Free The Invitation by Scarlett Sanderson Page B

Shut . Was he into that kind of stuff?
    An image of her dressed in a revealing piece of lace, strapped to a banquet table and surrounded by guests flashed into her mind. Gabriel stood over her, commanding her. Her pussy spasmed. She really needed to stop the erotic fantasies.
    Gabriel gestured to the smaller but no less ornate Louise XIV chair the footman had brought out and silently bade her to sit. She was glad of the reprieve. Her feet were blistering. She usually wore slippers, clogs or flat boots. She owned one pair of heeled satin shoes, which she was wearing now. They pinched her toes and rubbed her heels.
    “Are you okay?”
    She turned her attention to him and gave a wistful smile. “Apart from being dazzled, overwhelmed and a little out of my depth, I’m peachy.”
    “My apologies. It was never my intention to make you uncomfortable.”
    Why was he being nice? Did he intend to publicly humiliate her in some way? Get revenge for her using him as inspiration? She’d put him in some sexy scenarios. Was he pissed off enough to do that?
    “What do you want, Mr. Longthorn?” She tilted her head to the side and studied him.
    “Call me Gabriel. We should be on first-name terms.”
    “Why is that?”
    “Well, you have imagined me in some rather…provocative situations.”
    Her cheeks heated. Oh god, he had read her books.
    “I particularly liked the one where I punished a woman by taking her over my knee.”
    She remembered writing that scene. She remembered how turned-on and horny she’d been imagining Gabriel’s hand on her ass, spanking her until the flesh heated.
    The music continued a slow, steady, sensual beat in the background. His gaze held her enthralled. The glow of the firelight and gas-lit torches reflected in his eyes. Danger and seduction bled from every pore. The pull from his aura was intoxicating to her.
    A shiver of desire, of longing, passed through her. Her teeth ached with need.
    “Are you cold? Perhaps you would permit me to warm you?” He ran a fingertip across her shoulder, dallied at her neckline.
    Arousal spiked. Sweat beaded on her spine.
    Warm her? She could think of numerous ways he could warm her and none of them were fit for public display. Most of them involved entwined limbs and a lot less clothing. All of them ended with him pinning her down and fucking her until she screamed.
    She tried to give him her best stern look. “Thank you, but I can warm myself.”
    His husky, masculine laughter drew the attention of nearby guests. “I have no doubt you can but it would be much more interesting if you allowed me.”
    A tall blond man approached the dais. Where Gabriel was lean, he was broad. His green eyes glistened like leaves in the morning rain. He bowed at Gabriel before addressing Evie. “Would the fair maiden care to dance?”
    More old-fashioned charm. It must be some kind of ritual role-playing they did every year. Surely they didn’t act like this every day?
    Did she want to dance? She glanced at Gabriel and then chided herself. Although he’d invited her here, she didn’t need his permission. Or approval. She could do what she wanted. One dance wouldn’t hurt. And she could calm her raging lust. Some distance would do her good.
    She rose from her chair and beamed at the blond. “I’d love to, Mr…”
    He returned her smile and Evie noticed a row of dazzling white teeth. Definitely a movie star. “Call me Lucian.”
    “I’d love to dance, Lucian.”
    She stepped off the dais and into Lucian’s arms. He swirled her away, swaying to the slow beat of the music. They made idle chitchat about the ball, the setting, the food. He was a striking man but his beauty paled in comparison to Gabriel’s. Lucian didn’t have the effect on her that Gabriel did. Gabriel made her think of sex and afternoons filled with sweaty nakedness.
    “So do you know Gabriel?”
    “I’m his guard.”
    She frowned. “Like a bodyguard?”
    Lucian winked. “Something like that.”
    Was