Free Seducing Helena by Ann Mayburn Page A

both of your businesses.”
    Leo slung his arm over Seth’s shoulders. “Helena will be there with you. She’ll lead you. All you have to do is follow after her like a puppy dog.”
    Seth elbowed Leo in the ribs. “Asshole.”
    Ms. Vanity cleared her throat. “Will you do it? We don’t have much time to get you dressed.”
    “Dressed?”
    “Take off your shirt.”
    “What?”
    Ms. Vanity sighed. “Seth, darling, we’re running out of time. I need to see your body so I know what to dress you in.”
    Flushing hard enough to fry an egg on his face, Seth did what Ms. Vanity asked. She walked around him, inspecting him in a way that made him feel like a horse up for auction. He was surprised she didn’t open his mouth to check his teeth. Around them, the crowd watched like they were witnessing a performance at a circus.
    “Excellent. A little beefier than the models I usually work with but your frame will go well with what I have in mind.”
    “I haven’t said yes yet.”
    She examined him with a slightly amused tilt to her red-painted lips. “Would you really turn down the opportunity to earn potentially millions of dollars for the foundation?”
    “Well, no.”
    Seth clutched his shirt, trying to keep his panic at bay. He took a deep breath, reminding himself this was not a life-or-death situation. At the very worst, he’d fall and make a fool of himself. No one would die if he fucked up. The thought helped him get control of his nerves. He also knew how much good the money would do and how desperately it was needed. Besides, his buddies would shit themselves when they saw him walking down the runway with Helena.
    “So, where do you want me?”
    An hour later, Seth stood next to Helena. She looked like a sexy-as-hell mermaid. Her outfit consisted of a navy blue leather corset that matched his leather pants and teeny, tiny sparkly blue panties. Her five-foot train was the signature of the Sirens’ line, a sweeping expanse of glittering cloth resembling a mermaid’s tail.
    Her makeup was done in shades of navy and teal blue that gave her an otherworldly appearance he found extremely hot. Or at least normally he would have. At this moment, his stage fright was back in full effect, and he was trying to fight off the nausea churning in his stomach.
    Ahead of them, a stunning brunette with narrow hips and mile-long legs swept her train behind her as she climbed the steps, her gold-and-pink outfit flattering her coloring. Helena reached over and grabbed his hand, forcing him to meet her steady gaze.
    “You’re going to be fine, Seth. They’re going to love you.” He tried to smile at her, but it must have looked as sick as he felt because she laughed. “Don’t worry. If you fall, I’ll pop a titty out, and they’ll forget all about you.”
    Her humor helped him to let go some of his tension. “Thanks.”
    One of the stage coordinators rushed up to them. “Ready? Remember, just follow Helena’s lead.”
    Seth nodded and forced himself to breathe as they took the steps up to the stage. Deep, bass-heavy music played, and he glanced over at Helena. Her transformation as they climbed those few steps amazed him. She went from teasing girlfriend to sultry Siren, and by the time they reached the entrance to what seemed like a two-mile-long catwalk, she was fully in her supermodel mode. When she took her first step he followed her, his mind totally disconnected from his body, until he almost felt like a passenger rather than a driver. The bright lights partially blinded him to the crowd and when he fell into step beside her, the cheers and whistles from the audience washed over them.
    He grinned at Helena, and she smiled back before nailing the crowd with her signature sensual pout as she stalked down the runway. The approval of the onlookers allowed him to come back to himself a little and actually put a strut into his stride. It was easy to fall into the rhythm of the walk that had been drilled into his head as