Page 51 of Indiscreet

“Yes,” Dane said. “And if I touch you, you don’t have permission to come.”

“Good thinking, Dane,” Elliott said. “She’s too tempting when she comes.”

“Hello?” I said. “Talk to me, not about me. I don’t think I can hold back if I’m touched intimately.”

Dane helped me to stand up and kissed me. “I’ll do my best to avoid it, but you have to try, or you’ll be punished.”

I grinned. I knew he was teasing, but I was game. So far, I’d enjoyed what he’d done when I didn’t follow his orders.

“He won’t punish you with something you’ll like next time,” Elliott said, bursting my fantasy. “Just try to follow our lead. You’ll be fine.”

The mask gave me limited vision, but I could breathe easily. He held me away from him, at arm’s length. “You look exquisite, even in the mask. I know I’ll have to follow the rules of the party by showing you off, but I don’t want them to see you.” He chewed on his bottom lip.

“I’m sure you’ve showed off plenty of women,” I said in a light tone. “I thought that was part of your sharing.”

“It is,” he admitted. “But you make me selfish.”

He looked mouthwatering in his suit. Elliott looked equally as striking in all black.

“Where are your masks tonight?” I said, my voice muffled as we headed out of the room.

“The men will be unmasked now,” Elliott whispered. “Remember, anything out of the ordinary will attract attention.”

We walked down a carpeted corridor to the elevator and took it one floor up. When we arrived, we were escorted by guards into a large hall. The room was not at all like I had expected. It was a ballroom decorated in a festive theme with strings of white lights, small evergreen trees, and floral arrangements placed throughout. There were men and women dressed in formalwear seated at linen-draped tables. Some were playing chess and cards while others chatted on lounge chairs and couches. It appeared no different than what I would have found at a party on any other occasion, though there was one prominent exception.

Some of the women with the bracelets were dressed while others were naked on cushions by the seats or being toyed with by the men. All were masked. Even with my limited view of the men as we moved past the tables, I understood Elliott’s and Dane’s precautions. There were several men I recognized in attendance, some among the upper echelons of Washington’s elite. A few I knew had partners or were married and had children. If their secrets got out, it would shake our world. I was certain any of the men I saw there would harm me before leaving me with their secret. My presence there was dangerous.

I forced myself to stare at the heels on my feet. Dane and Elliott put their hands on my back and guided me forward. We moved slowly, giving Dane and Elliott a chance to search around for Angel, but then a gravelly voice beckoned us over. “Dane, Elliott, join us.”

I recognized the old man’s voice as the one I’d heard by the boathouse on Dane’s property.

“We have our own table, Vincent,” Dane said, his tone clipped.

“But we’re happy to join you. Thanks for inviting us,” Elliott added. I glimpsed him taking a seat on the other side of the half-moon shaped lounge.

Dane tapped my shoulder and I went down on the cushion at his feet, relieved to not be at eye level with the man, although I could feel his stare on me from across the table. The sound of loud slurps had me glimpsing over at Vincent. A naked woman was between his legs, sucking on his cock through his open trousers. A dry laugh erupted from him and I quickly lowered my head back down. I cringed inwardly. He’d already noticed me.

Dane petted my head, and I leaned in slightly to let him know I was okay.

“Get off,” Vincent admonished coarsely.

The woman tumbled to the floor. His foot came down on her hand, but she didn’t make a sound.

“She’s well trained,” I heard Elliott’s voice say. “At least in keeping her mouth shut.”

I glared at him behind my mask.

“She still uses her teeth,” Vincent complained. “I’ll have to remove them or pass her around to learn how to suck. You interested, Elliott?”

“I’ll take her off your hands if you’re already bored,” Elliott joked back, and they laughed.

My stomach lurched. It was a good thing I had the mask to cover my face; there was no way I could hide my disgust otherwise. I hoped Elliott was joking.

“Dane, you’re quiet over there,” Vincent mused. “I see you brought your last-minute entry?” There was a slight edge to his tone.

“Yes, I did,” Dane answered coolly.

“Drinks.” A staff member came over, and the three men conversed about the holiday and business. After a while, my legs cramped from the kneeling. They were all absorbed in their conversation, like us two women weren’t even there. So, I stretched. I quickly realized soothing my discomfort was an error when Vincent let out a derisive snort.

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