Lured (2 page)

“Check your email,” he instructed. “I forwarded the ad to you earlier and just sent over a VIP e-ticket. It’s a costume party. Send me an email telling me what you’ll be dressed as so I can find you.”

Her pulse raced at the prospect of a date. Her first in years.

“Say you’ll be there.”

The words appeared on her screen and Cass could not deny she wanted to meet him, even if he didn’t look exactly as she’d fantasized he did. She easily convinced herself chemistry could transcend IMing and, if he turned out to be remotely attractive and was, indeed, a tax attorney, as he’d told her, she’d be into him. And he wouldn’t mind her discussing tax laws if she fell out of character, right?

Jumping off the cliff, she wrote, “I’ll be there.”

“Great. I can’t wait to see you in person, baby.”

“Looking forward to it.”

They signed off, but Cass continued to stare at her computer. It was sad to say this was the longest relationship with a man she’d ever had. And it wasn’t even a relationship.

It was cybersex interspersed with some personal details here and there. Brief descriptions of themselves. An occasional anecdote from their day, which she had to keep to a minimum, lest she bore him to death with everything she really had to say about her work. Even among her peers, she overdid it. They’d eventually roll their eyes and ask if she ever took a break from her job.

Unfortunately, being a professional overachiever was the only way for Cass to feel halfway decent about herself every time her mother went off on one of her “I just don’t understand you, Cassandra” tirades.

At twenty-nine, Cass really shouldn’t give a rat’s ass what anyone thought of her, including her overbearing, too-perfect-for-words mother. But Cass had always been a disappointment in the woman’s eyes. She’d never been interested in the girly-girl things her mother had wanted her to partake in, like ballet and gymnastics. Cheerleading and baton twirling. Piano and tap dancing.

Cass’ mother was a dainty, perfectly coiffed and elegantly dressed Southern belle. Even into her late forties. She’d won every beauty pageant she’d entered back in Louisiana and had impressively taken several state and national titles. She’d been runner-up in the global pageant she’d competed in and had never forgiven herself for not winning. For not being the most beautiful, most eloquent, most desired contestant.

Thus, she’d cast all her angst over her shortcomings onto Cass, who was clearly never meant to be a Southern belle or a beauty queen, much to her mother’s never-ending dismay. The main reason Cass hadn’t been able to get out of Louisiana quick enough when she’d graduated high school.

Though she didn’t have trouble attracting men and was always complimented for being attractive, she was the direct opposite of her mother in appearance and personality, which seemed to be a thorn in her mother’s side. Cass didn’t have perfectly styled hair. She had long curly dark-auburn hair and a fiery attitude to go with it, when she let it out. Which wasn’t often, mostly because her mother had assured her from the time she was a little girl that it was unbecoming for a young lady to be independent, confident and opinionated. Her mother preferred she be needy, demure and quiet. Like a soft whisper in the library. A well-behaved puppy. A china doll who sat prettily on a pedestal. Someone who never spoke unless first spoken to.

Eventually, Cass had become all of those things in her personal life, while inside her head, a voice screamed at her, demanding she not constantly hide her true nature just because her mother found it offensive.

Having cybersex and attending the Hunter’s Moon Ball would most definitely go against the grain, not that Cass intended to tell her mother about any of this. She didn’t purposely do things to displease the woman. Sometimes, as in this case, it was just how the ball bounced. The reasons she kept so much of her life to herself these days.

Since Cass was already online, she decided to surf around and get some ideas for her costume for the Hunter’s Moon Ball. Nothing in her closet would suffice for this type of party. She’d need to get creative.

A smile touched her lips as one web page led to another and then another. So many options. Which one would be the most fun to wear? Pirate wench? Saloon girl? French maid? Candy striper?

The costumes she viewed were all sexy, but…not too original. Nor were they risqué enough for the famed ball she’d be attending, where she’d meet her cyberlover for the first time.

What Cass needed was something bold and daring to help distance herself from Little Miss Goody Two-Shoes hiding behind a computer screen.

