24. Scarlet
Chapter 24
Scarlet
“Ms. Scarlet. Please allow me to be your escort tonight.” A man in a silver mask bows low in front of me. I recognize him as Eric Momont, heir to the Momont fortune and my predetermined date for this evening. This event is designed to force all of the unmarried participants to socialize together, and what better way to guarantee success than to have mandatory partners for the evening?
“Do I have a choice?” I laugh. It’s not this guy’s fault he’s stuck with me.
A sly smirk curves the corner of his lip, and he holds out his hand for me. “No, but we can pretend.”
“Mr. Momont.” I bow and take his hand, allowing him to cradle it in the crook of his arm.
“Please call me Eric.” He’s cute, sandy-brown hair brushed back from his face, and there’s a glimpse of dimples every time he grins. There’s a boyish charm to him that is the complete opposite of Matthias. The image of his larger frame fills my mind, and I clear my throat, giving my head a shake.
Not the freaking time.
“Only if you call me Scarlet.”
He gives me a dazzling smile. “Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be,” I grumble.
“I’ll do my best to make this the least painful as possible.” He laughs.
I find myself relaxing with him. His self-deprecating humor makes quick work of disarming me.
“Good luck with that,” I reply and allow him to lead me through the entrance, where we stand at the top of the stairs.
My breath catches in my throat as my eyes take in the grand entrance before me. The replica of an ancient Greek feast is stunning, with a low ceiling adorned with intricate displays of vibrant flowers. Their sweet scent envelops me, beckoning me further inside. On one wall, olive trees stand tall and proud, their branches reaching toward the ceiling as if trying to escape this underground venue. And above all this beauty, thousands of twinkling candles cast a warm glow that mimics a summer night sky.
I’m so caught up in it I almost miss the way the crowd hushes with our entrance. The women look up at me with disdain, the men with appraisal. If this event is designed to encourage matrimony, I’m quite the catch. After all, if one could marry off their son, they could have two seats in the Order strengthening their family.
Not for the first time, I’m seriously debating my sanity for coming back here.
As if pulled by a magnet, I turn toward Matthias. He’s standing a few feet from the bottom of the steps, dark eyes on me. A flush crawls up my neck, and my breath catches as his gaze burrows into me, branding me everywhere it touches. Even from here, I can see the way the muscle in his jaw ticks when his gaze lands on where my arm is draped around Eric’s.
Dark eyes bore into mine, and he takes a step forward before Bash stops him with a hand on his shoulder, a wide grin on the younger brother’s face.
“You okay?” Eric’s voice is close to my ear, drawing my attention back to him. Guilt rises in the back of my throat. I may not want to spend my birthday here, but that’s no excuse for ignoring him. After all, he didn’t get to choose his partner either.
With the aim of enjoying tonight as much as possible, I follow him down the stairs. The treads are narrow, and my heels are high, causing me to rely on him more with each step.
His grip tightens, and he tilts his head closer for only me to hear. “I’ve got you.”
I expect to feel warmth in my chest, but there’s nothing. Not even a bubble of excitement. Why can’t I be into guys like him? Sweet, sensible, safe guys.
I ignore the voice in the back of my head telling me it’s because I already have a very specific type.
The dance floor is full by the time we get there, and I lift a brow in question to Eric. “Starting off dancing?”
“I didn’t think you’d want to mingle and converse.”
Sweet and attentive. “You’d be right. Come on.”
This time, I’m the one guiding as I make my way through the moving couples and take the stance my body’s memorized years before. I can do this in my sleep, but I let him lead me anyway, twisting and twirling me around the floor until my breath comes out in shallow pants. I laugh when he dips me low, my head only feet above the ground, and pulls me back up. A little too close for etiquette.
“You’re a good dancer,” I say.
His eyes are warm on mine, voice barely above a whisper. “So are you.”
There’s a pause between us, but no matter how much I search for it, there’s no familiar tension pulling us closer. This guy could be my brother at this point.
“I’m cutting in.” A low command comes from behind me.
“We’re not done with our dance,” Eric protests, looking between Matthias and me as if trying to decode what’s happening here.
“I’m not asking,” Matthias growls deep in his throat, and a shiver tingles my spine, sending heat pooling between my thighs.
Eric’s brows are pinched together, but he knows going against a Lord would be social suicide. He gives me an apologetic bow. “Save me a dance?”
