Total pages in book: 767
Estimated words: 732023 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 3660(@200wpm)___ 2928(@250wpm)___ 2440(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 732023 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 3660(@200wpm)___ 2928(@250wpm)___ 2440(@300wpm)
She hadn’t lied about an injury making heels for any length of time impossible, but hadn’t mentioned that going barefoot was difficult. Admitting that might lead to questions she didn’t want to answer. If she had to, she’d tell him she had a knee replacement, and neglect to include information on exactly how she’d been injured.
The horrible parts of her childhood weren’t something she discussed.
Though if she did tell Alexander, she was somehow sure he’d understand. He’d be quiet but attentive and let her get it all out. Maybe he’d take her in his arms like he had last night. Wrap her up and hold her.
Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t register the man’s approach until he spoke.
“Guten Abend gnädige Frau.” The stranger extended his hand, offering her a fresh glass of champagne.
Alena jerked her attention into the present, and away from a ridiculous fantasy in which she spilled her deepest secrets to Alexander.
The stranger was a good looking man with dark blond hair and bright blue eyes. His coloring, plus a height that put him a full head taller than her, made it a good bet he was Scandinavian, and the slight accent when he spoke confirmed it.
One of the club wait staff—an Asian man with incredible upper body physique, shown off by his attire of only brown leather pants—stood off to the side, holding a tray with a tumbler of what looked like whiskey.
“Good evening,” she replied in German, but didn’t take the proffered glass.
“American?” His lips curved up into a devastating smile.
“Yes,” she replied in English. “And my German is only passable at best.”
“As is mine.” He replied in English while turning to place the champagne back on the tray. That done, he offered her his hand, palm up, not side-on as if for a handshake.
She considered her options and grabbed his hand firmly. She turned what would have been a courtly bow and hand kiss into a business-like shake.
His grin widened. “I’m Rolf.”
“Alena.”
He released her hand a little more slowly than would have been acceptable if this were a business setting, and didn’t seem irritated at having been thwarted.
She started to cross her arms, then stopped, not wanting to telegraph discomfort or embarrassment. She wasn’t ashamed of her body, and enjoyed nude beaches whenever her travels took her to the Caribbean or Jamaica.
But being one naked woman amid of throng of nudists was very different than being ordered to wait naked in the middle of a ballroom. Especially when, this early in the night, most people had something on.
Why the hell was Alexander taking so long?
“It is unfortunate that we meet now, on the last night.” Rolf’s smiled had just a hint of wickedness to it. That smile might have lulled her into thinking he was harmless, if not for the cunning she saw lurking in his sky-blue eyes.
“I agree, and am flattered, but I’m waiting for someone.” She gestured to her own nearly naked body as if to point out that she wasn’t wandering around in the nude of her own volition.
“I saw, but thought perhaps you two had parted ways.” His gaze dipped briefly to her bare throat, and there was the hint of a question in his words.
She wasn’t wearing a collar and was alone, so his inquiries were valid.
“I’m waiting for him to return.” She smiled politely and wondered if Alexander had sent Rolf over as some sort of test. It didn’t seem like something Alexander would do.
How would you know? You know his net worth, what kind of wine he likes, and which bank he prefers to use for hiding large chunks of his wealth from various governments. Last night proved that what you know about Alexander the CEO, doesn’t mean you know Alexander the Dom.
“Ah, then there’s still a chance for me,” Rolf said. “Next month.”
By the time next month’s Orchid Club event took place, Alena Moore would have quietly relinquished her membership. The Moore name was one she used often, more of an alternate identity than a false one, but she would avoid it for a while, depending on how the rest of the job went.
And doing that meant she’d never see Alexander again.
Damn it, and damn him for walking away, giving her time to think.
“It would certainly be a privilege.” Alena smiled and gave Rolf a little wink, though inside she was tying herself in knots.
She’d hoped to be done with this internal war. Hoped that once the scene started, there wouldn’t be time or space for her to worry about anything except submitting to him.
Rolf plucked his beverage from the tray.
“Skoal,” Rolf said, raising his glass.
Alena glanced at the champagne she’d refused. She wanted to take the glass and swallow those sweet bubbles.
No, what she wanted was a shot of something stronger, something that would give her a buzz, making it easier to ignore the things she didn’t want to think about.