Sweetblood 02.5 - Enchanted by Blood by Laurie London Page B

making her acutely aware of that sensitive spot where her inner thighs touched.
    “Yes,” she answered.
    He exhaled slowly, ruffling her hair. “I knew you would.”
    Then, gently, he drew the back of his finger down along her neck and leaned in close. She arched her head back, wanting to feel his lips against her.
    Alongside the gown on the bed had sat a gold box. Inside, beneath the tissue, was a gorgeous black lace corset, panties and stockings. The printing on the card was bold. “The gown is for you. These are for me.”
    She’d never worn a corset before, so it took a few minutes to figure it out. It felt strangely, yet wonderfully, restrictive. The lace wasn’t all that soft and the boning pushed her breasts up, making her cleavage much more substantial than she was used to. But when she slipped the gown over her head and covered it all up, she felt very naughty. Like she was harboring a delicious secret. Tonight, everyone would see the gown, but they’d have no idea what she had on underneath.
    Except for Trace.
    Even now, she could feel the slight scratchiness of the lace rubbing against skin that wasn’t used to the texture. No matter where she was tonight or what she was doing, the sensation would always bring her thoughts back to the corset and him. He’d done that on purpose, she realized.
    “Good God. What have I done?” He practically growled as he pressed her against the wall.
    She laughed, pleased by his over-the-top reaction. “Why? What seems to be the problem?”
    “You, Charlotte, are the problem. I’m not used to feeling this way. I’ve got a hundred guests arriving, and I should be down to greet them, but all I can think about is you.”
    “Me?” she asked innocently.
    “Yes. You are absolutely stunning. Without a doubt, you’re the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on. And it makes me want you all the more knowing that underneath this gown, you’re wearing the items I selected for you.” He rubbed his hip against hers as if to prove his point.
    Damn. He wasn’t kidding, she thought, a delicious shiver racing down her spine. He laughed softly then. The thin triangle of her panties suddenly felt hot as she imagined him pushing inside her.
    “Later, after the party is over and most of the guests have left or retired to their rooms, I plan to see what you look like.”
    She could hardly breathe. “You do?”
    “Yes. And did you happen to notice that the panties had tiny snaps at the hips?”
    “They do?” She’d been so focused on getting everything on that she hadn’t even noticed.
    “That’s so I can remove them without you taking off the corset or garter.”
    Remove just her panties while leaving on everything else? The ligaments in her knees threatened to give way as she visualized what he planned to do to her.
    “I want you to keep those shoes on. And the corset. Did you have any difficulty getting it laced up on your own? I’d have offered to help, but I’m afraid it would’ve made us much too late.”
    “I managed it fine.” Actually, it had been a royal pain in the ass, but she wasn’t about to complain.
    He tilted her chin up and for a split second, she thought he was going to kiss her. His lips parted and he dipped his head to hers. Then, far below them, the doorbell sounded, and he hesitated.
    Probably a good thing, she realized and she took that opportunity to duck under his arm. He needed to be downstairs greeting his guests, not up here with her. No matter how much fun this was.
    “If I thought I was having a hard time keeping my hands off you before,” he growled, “tonight is going to be an utter nightmare.”
    She liked the swooshing sound the gown made as she walked. “Then don’t even try.”
     
    TRACE STOOD NEAR the large Christmas tree in the main living room, listening to the hushed whispers of a few Council members about what was going on with Darkbloods in a small village near Prague. Evidently, there’d been a few vampire