“I will?—”
“Not going to happen,” Matthias cuts me off, hand on my hip, pulling my back into his chest. We’re too close, the position completely inappropriate for the setting.
Eric glances between us, then to where Matthias’s hand cinches my waist possessively, then back to me. “You sure you’re going to be okay?”
Matthias’s chest vibrates against my back as he hisses, “Are you questioning my intentions?”
Eric bows his head. “Of course not.”
Then he flees.
Dammit.
I spin on Matthias, poking him in the chest. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“ Me ? The fuck are you doing, Scarlet?” His brows are pulled low over his eyes, and his voice is rough.
“You do realize that this is a part of the event, right?”
He glances away. “That doesn’t mean you should be dancing with him.”
“Why?” I ask, searching his face. Why won’t he look at me?
He runs his tongue over his teeth and entwines our fingers. “It doesn’t matter.”
I try to disengage, but he just pulls me harder, dragging me off the dance floor, completely ignoring the whispers and prying eyes that surround us.
“Matthias,” I hiss. “Matthias, everyone is watching.”
“Let them.” He practically drags me toward the back of the room where there’s an exit sign. I have to scurry to keep up so I don’t make an even bigger scene by falling on my face.
It’s a narrow stairwell, clearly meant for staff. The second the door closes behind us, he spins me, pinning my chest to the wall and crowding me from behind.
His breaths are hot on my neck. “Are you purposely making me jealous?”
“Are you actually crazy?” I struggle to get out of his hold, but he just pushes me harder into the cool wall so that there isn’t a single inch that he’s not touching.
He runs his nose up my neck, inhaling directly behind my ear. “You smell delicious.”
Strong fingers curl around my throat, squeezing gently as he flattens his tongue and runs it along my skin. I instinctively tilt my head to give him more access. My fingers curl into the stone as his hand traces every inch of me until it makes its way down my abdomen. My breath hitches when his foot taps mine, spreading my feet wider, making room for him to cup my core. The silk does nothing to dampen the intense feeling of his touch.
“Matthias,” I gasp.
“That’s it. Say my name.” His fingers curl, pushing against me, and my knees grow weak.
He catches me, arms banding around my waist, before spinning me to face him.
It’s too dark to make out all the details, but his eyes catch the light as they peer down at me. Hunger is written in them as he grips my ass and pulls me into him until his hard cock presses into my stomach.
“Feel how much you turn me on.” He slides his hand further between my thighs. “Are you wet for me?”
He takes his time dragging my dress higher until it’s above my waist.
Squeezing my bare ass, he drops his forehead to mine, a low rumble in his throat. “You’re not wearing panties.”
He pinches my ass before dipping between my folds from behind, his thick fingers filling my entrance.
“I knew you’d be soaked for me,” he groans.
I shake against him as he fills me, stroking me back and forth. I rock into him, mind lost, but I want more. I need more of him.
He chuckles against my neck and presses his thigh between mine, applying pressure to my clit. “That’s it. Take what you want.”
The woven fabric of his pants creates the perfect friction. Tension tightens in my stomach, growing deep in my gut as he fucks me with his fingers.
I’m shivering in his arms, every muscle twitching with my ascending release. He grips my chin, twisting my face, and his mouth captures mine just as my orgasm crests, capturing my cries.
I collapse against him, unable to hold my own weight, my heart pounding in my ear. I need to get away from this man before I do something I won’t be able to take back.
I push him back, taking in gasping breaths, and take a step toward the door back into the hall.
“Where do you think you’re going?” He grips my wrist, tugging me back.
I need to rely on the last strands of sense I have left. “Back to the party.”
“We’re not done,” he commands.
I can feel wetness coat my thighs in response, but I yank my arm again. “We shouldn’t have started to begin with.”
“Oh, it’s way too late for that, Little Sparrow,” he says, then lifts me off my feet, the hard edge of his shoulder digging into my navel as he tosses me over and quickly ascends the stairs.
I wiggle in his arms. “Let me go, Matthias!”
He slaps my ass, the sharp crack echoing in the narrow stairwell. “For once in your life, stop being so stubborn.”
“I am not stubborn. You are out of your mind. Now, let go of me.”
Matthias shifts me down to my feet, and I relax.
“Was that so hard?”