Authors: Elia Winters
Playing Knotty (26 page)
Epilogue
I
don't think I've ever
been to a party this fancy.” Emma tugged the neckline of her dress up a bit. “And definitely not in anything this low-cut.”
“You look gorgeous. Stop hiding it.” Ian dropped a kiss on her hair. He looked fabulous, as always, wearing a tailored suit that she couldn't wait to get him out of later. “This is to honor you. Revel in the attention.”
The Best of Boston gala had a reputation for extravagance, and this year's was no exception. Emma felt dizzy from camera flashes after posing for dozens of photos with the other winners, and now she was admiring one of the seven (
seven!
) ice sculptures arrayed around the room.
Ian snagged two glasses of champagne from the tray of a passing waiter and handed one to her. “How are you feeling?”
“Good! Good. Better.” Emma licked her lips and drank some of the champagne. “I keep expecting to feel out of place, but I don't. It's the strangest thing, but I actually feel like I belong here.”
Ian pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and smirked, leaning low to whisper into her ear, “Now, don't get too cocky. The last time you were wearing this dress, I was getting ready to tie you to a table.”
Emma shoved at his chest with her free hand, laughing and blushing in equal measures. “Stop it. You said you'd behave.”
“You hate it when I behave.”
Emma smiled, enjoying the teasing. She marveled at how much could change in such a short period of time. Now, instead of uncertainty about her friendships, her self-worth, her future, uncertainty about Ian, she felt a calm confidence. In the last two weeks, they'd been testing this relationship, trying out the ways it fit for both of them.
And they were finding that it fit quite well.
“What are you thinking about?” Ian reached out to tuck a curl of her hair back behind her ear.
“I was thinking that I love you.” The words came easily to her lips, and he smiled and leaned down to kiss them.
“I love you, too.”
As he turned, Emma spotted a familiar head of curly hair behind his shoulder. “How did they get in here?”
“Who?” Ian turned.
Emma grinned. With Alina's skill at networking, of course they'd find a way to get tickets to a private gala. She took Ian by the hand. “Come on. I want you to meet some friends of mine.”
Acknowledgments
I'm forever indebted to Saritza Hernandez, my superhero agent, who has supported this book since its inception. She's the perfect balance of enthusiasm and no-nonsense, and her encouragement keeps me going better than coffee.
Elana Cohen at Pocket Star has been a wonderful editor. This book improved by light years thanks to her feedbackâwhich was delivered so thoughtfully that I never wanted to jump off a bridgeâand I'm incredibly grateful for both her honesty and her consideration.
Special thanks also go to my husband, who doesn't mind when I disappear into my work for hours at a time, and my friends, who listen to me ramble on about my books and never roll their eyes where I can see them do it.
I supplemented my own knowledge of rope bondage with books. Two of my favorites are
Bondage for Sex
by Chanta Rose and
Two Knotty Boys Showing You the Ropes
by Dan and JD.
The shops and restaurants in this book are generally fictional. Le Billig really exists, and they do have amazing crepes, but they're in Quebec City, not Boston. You should go there anyway.
The tabletop games in this book are all real and worth learning.
About the Author
Elia Winters holds a degree in English Literature and teaches at a small rural high school where she runs too many extracurricular activities. She balances her love of the outdoors with a bottomless well of geekiness; in her spare time, she is equally likely to be found skiing, camping, playing tabletop games, or watching
Doctor Who
. A writer all her life, Elia likes to dabble in many genres, but erotic romance has been one of her favorites since she first began sneaking her mother's romance novels. She currently lives in New England with her loving husband and their odd assortment of pets.
FOR MORE ON THIS AUTHOR:
authors.simonandschuster.com/Elia-Winters
MEET THE AUTHORS, WATCH VIDEOS AND MORE AT
We hope you enjoyed reading this Pocket Star Books eBook.
Sign up for our newsletter and receive special offers, access to bonus content, and info on the latest new releases and other great eBooks from Pocket Star Books and Simon & Schuster.
or visit us online to sign up at
eBookNews.SimonandSchuster.com
Pocket Star Books
An Imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author's imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2015 by Leah Plath
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Pocket Books Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
First Pocket Star Books ebook edition March 2015
POCKET STAR BOOKS and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
The Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau can bring authors to your live event. For more information or to book an event contact the Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau at 1-866-248-3049 or visit our website at
www.simonspeakers.com
.
Interior design by Leydiana RodrÃguez
ISBN 978-1-4767-8962-0
