What She Craves by Lacy Danes Page B

the minute to arrive.
    The past hour she rode the local rain-soaked streets waiting for the required time like a girl anticipating her first ball. No doubt she was the first to arrive.
    Her lips quirked. The infamous, hard-hearted, Cora Durand eager to engage in a sexual matter? No one would recognize her by this attitude.
    The man at the entrance stood a head taller than her. Shoulders held broad, he dressed impeccably in all black. A beaver hat sat atop his head, which upon closer inspection, was bald.
    Eyes, a deep gray, fixed on hers, never wavering as she ascended the steps.
    Indeed, he was fine. Powerful. A lord in the animal kingdom. Chills pricked her skin, her gaze trapped in his. Lower your eyes, you goose, before you trip up the steps. Her knees shook as she lowered her gaze to his tight-fitting black trousers.
    If no one inside possessed the ability to quake her, this man would do; although the members who had approached her earlier in her career all possessed the ability. No doubt they still would. Tonight she would let down her guard and feel all these potent men could offer.
    â€œGood evening, ma’am,” his cavernous voice boomed. “Tigers in the jungle…”
    â€œEat their prey.” Her voice shook as she said the password to enter; then she forced a smile.
    He opened the dark green door, and she stepped past him into a large entrance chamber. Warm spiced scents filled the air, putting her at ease. A grand candelabra hung overhead, and the walls cut of coarse sandstone radiated warmth and richness.
    This was a club of money.
    Three naked men approached her, each one a different shade of tawny. Their chests broad and sculpted, free of any hair, led to rolls of muscle and proud stiff staffs.
    Her eyes gaped. Amazing. Not one ballock between them, yet their staffs still stiffened. Never in all her career has she seen such a sight, and there were three of them. Where did they come from? And who cut off their sacks?
    She reached for the ribbons that held her cloak closed. Just amazing. She shook her head.
    Their hands raised and brushed hers aside. Her muscles tensed. Oh no, you don’t.
    She would undress herself. Her hands rose to slap theirs away, but she quelled the urge. No, tonight was different. She was different. She stilled her hands in midair. Tonight she would let her true self come through, allowing others to tell her what to do, to touch her without permission.
    No control. Her muscles relaxed and she sighed. For once, someone else would make the decisions. Not knowing what would happen to her felt edgy, exciting. Emotions she had not experienced in years.
    Her hands dropped to her sides as her cloak lifted from her body. One of the men worked the tiny row of buttons to her dress while another hiked up her skirts and undid the garters about her knees, sliding her stockings and shoes from her.
    Within a matter of moments, she shivered naked in front of the three. Her nipples pebbled hard in the air of the entry.
    Without saying a word, they stepped toward her. Fingers wrapped about her arm and more fingers pressed to her back as they spun her about and pressed her hard up against the sandstone wall. Her heart leapt. Her face turned to the side, breasts pressed firm to the cool rough texture.
    What were they doing? Her skin tingled with excitement.
    The masculine fingers worked her flesh. Her arms rose, and a wide leather strap slid about her wrists. They tied the tether firm, holding her hands spread high and wide.
    Warm hands wrapped about her legs and slid them apart as a piece of leather slid over her eyes and part of her nose.
    She jumped as they cinched the strap tight. A sliver of light came from the crease of her cheek, and the hairs on her neck stood.
    Nothing of any significance would she see. Strapped to a wall, she would do nothing but feel.
    Pulling on her arms, her muscles shook as she tested the strength of the straps. They held firm. There was no going back. Her