Page 7 of Out of Office Nights (Royals of Cartana #2)
Tightening her grip on her fraying emotions, she followed them into the room, and her breath whooshed out with wonder all over again.
Admittedly, she’d been too busy making wrong choices yesterday to fully appreciate his creation, even though she’d been speechless when she’d tried it on.
She’d been mildly alarmed that he might see how deeply affected she was by his raw, unbridled talent, that tinge of envy that his artistry wasn’t stunted in any way by doubt or whatever demons seemed to be stifling her.
Now she fully appreciated the breathtaking design of the unapologetically feminine and confidence-endowing strapless gown with a long back slit, embellished with glittering crystals banding the waist. But what elevated the ensemble was the detachable caped sleeves, which fell to the floor to end at the precise length of the dress’s hem, embellished with the same crystals that formed a wide collar to hold the sleeves in place.
And in the centre of that collar, instantly recognisable and formed entirely of studded diamonds, was the opulent D signature logo.
Long before she’d met and experienced the befuddling secret attraction to the shameless playboy behind the House of Domene label, Sabeen had fallen head over heels with Teo’s sublime talent.
Here, now, she could put her mortifying personal feelings aside and bask in the utter glory of Teodor’s design, allow herself the thrill of knowing this masterpiece would grace her body, that she might even rediscover her own inspiration simply by wearing the stunning gown.
She barely registered setting aside her handbag and undressing, her only focus on opening herself up to that possible inspiration as Mara and Gio fussed about, cinching her into the gown and presenting her with silver stilettos and a velvet, crystal-studded clutch.
She’d worn her hair up and done her make-up in shades of silver beforehand, and she was fastening her simple diamond bracelet when she heard the muted indrawn breath behind her.
Eyes snapping to the mirror, they collided with the molten silver searing gaze of Teodor, decked out in a silk-lapelled tuxedo so sublime on his gladiatorial body it was positively blasphemous.
‘Leave us.’ The gruff command electrified the space as she was conducting a helpless once-over that he was mirroring so belly-hollowing effectively then added, when his assistants didn’t move fast enough, ‘Now, please.’ His gaze darted to Mara then to Gio, with a nod and a flash of a supernova smile before adding, ‘Thank you for your hard work.’
Again, since he’d snatched every crumb of attention, Sabeen barely registered Mara preening at his praise before his focus was back on her.
On his creation.
The harsh correction didn’t stop the careening butterflies from turning her belly into a rollercoaster as he sauntered closer her, brazenly trailing a third appraisal, then going one better to circle her, bringing that formidable presence and intensely evocative scent with him.
‘You look exquisite,’ he stated after his second circuit.
Her fingers convulsed around her clutch at the throaty offering. ‘You mean your gown looks exquisite,’ she forced out.
She couldn’t afford to be lumped in with others. Not when her very skin itched to preen just like Mara. Just like the many hapless women—and men—out there who only needed to set eyes on this man to fall into throes of adoration.
She was not and never would be one of them .
Her one disastrous relationship with Nathan Gray had taught her that it would be pure folly to tangle with another playboy. Or any man for that matter.
From the corner of her eye, she saw his nostrils flare at her crisp correction. Then his eyes narrowed a fraction.
‘A gown is simply a gown until the right woman breathes life into it. But if you insist, then, sí , I’m much impressed with how it’s turned out.’
The right woman…
She had no business experiencing a tinge of pride. She knew without a doubt that had she not been available, he would’ve found a hundred others to take her place. Just like Nathan Gray did after—
‘I’m ready. Shall we go?’ The query was sharper than she’d intended, but when she peered at him, his gaze remained on the gown, bringing relief that he hadn’t noticed the tiny slip in her composure. Because, curiously, he seemed to have slipped into creative mode.
‘Not just yet,’ he murmured.
She watched him stride across the room to the tablet he’d used before, pick it up and return, the stylus flying over the screen.
‘What are you doing?’
He didn’t answer. The fierce grasp of concentration held her reluctantly rapt, her sudden craving to know what he was doing making her take a half-step towards him, only to freeze when he frowned at her.
‘Stay still, if you please.’
She opened her mouth to snap that she wasn’t a dog to be ordered to heel, but again she held her tongue, that bite of envy returning more sharply when she saw that he was sketching a whole new design along the lines of what she wore.
‘Should I bother asking if that’s for your next collection, or are you going to shut me down again?’
