then turn and walk away from the most beautiful distraction I’ve ever had the good fortune of encountering. Pausing at the door, I glance over my shoulder and see her fixing her mask which is slightly crooked. “Half an hour.”

“Right.”

With a firm nod, I make my exit even though it pains me. And, yeah, I’m in a lot of discomfort so the first thing I do is head straight into the men’s bathroom and get my dick under some semblance of control. The last thing I want to do is walk back into the party with an erection the size of Texas. After mustering up the most unpleasant, least sexy thoughts possible, my dick simmers down.

After washing my hands, I straighten my skeleton mask then head out to track down Derek Travers who asked me for some help. Depending on the read I get and the vibes he gives off, I may or may not decide to take him on and help him out. I’m good at reading people and don’t like wasting my time on assholes.

With thoughts of meeting back up with my scorching Queen of Hearts in less than half an hour, I search out Travers and we end up having a good conversation. He’s former military and straightforward. A no bullshit kind of guy. We go over the specifics of what he needs and I agree to help him.

Okay, one thing done and one thing left on the agenda. My gaze sweeps the crowd for Miceli Rossi and I spot him and his wife near the dessert table where I ran into my mystery woman earlier. I also keep scanning the ballroom for her, but I don’t see her anywhere.

A flash of disappointment fills me, but I push it aside and stroll over and greet Miceli. I like being in his good graces for a number of reasons and maintaining a healthy, communicative relationship is mutually beneficial for the both of us. I don’t share a lot with him on the personal front, but that’s just me. While he is more of an open book, I’m definitely the closed book. Opening up isn’t something I know how to do. It’s probably why I didn’t reveal my name yet to my mystery woman.

But I’m going to tell her out at the fountain. In fact, a part of me is looking forward to discovering her name, too. Which is strange because normally I don’t care. I’ve slept with women and not known their names. Never even bothered to ask. Why would I, though? I don’t do relationships and I always make it perfectly clear upfront. I’m a loner. Giving more than a night or two of myself to a woman is unprecedented...and impossible.

However, for some inexplicable reason, I am absolutely entranced by a total stranger. It’s bizarre and I’m having a little trouble wrapping my head around it. I’m normally a level-headed kind of guy who normally doesn’t walk around with his head in the clouds, lusting after a particular woman. Yeah, it’s been a few months since I’ve had any action, so that could be it. Or, maybe it’s because she is the loveliest creature I’ve ever met and she intrigues me like no one else. The instant attraction is insane and like nothing I’ve ever experienced, and I need to find out more about her.

Miceli and I discuss Carmine Gallo and he’s becoming a bigger threat every day. I keep checking my watch, counting down the seconds, and he notices.

“Am I keeping you from something?” Miceli asks.

I give my head a shake. “Sorry. I’m just a little distracted tonight.”

“Anything I can help with?”

“No, just an upcoming meeting. But, thanks.”

“Well, don’t let me keep you. If you hear anything else about Gallo, let me know.”

“I will.”

After a quick nod to him and Alessia, I grab two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter and head toward the large back doors that exit out onto a garden patio with a large fountain and plenty of private nooks for canoodling.

I’m right on time and eagerly counting down the seconds and distance that separate us. I’m ready to unmask her, share some champagne and talk beneath the stars. But when I step out onto the spacious cobblestone patio, my gaze zeroes in on the fountain.

She isn’t there.

Disappointment floods me and I look down at my watch for the hundredth time. It’s been over thirty minutes and she isn’t here.

Okay, relax, I tell myself. You’re acting like a damn stalker. Give the woman a minute.

More than likely, she got held up by a party guest. I’m still disappointed, though, because I rushed out here to get to her and she’s nowhere in sight. Maybe I misread our chemistry. I don’t know, she seemed to like coming on my hand.

Am I just a fool, falling under her spell? That’s only happened once before and it didn’t end well. I’m a dangerous man and loving me can only lead to ruin—like it did with Caitlin.

Maybe it’s best that I never see my Queen of Hearts again. For her own safety.

And, hell, for my own sanity because she has my head spinning.