Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 148397 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 742(@200wpm)___ 594(@250wpm)___ 495(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 148397 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 742(@200wpm)___ 594(@250wpm)___ 495(@300wpm)
The sound of my zipper coming down jerked my gaze to Ily still on her knees. “What are you—?”
“You’re still hard.” Her eyes flashed. “And if I have my way, you won’t be faking anything.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
……………………….
Ily
HALLOWEEN
I TUGGED AT THE GAUZY, DIAPHANOUS material.
So sheer it hid nothing, so many layers it made my physical body look as if I’d become a creature made of light.
Turning in front of the mirror in our bedroom, I plucked the floaty whiteness, watching as the fabric whispered back to the other layers, looking like closed flower petals. The halter top wrapped tight around my throat, the train behind me as translucent and cobweblike as the rest.
Set against the black of my hair and rich tan of my skin, I had to admit…pure white rather suited me. The small crown I wore glittered with a million cubic zirconia. I might not have gotten my wish to wear the Crown Jewels, but tonight, I’d been transformed into a princess.
Victor had spent the past few weeks planning this masked ball for Halloween.
Our costumes had arrived this morning.
The energy in the fortress buzzed with anticipation and intrigue.
Last Monday, most of the Masters flew back to their families and despite it being a weekend now—the busiest time here at Joyero—only ten Masters had flown back in. The rest were either celebrating in their own way or not invited to Victor’s event.
Ben and Stewart had nodded at us over breakfast.
Abby and Penelope had become invaluable as they whispered the locations of five guns that’d been hidden in the foyer, library, games room, ballroom, and kitchens. Peter and the rest of the jewels knew where extra bullets were stashed along with a few lighters May had given us from the kitchens. We also had two butane torches used to melt sugar on the regular crème brûlées Victor ordered.
We had guns.
Ignition.
And bombs.
We still hadn’t made the larger, more dangerous presents that would take out certain structural integrities of the fortress, but we’d done enough that waiting for Christmas started to grate.
Every day was painful.
Every night was terrifying.
Victor didn’t act like he guessed anything was afoot but…we could never know for sure.
At least he’d been distracted with organising this ball.
He’d joined Henri and me for lunch, giggling like a freaking loon as if he genuinely couldn’t wait for this evening.
I’d never expected the dominating psychopath to place weight on something as silly as a dance. He actually believed the jewels were excited to be dressed and paraded, then abused and fucked as the evening went on.
Scooping the delicate mask from the bed, I secured the ribbon behind my head and blinked through a million facets of light. Every inch of the mask blinded with shimmering crystals, turning everything into rainbows.
“Are you ready?” Henri asked, striding from the bathroom where he’d dressed.
With his eyes on the floor as he tied his own mask behind his head, I had a quick moment to study him without his stare on mine.
And good grief…
Could someone fall in love multiple times?
I’d never seen a more handsome man.
Never had my breath stolen by another just for existing.
Dressed head to toe in black, he wore a heavy velvet cape that flared from his shoulders and whispered against the floor. Glossy black shoes, mandarin collared black shirt, and a mask covered in glittering black tourmaline.
The light-sucking gemstones drew every illumination in the room to his eyes, ensnaring me, killing me—
“Je-sus.” He froze as his hands dropped and his gaze landed on me.
His mouth hung open.
He shuddered on the spot.
And then he prowled toward me, his grey eyes erupting with silver flames. The familiar starfire between us built and billowed, igniting every piece of our bodies, hearts, and souls.
“Tu es et tu seras toujours la plus belle femme que j'ai jamais vue.” (You are and always will be the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.) He cupped my cheek, running his thumb over my unpainted bottom lip.
He forgot our pantomime. Ripped up our script.
And kissed me.
The moment his mouth met mine, I slung my arms around his cape-draped shoulders and clung to him.
Just for a single moment.
A stolen second.
Then I let him go and broke the kiss.
I dropped to my knees for the cameras.
He sighed heavily as if my submission annoyed him, all while understanding why I surrendered.
His energy switched from rosy and warm, full of love and connection, to mean spirited and cold. Raising his voice so the cameras would record, he chuckled. “I have a good mind to make you blow me. A necklace of cum would really set off that dress.”
I didn’t look up.
I didn’t answer back.
I played the role of a good submissive jewel.
Henri’s hands landed on his belt.
I instantly hummed with need.
If he took me over the chair before we went to this stupid ball, I would not complain.