Page 67 of A Duchess to Unravel
“Let’s get you a drink before we start,” Alistair leaned down and whispered into her ear.
Theo smiled and looked up at him, thrilled that he’d kept his word and brought her back to the Masquerade.
“And pray tell, what will you have me drinking this evening?” She asked playfully. It was a subtle reference to his many rules, and she knew by the deep, dark-sounding chuckle that left him that he picked up on it.
“You think I would bring you something you would not like?” he asked.
“You are testing me, so therefore I shall be testing you,” she teased back.
Alistair smirked and led her to one of the high-backed chairs. Around them the other members, for the most part, returned to their flirtations or dancing. Some though, she noticed, continued to stare at her in wonder as Alistair sat her down in the chair, then braced both hands on the arms as he leaned down to look in her eyes.
“Are you going to behave while I am gone?” He asked, his mouth tilting toward a smile.
“No promises,” she purred, then leaned forward to kiss the tip of his nose.
“Cheeky thing,” he chuckled, brushing his knuckles under her chin.
She watched him rise up to full height, taking pleasure in letting her eyes rake over him and linger on his crotch. Her excitement amplified when she saw the bulge already formed there, and wicked thoughts let loose in her mind. Even as he turned from her and parted the crowd to get her drink, she could not keep her eyes off him.
“Oh, darling,” a feminine voice oozed in Theo’s ear. “Where did you come from? And where, oh where did you find such a yummy morsel of a man?”
Theo turned to the voice, surprised she hadn’t noticed someone had approached her, and saw the mask of Aphrodite. A woman she knew. Not in real life, but within the fantasy of the masquerade. Theo knew she preferred the company of both menand women, and the two had talked many times before. Yet as Aphrodite was anxiously waiting for Theo’s answer, she realized that the woman did not recognize at her all.
“We are visiting from Ireland,” she replied. The lie came smooth and ready off her accent-laced tongue, and it thrilled her to tell it.
“How utterly exotic,” Aphrodite purred, tracing her fingertips down Theo’s arm. A moment later, a pair of arms wrapped around the woman’s waist, and man with a fiery red eye mask appeared at her shoulder. Aphrodite gave a sultry smile as she slid herself against the man’s front, and leaned her head back on his shoulder.
“Who is your new friend, darling?” he asked.
“I was just about ask,” she replied, tapping her nails against his mask.
“We are Aphrodite and Ares,” she said to Theo, “Tell us, what are your names?”
Theo faltered for a moment. Alistair had not told her what their new alters’ names were, and she did not think it would be safe to use the old ones. Before she floundered very long though, Alistair reappeared and placed a glass of red wine in her hand.
“Handsome,” Aphrodite breathed, her chest growing flush as she took Alistair in. “We were just asking this lovely lady of yours what you are called.”
“We are nameless,” Alistair replied, his tone stern as he raked a quick look over the curious couple. “And we are off limits tonight.”
The masked couple both pouted.
“Such a shame,” Aphrodite sighed, stepping away. “Well, let us know if you change your mind. We seldom get new flesh around here. It would be nice to try a taste of Ireland.”
Alistair gave her a curt nod, then turned his full attention to Theo. He hunkered down to meet her eyes, his mouth forming into a devilish half-smile as he shook his head.
Theo smirked back and took a sip of her wine. It was sweet and delicious and she took another long pull, half-emptying the glass.
“I leave you alone for two minutes and you have already broken the rules,” Alistair said. His deep tone was wickedly teasing, but Theo shivered at the dangerous notes laced through his voice.
“Was I to be rude and ignore her?” she asked.
Fire danced in Alistair’s eyes, sending another shiver of anticipation down her spine. The hunger she felt radiatingfrom him was palpable, and she suddenly felt inclined to break another one of his rules just to see what he would do. She drained her glass, emboldened by the idea, and held it out to him.
“You made an excellent choice for me,” she praised. “Would you care to do so yet again? Something different this time.”
“Still testing me?” he remarked, and she answered with a sultry grin.
Theo leaned forward, her lips hovering dangerously close to his.