She had a chance to step up to the plate and do something completely over the top. Sure, she was way out of her element. Not only would Cass have to come up with the right costume, but she’d also have to work on her dating skills. Luckily, it appeared from the ad for the ball that it was a wild party, not exactly conducive to talking. There’d be loud music and dancing and drinking. The potential to simply have fun without boring anyone to tears if she floundered with the conversation and started talking numbers and IRS rules.

You can do this.

But it was more than just a mental pep talk she needed. Cass realized she’d boxed herself in with her all-work-and-no-play focus. Yet she posed two critical questions to herself.

So what if she didn’t measure up in her mother’s eyes? Did that really mean she was unworthy of love?

No
.

Encouraged by the way she didn’t suppress or ignore that large-and-in-charge voice inside her head, Cass made a commitment to herself to take action.

* * * * *

The next day, Cass launched the strategy she’d mapped out before falling asleep the night before. Though it went a bit distressingly.

“Women actually wear these things?” She asked the saleslady as she lifted a four-inch red patent-leather stiletto from the display in the store.

The young woman laughed. “I assure you, they’re all the rage.”

“Doesn’t that figure?” Cass eyed the pointy-tipped shoe from every angle. Beside her, her coworker and occasional lunch mate Linda Cooper scrunched her face in apparent disapproval.

“I don’t know, Cass,” Linda said as she too scrutinized the red stilettos. “They’re not exactly your style.”

“That’s the whole point, remember?”

Linda was basically rowing in the same boat as Cass. Unlucky at love, but wildly successful in her career. They were both CPAs with a large firm.

To the saleslady, Cass said, “I’ll try these in a size eight. Black leather. Nothing patent or shiny or sparkly…and no metal-spiked heels.”

The clerk sighed, as though to say, “You’re taking all the fun out of this.” But a sale was a sale. So she took the shoe from Cass and returned it to the display table. With a forced, yet still chipper, “Be right back!” she was off to the stockroom.

Cass sank into a chair and slipped off her sensible flats.

“Your feet will never forgive you for this,” Linda said.

“Don’t I know it? But let’s face it, I haven’t had a real date in, oh, forever, so I’ve got to put a little extra effort into this one. Which is why I need the shoes
today
. So I can have the rest of the week to learn how to walk in the damn things without falling on my face.”

“Or breaking an ankle,” Linda said. “My younger sister wears shoes like that. She broke her ankle stepping off a curb in Manhattan.”

“Lovely.” Cass could easily envision the same thing happening to her.

“So what costume did you decide on?”

“I refuse to tell you.”

Linda laughed. “Oh come on. Just because I’m an accountant doesn’t mean I don’t have an active imagination. Indulge me!”

“Let’s just say, my mother would disown me on the spot if she knew I was even considering wearing this outfit in public.”

“And that would be a bad thing?” Linda deadpanned.

Cass grinned. “You have a point.”

She liked Linda. They were practically kindred spirits. Would, in fact, be the best of friends if they weren’t both workaholics. Seventy-hour workweeks didn’t exactly leave one time for dinner out with girlfriends. Hell, getting away for shoe shopping during lunch today had been a challenge for them both, since they were each working the same global account currently being audited.

The salesgirl returned and Cass eyed the stilettos one more time before she slid them on and carefully stood. Then instantly reached for the clerk’s arm to steady her.

“Whoa, Nelly,” Linda said, her plain face lighting up with alarm. “Maybe this isn’t such a good idea.”

Cass shot her a determined look. “I can wear these. I
will
wear these!”

“Sure, honey, you can wear ’em. But can you
walk
in them?”

“Oh yeah. That.” She took a small step, still somewhat assisted by the sales clerk. Her ankles wobbled as though they were about to buckle. Or snap.

“They look fantastic on you,” the salesgirl assured her. “You have the legs for them.”

“How can you tell?” Cass asked. She was wearing navy-colored pants and a cream blouse.

“You’re tall and slender. How could you not have legs meant for high heels?”

Cass shrugged. “Regardless, I’m not sure I have the ankles for them. Or the feet. Holy Christ, these things pinch my toes.”

“You’ll get used to it.”

“You mean by Saturday it won’t feel like the circulation is being cut off?”

“No,” the clerk said with a knowing smile. “I mean by Saturday you won’t have any feeling left in your toes to care.”

