Elle's Seduction (10 page)

***

The next week played out in a strange dance, lunch with Maxwell every day. What happened in the conference room was in the past. Fighting the growing attraction and confusion she felt toward Maxwell and Darren was another story.

Elle solidly put The Den out of her thoughts. Fred nagged them constantly about his project and this or that thing they changed to deal with problems in the project. And Darren just avoided them both. It was utterly frustrating and Elle wasn’t sure how she was going to take it much longer.

She went home achy and needy every night. Poor Garfield asked if she was on drugs—she was so distant and distracted.

Friday came along with no sign of Darren anywhere in the office. Maxwell was curiously absent too as Elle walked through to her cube.

Fred interrupted her just seconds after she settled in, eyes red and blurry. “How are we doing?”

“Maxwell made the final adjustments and we’re testing a new prototype. Hopefully this one won’t leak ants and worms.”

Fred’s eyes took on a wild look. “I’m holding the both of you personally responsible if we cannot come in under budget. The success of the company may rely on this. I spent months on this project and you and Maxwell are tearing it apart.” He turned from the cube before she could reply, already moving down the aisle, his voice fading as he said, “Just do your job and I’ll do mine.”

When Maxwell didn’t show for lunch, Elle made herself some oatmeal and hunkered down to crunch more numbers. She’d just begun an email to the suppliers when Sally stopped at her cube. “Just got a call from Fred, he wanted to talk about his plans for me.”

Elle ignored her and just kept typing.

“He said something about that big promotion and that he was looking for more candidates. The pool wasn’t looking as good as he’d hoped.”

Elle fumbled over a few keystrokes but kept typing. “I didn’t think you were interested.”

“Oh, well. Surprise!”

“Healthy competition is a good thing.” Elle gritted through her teeth, giving up all pretense of typing. If Fred didn’t think she was up for the job, it was a death sentence.

Sally’s eyes flicked to the screen and those ruby red lips tilted in an evil smile. “Sorry to have interrupted your important communication. You might want to spell check it before you leave. I know you were raised in a barn, but we really want to put our best foot forward.”

Elle set her teeth and held back a very unladylike retort.

Sally’s smile widened as she pulled a black envelope from her purse. “Oh, this came for you today. I signed for it– didn’t— didn’t think the delivery guy needed to walk all the way down here just for you.”

“Yeah, wouldn’t want him to strain himself,” Elle muttered snagging the envelope from Sally.

“Really, you shouldn’t have personal things being delivered for you here.”

Sally’s voice faded as Elle recognized the envelope. Those colors, black background with the red watermark of a shield were unmistakable. Shivers raced down her spine as she saw her name in script across the front.

No stamp. No address. Just The Den’s shield and her name.

Goosebumps ran up her arms as she took out the single piece of red cardstock inside.

You are invited by the Master to The Den.

10:00 p.m.

Dress appropriately.

No identifier existed. It could have come from anyone—Maybe the man in the hall from the club.

Those small black letters on the elegant paper electrified her.
Tonight?

Sally sneered at her. “Oohh, The Den, huh? I never figured you for a slut.”

Unable to keep herself from blushing, Elle slammed the invitation back in the envelope. “Anything else,
Sally
?” When the woman didn’t answer immediately, Elle turned back to her computer and began typing again.

Slut...

The word had bounced around in her head all day. One minute she was fighting her racing pulse and the excitement building inside of her as she planned what she’d wear; the next she was cursing Sally and her mouth, ready to send a reply saying she would decline the invite.

But the woman had a point.

She’d gone from no romantic entanglements to three different men, panting after each one like a dog in heat. Granted, Maxwell hadn’t shown a bit of interest since their time in the conference room. Yet, she was fighting to keep from throwing herself at him when he looked at her with those heavy-lidded, blue eyes.

Darren, well, she was so confused. He sent her mixed signals. One minute, he was all charm and seduction; the next, cold and distant.

And the third—a man she didn’t even know, would probably never see again, but she couldn’t get him out of her head. His strong hands on her breasts, his breath at her ear, and his deep voice rippling through her. She tried to believe it was the excitement of the moment but her need to see him, feel his big body behind her again, drove her. She wondered just how far he could push her.

Her head was spinning trying to figure it all out. Between the three men, her body didn’t know what was going on. The constant confusion had her wet and throbbing one moment and achy and tender, barely able to stand her clothes the next.

Her poor nipples were sore from the friction of her bra. The heaviness reminded her of the ache between her legs and the feel of hands on her. Maxwell’s, or the mystery man’s, or what she imagined Darren’s would feel like—it didn’t matter. Her body knew what it wanted and it had nothing to do with her heart or mind at this point.

Something had to give before she went insane.

Picking up the invitation again, she contemplated sending her refusal.

Slut
...

Just then, Luke knocked on her cube. “Here are those reports.”

Elle set aside the invitation with a sigh and took the offered papers. Luke held onto them as he glanced between her and the invitation. A strange intensity had entered his light-blue eyes. “Are you going?”

Figuring Sally must have told the entire staff on the floor, Elle blew out a breath. “Great. Everyone knows.”

Luke shook his head and lowered his voice, entering her cube to prop a hip on her desk. “No, I overheard her but—”

Tears sprang to her eyes as she realized just how far her voice must have traveled. She didn’t need Sally telling the whole floor—they’d all heard. “Flipping fantastic.”

“But... almost everyone was gone to lunch. I don’t think anyone else was here.”

