Page 27 of The Secrets He Keeps

Several rooms on the upper floors were dedicated to Pendragon’s personal use. Additional rooms were reserved for her ladies. She currently had nine in residence, though she hired additional entertainment for special events like tonight. For that purpose, several additional private rooms could be used as needed. Every available bed, couch, divan, and chaise in the place would likely be occupied well into the morning hours.

She’d thrown enough of these grand parties by now to have it all organized to perfection. The cellar and larders were well-stocked. Extra servants filled the kitchens and below stairs to keep everything moving smoothly and she had double her usual flash men to keep her guests in line should the excessive alcohol lead to any behavior that broke the strict house rules. One misdeed could see a member barred for life, which meant there were rarely infractions and events such as these tended to go off without a hitch.

Waiting until the evening was in full swing before leaving her rooms to join the party so as to make the kind of dramatic entrance she was known for, Callista sauntered down the main staircase in full view of the entry hall and the main salon.

She loved this moment.

When all eyes turned to her. Admiration, lust, and a little bit of fear reflected up at her. This was her world and she was empress. The lady dragon ready to bestow her treasures on foolish mortals or send them to fiery fates.

As she scanned the crowd below with a narrowed gaze, she exalted in her success. She had made this. With her wits and determination. She was far more than a vessel for men’s pleasure. She was a force. Though she did not immediately see silver-streaked black hair or striking gray eyes amongst the gathering guests, she was not concerned.

He would come.

With a smile full of knowledge and secrets, she wove a seductive dance through the crowd. Bestowing grace upon her guests with a glance, a few words, or—if the gentleman were particularly lucky that evening—a light, suggestive caress of her hand as she passed. Each man held his breath, hoping they might be one to receive some exceptional favor from the queen of the evening. Callista very carefully and intentionally cultivated that hopeful anticipation. Part of her allure was in her unpredictability, the way her mood could shift from hot to cold and back again within a single interaction. It kept the gentlemen on their toes, never certain of her regard, ever aware of how much power she possessed within the walls of Pendragon’s and beyond.

Their pleasures relied upon her grace and discretion and she made sure they never forgot that.

After taking a couple hours to make her way through each room, assessing the turnout and verifying that her protections were all in place should a guest get unruly, she went below stairs to check on things in the kitchen and go over additional details for the evening with her manager. Neither of which were necessary, as everything had been planned and prepped to perfection.

As she returned to the main level, she advised her head doorman that she would be in her personal suite if anything was needed. She liked to show herself only sparingly to her guests though she’d remain available for any concerns throughout the event. It was important she keep herself at a distance. Too much familiarity bred confidence and comfort, which led some men to think they could take more than they were offered, that they were somehow owed more.

Those men quickly learned otherwise.

Retreating to her library, her favorite room in the house, Callista poured herself a glass of red wine before reclining on her black velvet chaise.

Tonight would be a success. All of her grand parties were though each one became more elaborate than the last as she was forced over and over to outdo herself.

A glance at the clock indicated it was already early morning, yet the revelry and debauchery would continue for several more hours.

Leaning her head back, she closed her eyes. Anyone who might happen to observe her in that moment would assume she was resting. They’d be wrong.

Her body was taut with anticipation, which had been increasing throughout the day and evening. And her mind whirled through thoughts that were unprecedented.

Thoughts of a man who’d claimed her focus and her desire. A man she no longer believed to be a threat to her business, though he most certainly posed a significant risk to her personally.

In business she had always been fearless.

But in this...she had to acknowledge she’d become slightly unsteady.

It had been a long time since her last lover. But that was not what had her belly trembling at the thought of welcoming Erik Maxwell to her bed. What bothered her and threw her off-balance tonight was the realization and acceptance that what she wanted from him was different from anything she’d wanted before.

“Madam.”

She opened her eyes without lifting her head to see one of her well-trained men filling the doorway. “Yes?”

“Your special guest has arrived.”

Tingling, sparking anticipation rushed through her from head to toe. “Thank you, Simon.”

With a nod, the bouncer stepped back into the hall and disappeared.

Sipping on her wine, Callista allowed a smile.

Of course he’d come.

No doubt, he was grateful for the opportunity to explore Pendragon’s while also expecting to take advantage of her invitation to further his seduction. She hadn’t seen him since Christmas dinner, yet per their agreement, he still had two days to demonstrate his skills. He couldn’t know that, after tonight, they would no longer be needed.

Though a part of her wanted to rush downstairs to him, she forced herself to remain where she was. She wanted to allow him time to wander about and soak up the fantasy she’d woven for her guests.

---