Free A Taste of Winter: 1 (Red Masks) by Gia Dawn Page A

she arrived, her smile holding both apology and concern.
    “We will have a little chat later.” Alaina snatched the mask
from her hand. “But right now I can’t afford to be late.”
    “You know the way.” Manette opened the door that led to the
private rooms. “I wish you pleasure,” she whispered as she helped Alaina don
the mask.
    A buzz of electric energy hummed through her veins as she
made her way down the dark hallway, wishing she had a glass of champagne as her
mouth went dry, anticipation and nerves making her throat as barren of moisture
as the desert. As her mouth dried out her palms picked up the moisture, forcing
Alaina to run her hand down the side of her dress as she came to stand before
her master’s room.
    Before her knees turned to jelly she rapped lightly on the
door. When he called for her to enter, her body began to shake, the now-familiar
ache between her legs growing to an unstoppable need as she turned the knob and
did as he commanded.
    To her surprise the room was bright, several candles
throwing shadows along the walls as she stepped in and closed the door behind
her, seeing him standing across the room, unmasked, so she could read every
nuance of emotion that feathered across his face.
    He looked amazing in a black tuxedo, bow tie undone and
shirt unbuttoned, one hand threading through his hair as he approached. She’d
never seen him do that before, never seen the tiniest hint of uncertainty in
his behavior and she could not tear her gaze away as he rubbed the stubble
along his jaw before he caught the gesture and dropped his hand to his side.
    Before she could stop herself she’d taken a step toward him,
ready to comfort, ready to hold. Damn. The man made her weak with desire,
especially now when she knew who he was, remembered the way he’d made her feel,
the heat of his touch—the rasp of his skin.
    If she was totally honest with herself she had to admit
there was a part of her that had always known who he was. How could she not
have missed the subtle purr of his voice or the way his eyes glittered wickedly
behind the mask? The same way they glinted when he was micromanaging on the
job, as if he enjoyed the game they played, liking the way she icily agreed to
his every command.
    “Give me one good reason I should listen to a thing you have
to say.” She crossed her arms across her chest to keep from reaching out to
smooth his hair back into place.
    “Because I cannot live without you, my beautiful Alaina,
either at work or in my bed. And I have a very great favor to ask of you
tonight.” He circled behind her, his breath hot and welcome against her skin.
“A very great favor for a very old friend.”
    Alaina froze in place as she caught sight of the other man
sitting across the room, recognizing him instantly. Zayne Saladar. How had she
not noticed him before?
    “Are you willing?” Ryan’s voice was beyond intent as he ran
his fingers through her hair, skimming his knuckles along her cheek. “You may
leave the mask on for now—but you will remove it before the night is over.”
    Alaina let Ryan pull her back against him, his body already
taut and stiff with need. “Is he going to watch or do you plan to share me?”
    “Which would you prefer?”
    To her shame she remembered all the times she had fantasized
about being taken by the two men. The images once again took root in her mind
and latched on with such force she couldn’t deny the thrill that raced along
her flesh. Already she had grown so wet between the legs she thought both men
must smell her arousal and she wasn’t far wrong when Zayne stood and crossed to
stand beside her, one hand holding out his glass of champagne for her to sip,
the other running down her stomach as he brought his face close to her neck.
    “You smell like paradise.” Some of her doubt must have reached
him for he pulled away and tipped her face to his. “You do not have to do this.
Just say the word and I will leave. But I would rather