Page 14 of Ravage (Dark Desires #1)

HERE'S TO AN AMAZING NIGHT

IMOGEN

Late Saturday afternoon, after a quick visit to Sebastian's office to attempt to relieve the sexual frustration I've been experiencing since Friday night, I knock on the door of Annika's suite.

"That's not what you're wearing, is it?" she says in way of greeting, looking down at my tights and oversized jumper.

"Of course not," I reply, holding up my overnight bag.

"Oh thank god. I was worried that catching feelings meant you'd turned into a fashion tragedy." She steps aside to let me into her suite.

I groan, dropping my bag on her couch. "I'm seriously regretting telling you anything, ever."

"But then, who would you have to tell you that you're being a pussy?" She grins, and I roll my eyes.

"It's no longer a problem. The caught feelings are gone."

She shoots me a look that tells me she doesn't believe a word I just said.

To be honest, neither do I, but there's no way I'm telling her that .

We spend the next two hours getting ready, with Annika curling my hair while I do my makeup in front of her bathroom mirror. She then squirts me with some of her fancy perfume I love but have never gotten around to purchasing myself.

By the time we're both ready, we are hot enough to stop traffic, and it feels good to be going somewhere that's outside of the walls I work in.

I'd selected a skin tight red dress that pushes my breasts up perfectly. I might not be getting laid tonight, but nothing wrong with looking sexy as hell.

We meet everyone else downstairs, and file out to the cars. Sebastian organised for replacement drivers for the night, ones who have no idea what really goes on here. They think this is a high-end hotel and we're the staff... at least half of that is true.

Annika and I hop into one of the Audi's along with Daniella and Sabrina.

Kresta pouts at missing out, but Dante drags her into the car behind before she can get too upset.

He's basically an extension of our little girl squad anyway, often inviting himself along when we have movie nights in Annika's suite, so she can't get too mad.

Sebastian has organised for each car to include several bottles of expensive champagne.

I think he enjoyed having a chance to spoil everyone and wanted to make the evening a fun experience for us all.

The birthday boy is still grumbling about everyone making too much of a big deal out of it all, and no one has the heart to tell him that we're all just excited to be doing something without having to worry about clients.

"Here's to an amazing night, ladies," Annika says, holding her glass up once all four are filled to the brim.

We clink glasses and each take a sip as the car drives through the front gate.

I don't know why, but anticipation shoots through me. Like something about tonight is going to change my life.

Which is just stupid, because what could possibly happen ?

When we arrive at the venue, we step into the lifts and head up to the rooftop bar. Sebastian has reserved the entire place for the night, and I'm surprised to find so many unfamiliar faces already there.

"Who are all these people?" I ask Annika quietly as we walk ahead of the birthday boy to enter the bar.

She grins. "Did you think, just because Connell can be a major grump at times, that he doesn't know other people?"

I shrug. "Honestly? Yes."

She laughs, shaking her head. When I glance over my shoulder, Connell gives me a pained look, and I get the feeling that it had not been his idea to include other people in the night's celebrations.

"Annika, did you bully Connell into giving you a list of people?"

She mock gasps and places a hand to her chest. "I would never. I just made him hand over his phone." Her grin is evil, and I pity poor Connell right now.

When Annika has her mind set on something, she will always find a way to make it happen. And the fact that the Irishman has been smitten with her for years - but refuses to act on it - means that he was powerless against those big brown eyes fluttering at him.

There are at least forty people here, not including those of us from work. I run my gaze over the strangers and flick Connell a look.

"Who knew you had so many ruggedly handsome friends, Connell?"

He snorts. "I play rugby with about half of them."

Annika perks right up. "Ooohhh, which ones?"

He points a finger at her. "Do not touch any of them. They would have heart failure if you simply looked at them, woman. "

She pouts, batting her eyelashes at him. "I mean, you're welcome to touch me, then."

I groan as Connell turns bright red and makes a hasty exit, heading towards the group of men I'd been eyeing earlier. "Must you antagonise the poor man?"

"Yes. Until he actually does something about his little crush, I will continue to dangle the bait in front of him."

Annika had told me that on the night Connell first came to a club night, before he worked there, they'd had some of the dirtiest, hottest sex of her life.

But he's kept her at arm's length ever since.

She hasn't been able to give me a straight answer as to why, but my money is on Connell being like me, terrified of catching feelings and preferring to keep sex as a physical release only.

Annika doesn't have the same opinion on relationships as I do, but is happily single, so hasn't bothered putting herself out there.

God help any man or woman she decides to date though, because she's a handful.

Sebastian comes up behind us, placing a hand on both our lower backs. "Can I get you ladies some cocktails?"

I smile. "Yes please."

Annika nods beside me.

"Old fashioned, Imogen?" I shoot him a thumbs up. "And a French martini for you?" He directs the last question to Annika, and we both grin.

There really isn't anything that this man doesn't know. Including our cocktails of choice.

He heads towards the bar, and I watch with amusement as several women track his movements with fascination. My bet is that none of them would be able to handle a man like Sebastian.

Sebastian returns with our cocktails and the three of us head for one of the high tables near the railing overlooking the city.

"This place is amazing," I say, looking around the bar from this new angle.

They've created a cosy atmosphere with a mix of overstuffed couches and inviting armchairs arranged around coffee tables. From where we're sitting, I can now see the plunge pool tucked around the corner, its underwater lights illuminating the blue water and making it glow against the night.

"Yes. The hotel owner is one of our Sydney clients, and he has been at us to use his facilities."

"Oh, this is one of his places?" I ask, knowing exactly who Sebastian is talking about.

We don't share the true identities of our higher profile clients amongst the staff, but in my position, I see all the financials, and there's no hiding their names when they use their credit cards to pay their accounts.

Sebastian nods, and I look around with renewed interest. I'd known the guy was loaded, but if this is just one of the hotels he owns, he must be billionaire rich, too.

When I finish my drink, I excuse myself to go to the bathroom and leave the two of them to chat with Dante.

When I exit the bathroom stall, a woman I don't recognise is at the sink, washing her hands. She meets my gaze in the mirror, and her eyes widen.

"Wow, you're fucking hot," she says, and I choke on a laugh when she blushes. "Sorry, that just slipped out."

I wave my hand. "It's okay. I'll take the compliment. You're gorgeous, too."

She continues blushing, and I can tell she's questioning why she just told a random woman in the bathroom she found her attractive.

The more time I spend around my Dark Desires family, the more I realise that there is something about them that has men and women alike drawn to them. I guess it's rubbing off on me.

When I leave the bathroom, I see that Sebastian and Dante have left the table, dragged onto the dance floor by Kresta, Daniella and Sabrina.

Surprisingly, Annika is still at the table, chatting to a tall, well-built blond man who has his back to me.

I would have thought she'd be the first one on the dance floor, so this guy must be particularly hot if she allowed herself to be diverted from driving the men in the room crazy with her provocative dance moves.

I run my gaze over his back as I move closer.

Dressed in dark jeans and a dress shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows, the fabric stretches across his broad, muscular back.

And the way his jeans hug his arse? Yeah, no wonder Annika is still standing there, if the view from the front is just as good.

I go to join them, smirking at Annika as I come to a stop at the man's side and pick up the fresh cocktail that had arrived while I was gone.

She grins back at me, and flicks a look towards the guy, before looking back at me with wide eyes. Thinking she's telling me to check out her new victim, I turn to introduce myself and freeze when I'm met with blue eyes filled with humour.

"Cam?"

"Hello, Imogen."

Fuck...