Elle covered her face and shrank into her chair. It didn’t matter if she accepted that invitation or not, everyone would think she was willing to sleep with just anyone. She didn’t know much about The Den, but obviously everyone else did.

Luke dragged her hands away from her face, keeping his voice as quiet as he spoke. “Look, don’t listen to Sally. She’s been trying to get an invitation to that place for years.”

“But she said...”

“I know what she said.” Luke’s strong hands comforted her and brought her focus to what he was saying. “You’re not a slut. I mean, when was the last time you slept with someone?”

“Maybe five years ago, before my dad got sick.”

Luke let her drag a hand away to wipe at her eyes and grab a Kleenex for her nose. “Elle, you haven’t even looked at anyone but Maxwell and Darren. Certainly Fred was never able to catch your eye.”

She shook her head. “Fred’s a married man.”

There was no way she’d even look at him. Maxwell and Darren though, they were completely different matters. Darren maybe, but Maxwell...he didn’t want her. He’d made that clear since the conference room incident. “He’s...They’re not interested.”

A twinkle in Luke’s eyes caught her off guard. “Maxwell, huh?”

Elle nodded.

“Maybe he’s just not that good at telling you how he feels. Besides, it’s time you shook him up a bit. You deserve a good time. Why not go out and just give it a try? It’s not like you have to sleep with anyone. That’s your choice.”

“What if I decide I don’t like it? What if I chicken out?”

Luke smiled. In that moment, she regretted that she hadn’t spent much time with him. He was a genuinely nice guy. He really seemed to want to help. “Here’s what you do...”

***

She smiled at the texture of the material cupping her breasts. The tightness of the bindings gave her a curious breathless feeling, making the flutters in her stomach even more real. She’d never worn a corset like this before. She had others that were just for show, no tight bindings or lift like this one had. It was wicked and delightfully erotic encasing her body.

Luke had been right—she needed to treat herself just this one time. He’d even suggested the store she’d gone to and called ahead to make sure she was taken care of.

Sherice had been adorable, with big fluffy Texan hair and attitude to go with it. She’d immediately put Elle at ease and helped her find just what she needed in the adult store. She’d laced her into two or three exquisite corsets, each prettier than the last until she’d strung up the one she was wearing now.

As soon as Elle had seen the red silk and black fastenings she’d been in love. A red leather skirt so thin as to be a second skin rather than a garment had completed the outfit, hugging her hips and sliding down to just above her knees. For the first time ever, she saw a sex kitten in the mirror.

Back at her apartment, she’d almost put it away and wore her black dress until Sherice’s words came back to her. “Slut? Hell no, you’re not a slut. Let me tell you something. Inside every woman is a Goddess ready to get out. And honey, there is no shame in going after what you want. A slut wants to be used. But you, no, you are a woman taking charge. Give yourself a chance. Try it out, see how it feels. If you don’t love it, you can always go back to your regular life.”

Sherice had a point. This didn’t feel shameful or wrong. She’d spent too long taking a backseat with her dream of acting and with her love life. It was time to take what she wanted. The more she thought about it, the more excited she got. There was something tantalizing and wonderful about the unknown and Elle was tired of living her boring life. She craved more, and her few moments in the hallway with that unknown man had given it to her.

Her body heated as she remembered how he knew exactly what she was thinking. If he could do that with just a few brief touches and his voice, what could he do if he had all of her? She might even be able to move on and forget Maxwell. She wasn’t spending months pining over him if he didn’t want her.

A knock on the door caught her off guard, sending her heart scrambling.

“Elle?”

Garfield.

Damn! A glance in her full-length mirror had her frantically searching for something to cover her and her corset up. Suddenly the full repercussions of her night’s plans came home. What would he think?

She didn’t let herself worry on that too long. It was none of his business. She was an adult and fully capable of taking care of herself and making her own decisions, even if it did give her conscious a spasm of guilt that she was hiding her night’s plans from him.

Finally, she grabbed an old afghan off the couch and slung it toga-style around her, then answered the door. Garfield stood, shaking a box at his ear. An impish grin crossed his face when he noticed her watching him. “Oh, good, you haven’t left yet. This was delivered a bit ago, from some mysterious man.”

Elle flushed as Garfield took in her attire and passed her the box. “You’d better get going or you won’t make your big date. Oh, and whatever is in that box, don’t wear it. That man is up to no good, sending a box like that to you on a first date.”

“Garfield—”

“No, I’m telling you. A woman should get flowers, not clothes, on a first date. Can’t fit much of anything in a box like that anyway.”

“I’m sure it will be nice,” Elle replied, recognizing the name on the front of the box from the adult store earlier that day. She wanted to die on the spot. “Well, better get going.”

Garfield waved her off and bumbled down the hall back to his apartment, mumbling about flowers.

Elle rushed to close the door and get back to the bathroom.

Inside the bathroom she lined up all her favorite makeup and tried to calm herself.

The box kept catching her eye, taunting her. Garfield couldn’t have known what would be in that box. Cheshire wasn’t a well-recognized brand, surely. Unable to contain herself another moment, Elle dug into the box.

Inside were two lace confections that Elle had briefly considered purchasing—a black lace garter belt and a pair of black lace panties with a delicate red ribbon along the edges.

A pair of sheer stockings was also in the box.

Inside she saw a black card in the white tissue.

Elle,

Just something special for tonight that I thought you might enjoy.

The limousine will pick you up at 9:30.

M.