watching me intently, that same fire in his eyes
from earlier unabated.
“They’re . . . good . . .” I answered noncommittally. I heard Mina giggle beside me
as my eyes were locked into Isaac’s trance.
“I bet,” I heard her say. My head snapped back to hers, a sudden sense of jealousy
flooding through me.
“Did you and Isaac ever . . .” I trailed off, not wanting to finish that thought or
for her to answer it. I knew that in the Grant mansion, hookups were frequent and
steady—that was why we were all here, after all. But I guessed I’d never thought that
equation through to its solution when I’d entertained applying. Mina had been a Pledge
here, meaning we’d probably end up having a lot of the same . . . experiences .
“No,” Mina reassured me quickly before my ramped thoughts got out of control. “Isaac
doesn’t take on more than a couple Betties at a time.” I wasn’t sure why but what
she said made my heart plummet. More than a couple . . .
I chided myself immediately, repeating internally that there were many men and women
here. I was expecting before I’d met Isaac to have several different partners while
I was here, maybe not all of them men. Yes, I felt an immediate connection to Isaac,
but that didn’t mean he’d felt it for me. He could’ve just shown interest in me because
he found me physically attractive, as he should. I wasn’t here looking for something
more than sex, and I told myself again that I would stick to that mantra.
I didn’t acknowledge the fact that I’d had to tell myself that several times in the
short moments since meeting Isaac. I wouldn’t address that knowledge because it would
mean there was something more there and my heart was starting to get involved. The
Grants were only about physical pleasure, nothing more. And if I didn’t want to get
hurt in the process, I’d have to reconstruct those walls Isaac seemed to have plummeted
through earlier.
“Mady?” Mina’s sharp tone pulled me out of my reverie. “Are you listening to me?”
“I’m sorry, what?”
“Oh, Mady,” Mina chided lightly. “Come on. Let me introduce you to everyone!” Mina
took my hand and led me toward a large rounded table where a few people were gathered.
“Do they know about me?” I asked Mina in a low tone. She looked at me in question,
then realization dawned on her and she turned away.
“No,” she said quickly. “Only the owner is aware that I’m your sponsor, Mady. Everyone
else only knows the barest of details. And the movie deal is a secret.”
“Good,” I replied, nodding as I felt the heat of my embarrassment at my financial
limitations ebb slightly. Mina patted my hand understandingly as we approached the
others.
The Mated
~ Madeline Cain ~
My best friend had the worst possible timing. Of course, she thought it was necessary
to barge into my conversation with Isaac, obliterating any hope of breaking the rules
and finding a secluded corner somewhere. And I so wanted to find that hidden place
where only Isaac and I were admitted.
I could picture him in his costume, all bulging muscles and . . . appendages, ready
and willing to bring my body to heights I’d only dreamt of. In my mind, however, that
tight, white shirt would have been mysteriously absent, leaving me a better view of
his well-shaped arms.
I was practically salivating for him, a reaction that shocked me because I was never
the one to drool over a man. But I never got the opportunity to make my fantasy come
to fruition because the tropical storm called Mina came blazing in, destroying my
lust bubble.
She must have felt my hesitancy as she pulled me farther away from my dreamboat because
she leaned over and asked me what was wrong. I couldn’t help the tiny glance over
my shoulder as my eyes sought out his fascinating ones once more. There he was, still
leaning against the bar and giving me the