“And that’s going to help me walk?”

“Cass,” Linda said with a half snort. “You are out of your mind.”

She was inclined to agree. But when one was on a mission, one had to endure the obstacles encountered along the way. Unfortunately for Cass, it wasn’t just a pair of stilettos and a sexy outfit that stood in her way. Her lack of confidence in the love department was something to overcome as well. She was determined to have a little fun, though. As determined as she was to walk in those damn shoes.

Turning back to the salesgirl, she said, “It may cost me a trip to the emergency room, but I’ll take them.”

Chapter Two

The crowd at the ball looked just as hedonistic in real life as it had in the photos that had comprised most of the ad Darien had sent Cass. In a follow-up correspondence, he’d told her he’d be dressed as the Grim Reaper, menacing blade and all. She’d sent an LOL in response and joked that he had a morbid side she hadn’t noticed before. She’d also told him what she’d be wearing and he’d said he’d find her.

It all seemed so mysterious and intriguing. Cass found it exciting, needing a little mystery and intrigue in her life. As she passed through the shimmering silver streamers at the entrance of the ballroom, she felt someone’s intense gaze on her. She caught a glimpse of him as the bodies shifted. Not the Grim Reaper, but someone else. His eyes followed her. He seemed to have been waiting for her, expecting her to walk through the door at that exact moment.

The thought was a titillating one that made her less self-conscious about the racy seductress outfit she wore, along with the high heels that were still a bit foreign.

Standing on the fringes of the exuberant crowd, the stranger almost blended into the scenery, given that he was dressed in black from head to toe and his hair was as dark as an obsidian stone. But his ice-blue eyes practically glowed in the dimly lit room, stealing her attention. They were focused solely on her. He opened his mouth slightly as though to say something or to draw in a full breath. Cass wasn’t sure. A flash of light caught a sharp fang and she smiled. He’d come as a vampire.
How very sexy
.

Someone bumped into her and Cass turned to catch the girl’s apology. When her attention returned to where the man had stood, he was gone. But she could still feel the heat of his gaze as she made her way through the crowd and headed toward the bar. An exhilarating ripple down her spine made her insides sizzle. Yes, she truly had needed to get out and about, and this wicked party was the perfect venue for shedding her stuffy-girl skin and reconnecting with that fiery spirit she’d repressed for so long.

True, amid a sea of scantily clad bodies, Cass felt…exposed. But in a good way. The vulnerability was actually a stimulant, because the appreciative looks she received bolstered her confidence. Her costume wasn’t nearly as revealing as most of the others she saw, but it had taken courage to wear it. The lingering gazes of the men she passed—and certainly the ice-blue one she sensed still on her—was her reward for rising to the occasion.

She conjured the reflection staring back at her earlier when she’d dressed, proud of herself for not backing down by changing into something comprised of a lot more material. The straight neckline of her strapless black satin corset sat low enough to reveal the rounded tops of her breasts. The laces in the back had been pulled so tight it caused the creamy white orbs to plump up over the scalloped edge of the lingerie. She wore a short black leather skirt that didn’t quite cover the lacy tops of her black thigh-high fishnet stockings. The ensemble was complete when she’d stepped into the four-inch black leather stilettos.

Her dark-auburn hair was piled high on her head and long spiral curls cascaded over her bare shoulders and grazed her temples. Her makeup was dark and exotic. She’d lined her eyes with a deep charcoal color, smudged along her lower lash line. On her lids, she’d dusted a smoky powder that, when she’d inspected herself closely in the mirror, gave her dark-blue eyes a smoldering effect. Her lipstick was a deep crimson.

She’d created the look she’d wanted. Now if she could just find the Grim Reaper—or the tall, dark and hunky vampire—she could get herself into some serious mischief for the first time in years.

But she found neither. Rather, Cass stood alone in the middle of the crowd, surrounded by hundreds of people, all indulging their fantasies and fetishes.

She was flanked by men in leather, some wearing studded collars. The women wore skintight minidresses or lingerie, a number of them carrying whips, all of them confidently moving about in heels that looked to be an inch taller than Cass’. The music was loud and crazed, a driving beat that reverberated inside her as she scanned the immediate area. Her gaze landed on the costumed figures crowding the dance floor. Couples moved as one in suggestive ways that should be reserved for the privacy of a bedroom. They gave all-new meaning to the term “dirty dancing”.