His sketched for ten more seconds before he holstered the stylus. Only then did he meet her gaze. Making her immediately regret the impetuous question when his gaze probed deep. Deeper than she cared for. ‘It wasn’t important to you before. And yet you ask again. Why?’
Because I need a crumb of that inspiration.
She pressed her tongue to the roof of her mouth to stop those words from spilling out. Then forced a shrug. ‘I’m just making conversation.’
The blatant lie garnered cynical arched brows that punched heat into her throat and up into her face.
‘You expect me to believe you’re interested in conversation when every look you fling my way drips with disdain?’ he said, clearly unaffected by the thought.
Cringing, she pivoted towards the door. The quicker she got this night over with, the quicker she could shut herself away from all the glitz, temptation and histrionics of existing in Teodor’s world.
Perhaps she could console herself with the fact that her true feelings about the type of man he was hadn’t shone through after all.
‘It’s not personal,’ she threw over her shoulder.
His mocking laugh drilled twin tunnels of fire and ice through her.
Nathan, too, had laughed at her.
More frequently and over more serious matters than she cared to recall. The fire disappeared, leaving behind icy goose bumps that thankfully the long sleeves hid.
‘It seems I’ve struck another nerve,’ he drawled, because apparently, he could see through her facade to read her just as effectively.
‘You don’t seem too concerned about it, so I’m sure offending me means nothing to you.’
A slight flaring of his nostrils amplified his displeasure. ‘Careful there, carina ,’ he murmured as they walked side by side towards the living room. ‘Convince yourself that you know even remotely what makes me tick and I’ll be forced to prove one or two things to you.’
She just about caught herself from stumbling at the words spoken with the harshness of crushed glass.
When she examined his fallen-angel features, she was met with the formidable wall of granite that reminded her of his centuries-old roots and his brief stint in the army with his brothers in his early twenties.
How the Spartan savagery that had birthed his ancestors flowed through his veins.
That simply because he’d chosen a career dedicated to dressing and undressing women didn’t mean he was in any way soft or affable.
Burning awareness flowing from her elbow and demolishing that ice she’d lamented just moments ago dragged her gaze down to discover he’d wrapped his hand around her arm to halt her stumble.
He didn’t hurry to release her. And a part of her wasn’t in a hurry to demand it either.
The shocking realisation triggered a visceral reaction. Before she could act on it, a dramatic gasp diverted both their attention.
Gio was staring at them, mouth agape. Eyebrows raised. A puzzling reaction, because he’d already seen her in the gown.
‘What—?’ Sabeen started to ask.
Mara interrupted, her focus fixed squarely on Teo. ‘Did you need anything else, Teo?’
He dropped her arm, striding briskly for the door. ‘No, gracias . I’ll see you both in Milan in a couple of days. Have a safe flight back.’
His back was turned so that Teo didn’t see the longing on Mara’s face. Sabeen saw it, though. And something unpleasant flipped in her belly.
It was yet another thing she was wrestling to dismiss when they stepped out of the limo and onto the red carpet leading into the X-Ceed Heights Building in Lower Manhattan twenty minutes later.
‘Do you realise your employee is in love with you? Do you care, or are you arrogant enough to simply take that as part of your due?’ she blurted.
His head snapped sharply to hers. ‘Scusi?’
Her desperation for the earth to open up and swallow her whole brawled with the need to discover his reaction to this bout of madness she couldn’t seem to stop. Heaven above, what was wrong with her?
‘I…’ She shook her head, ignoring the flashbulbs igniting giddily around her as the eager paparazzi caught their first glimpse of their beloved Playboy Prince.
‘You what?’ he prompted, a sharp edge to his voice. ‘I’m learning a few things about you. I can’t quite decide whether I want my frosty creative director back or if I should delve deeper into just what is behind this curious turn of events.’
‘I… I’m not frosty,’ she argued far too weakly.
The corner of his mouth twitched with a barely there smile. ‘Indeed. I’ve seen you deign to laugh with my sister-in-law.’ He leaned close. ‘And let’s not forget that kiss, hmm?’
Heat pounded her. ‘I thought we weren’t going to talk about that?’
‘You threw this door wide open, carina . So tell me, is it simply a case of my being tried and convicted of offences trapped in that beautiful head of yours?’ he parried.
‘It’s not… I’m not…’
He bent towards her, ignoring the even more frenzied snapping of media photos she knew with stomach-dropping certainty would wing their way around the social media universe before the hour was out.
‘At least be brave enough to admit your truth, Sabeen. Maybe that would unblock all this…tension that’s holding your creativity back.’