How long had it been since she’d danced like that? With a man’s hands on her ass, their bodies melded together, their pelvises grinding against each other. Maybe she’d never danced like that. Not quite so provocatively, at any rate.

God, she’d become a hellacious bore.

But she refused to give in to that thought tonight. Instead, she searched the crowd for the vampire, wondering which shadow he’d blended into.

Neon lights flickered and shiny disco balls cast shimmering, glittery rays over the crowd, but left the perimeter of the party in inky blackness. For a moment, Cass simply soaked in the sexually charged atmosphere, remembering how great it was to hear the resonant sound of a bass pulse deep inside her and watch nearly naked bodies gyrate to a raucous beat.

The hedonistic hurrah sparked a primal instinct within her. Cass wanted to feel the exhilaration that came with instant physical attraction. The first touch, the first kiss. The electrifying current that arced between two people, each impulsively and inexplicitly drawn to the other. She craved that intense physical pull that resulted in erotically delicious sensations pumping through her body. All of which kept her on the lookout for the man she’d come here to meet, but also the one who’d intrigued her when she’d arrived.

Finally making her way to the bar, she stood in the long line. When it was her turn, she ordered a martini. Drink in hand, she worked her way through the throng of people, smiling back at the men who smiled at her. She felt an unfamiliar rush of adrenaline as she contemplated the possibilities, yet she still sought something elusive, something just beyond her grasp.

She sipped her cocktail and declined several offers to dance. Darien had sent her a VIP ticket, so she made her way into that exclusive lounge, suspecting she’d find her Grim Reaper there. She passed through the thick red velvet curtains and was immediately, unexpectedly tackled by a large body. She fell onto a sofa, a mammoth of a man partially covering her. She gripped her martini glass, but the cocktail spilled onto the floor.

Cass cried out, more so in shock than in pain, although she did feel a pinprick on her right shoulder.

“Ah, Jesus,” the man on top of her said. “Christ, I’m sorry. You’re not the person I was expecting. I was messing around with a buddy—a little swashbuckling, you know?” He grinned at her and she found herself grinning back. He was blond and not the least bit displeasing to the eye. Dressed as a pirate, he looked formidable, though not quite as dangerously sexy as her vampire. He stared at her a moment, then said, “Damn, you’re pretty.”

“Um, thanks.” Her smile widened.

“You’re not here alone, are you?” the pirate asked. Not giving her a chance to answer, he let out a chuckle and said, “No, of course you’re not alone. You’re too damn hot to be here alone.”

Cass studied him a moment. She tried to think of him as a plausible alternative to the other two men she’d been thinking about from the moment she’d arrived. She had yet to see Darien—perhaps he’d changed his mind and had stood her up? But in truth, the pirate couldn’t compete with either, especially the new man who intrigued her. He didn’t possess the exciting magnetism of the tall, dark and hunky vamp. Thinking of the mysterious stranger she’d only gotten a quick glimpse of, Cass felt a peculiar stirring deep inside her. The vampire captivated and aroused her—whether he was in the near vicinity or not.

“Let me get you a new drink,” the pirate said. But he still didn’t move. He was sort of half-splayed across her and the weight of him against her side, his thick leg pressed between her two parted ones, felt good. If only he were the man dressed in black…

The pirate’s dark green eyes remained on Cass’ face. A hopeful expression crossed his handsome features. “
Are
you here alone?” he asked again.

“No, she’s not.”

Cass glanced over the blond pirate’s shoulder and nearly gasped out loud. There he stood! The dark-as-sin man, as though she’d conjured him with her constant yearning to see him again.

He reached for the back of the pirate’s puffy white shirt, grabbed a fistful of it, gripped an upper arm and hauled the guy effortlessly off her. Cass’ mouth gaped. The pirate had to be well over six feet tall and maybe close to two hundred and twenty pounds. He was built like a football player and she’d felt his substantial weight on her. But the vamp didn’t seem the least bit taxed by the heavy lifting. The pirate tried to stare down the dark stranger, but the vampire didn’t blink. In fact, his menacing gaze had the pirate slinking off within seconds.

Cass eased her legs together and sat upright, not missing the flash of awareness in Mr. Tall, Dark and Hunky’s beautiful blue eyes as he watched her intently. No doubt he’d gotten a fabulous glimpse of her black lace thong panties.

Christ, her mother would have had a coronary if she’d been here. Prim and proper Cassandra showing her panties to a man she didn’t even know!

A wicked thrill shimmied down her spine, regardless. Cass hoped he’d enjoyed the view. She brought her martini glass to her lips in an attempt to appear cool and nonchalant. Then she remembered she’d spilled the whole damn thing.

“Shit,” she mumbled as she set the glass on the coffee table in front of her. That was
so
her luck.

“Sit tight. Don’t move,” the sexy stranger said in a deep voice. “I’ll bring you a drink.”

She watched him as he sauntered off, a frown on her face. Bit on the demanding and macho side, she thought. But then the view of him as he crossed to the bar in the far corner made her lips curl upward. She tilted her head to the side and admired his retreating backside.

The man was
damn hot
. Wearing black leather pants and a black button-down shirt, he was definitely worthy of the lingering gaze she gave him. Especially with his pants hugging his tight ass so perfectly.

A sigh of longing escaped her parted lips. He had powerful thighs too. A tapered waist. Broad shoulders. His obsidian hair dusted the collar of his shirt. The silky-looking strands made her want to twine her fingers in them. He had a handsome face, with chiseled cheekbones and a square jawline. His eyes were captivating, a pale blue that was mesmerizing.

Cass no longer cared if she found Darien. The vampire held her full attention.

As she waited for him to return, she absently rubbed her right shoulder. It stung a bit, but mostly the skin just tingled beneath her fingertips.

When her designated savior arrived minutes later, she scowled at the glass he handed her.

“Seriously?” she asked. “Ice water?”

The vampire sat on the edge of the sturdy coffee table and his leather-clad leg brushed hers. The thick material of his pants slid along the thin stocking she wore. Her inner thighs went up in flames at the innocent touch. The heat crept along her pussy lips, sparking desire deep in her cunt, making it throb with need.

The sensations were so strong, the fire so sizzling hot, she nearly forgot her own name as she stared at the stranger and let the blaze inside her burn brighter. Her grip tightened on the glass she held. As it turned out, ice water was a great idea. She needed something to douse the internal flames. Good God, she was hot and breathless.

“Are you okay?” the vampire finally asked in a low, intimate tone.

Cass sucked down a big gulp of water, at a loss for words. Rational thought escaped her. All she could think of was the sexy vampire pushing her skirt up to her waist, grabbing her by the hips and driving his hard cock into her. Right here. Right now.

Being on top would work just fine too. She’d straddle his lap as his thick shaft thrust up into her. She wanted to ride him hard and fast until they were both out of control and a frenzy of erotic sensations consumed them, making them yell out as they came.

Her sexual deprivation aside, the man in front of her had her juices flowing with such little effort on his part. She suspected he could send her desire off the charts with just a kiss. And that was a very tempting notion.

“I’m Marcus,” he told her.

She still hadn’t spoken a word. Her gaze swept over his devilishly handsome face and landed on his mouth. His very enticing, “I know how to please a woman with these lips and this tongue” mouth.

“And you are?” he inquired, a dark brow lifting.

Cass blinked. She was being rude. Mesmerized, but rude. “Cass,” she finally managed to say. Relinquishing her death grip on her glass as she set it on the table, she held a hand out to him, desperately wanting to feel his skin against hers.

His mouth turned down at the corners as he regarded her offering. He didn’t take her hand, much to her regret. Rather, he simply said, “You shouldn’t have come here alone.”

Cass withdrew her hand, reached for her water and continued to sip. “I can take care of myself,” she said.

He eyed her for a minute or two. An electric current flowed between them, palpable and enticing. His gaze was a searing one and he was so damn sexy, her heart thundered in her chest and her pulse raced.

When she eventually polished off her drink, he took the empty glass from her and returned it to the table. His fingers grazed hers and his skin was cool and supple.