Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Both exhausted and fizzing with happiness, Rainie stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Gulf shore. From the dark waters of the Gulf, white frothy waves rolled up onto the beach. In the rising wind, the tall palms shook and bowed.
Behind her, dinner over, the reception was going gangbusters. Filling the center dance floor, an older crowd gyrated crazily to the old tune, The Twist.
Most of the over-fifty crowd were business associates invited by Galen’s mother and Gabi’s parents. In the interests of harmony, Gabi and Sally had caved in…and for a while, Rainie had wondered if any relatives were worth the bother.
But in the past couple of days, Vance and Marcus’s loving, supportive families had demonstrated what a family could be—and made her wish she had one.
A flicker caught Rainie’s eye as the light of the moon gleamed off the sails of a boat gliding toward the marina.
What a gorgeous location. To her delight, despite a fair amount of parental pressure early on, the brides had held out for their beachside wedding location.
Gabi and Marcus had romantic memories of playing together in the waves, and Midwest-born Sally had loved the idea of a true tropical wedding.
Rainie smiled. If Sally wanted something, Galen and Vance would work their asses off to see she got it.
Although “legally” people in a ménage couldn’t “marry,” the men had wanted their Sally to have a beautiful, traditional wedding ceremony, so despite any objections, that’s what she’d gotten.
Even Gabi’s mother quailed when faced with Galen’s implacable stare.
Rainie had practiced that expression in the mirror and added it to her personal arsenal. In her future corporate position, she’d need all the firepower she could wield.
However, the reception wasn’t the ground on which to employ such weaponry.
Here, people fought their battles with beautiful attire and graciousness. Turning away from the windows, she smoothed her gown and looked around for possible dance partners. She saw Shadowlands members scattered throughout the room.
Near the head table, Kim, Andrea, and Kari chatted with their men.
In the center of the room, Beth was dancing with Nolan. Who knew the rough Master could actually dance? Dancing with the couple who’d chosen him as their submissive, Tanner looked blissfully happy.
Like a good pregnant woman, Jessica sat beside Linda, both their Masters nearby. By the punch bowl, Uzuri had nabbed a sizzling hot man.
Anne was dancing with a young man who was obviously star struck and hardly a challenge to the Mistress. Rainie frowned. Anne better be careful or she’d be on the receiving end of one of Master Z’s infamous talks.
In the center of the dance floor, Gabi and Sally were showing off steps from the bachelorette party, and somehow their virginal wedding dresses transformed the exotic dancing moves to breathtakingly sexy.
Off to one side, the Shadowlands’ security guard Ben stood with Galen and Vance. As they talked, the two grooms watched their bride with wide smiles. Ben’s gaze kept drifting to Mistress Anne.
As the song came to an end, Rainie moved out. She should check in with the brides in case they needed something. After that—
Around the side of the room, Jake was heading toward her.
Her heart skipped a beat. Not knowing how late her bridesmaid’s duties would keep her, she’d told him he was on his own, and she’d go home to her apartment after the reception was over. Now she regretted her decision; she wanted to sleep in his arms.
But, either way, at least she’d get to dance with him.
Unfortunately, even as she watched, Gabi’s parents intercepted him. Rainie considered a rescue, but from the way Mr. Renard clapped a hand on Jake’s shoulder and shook his hand, they were well acquainted.
Despite his annoyance at the delay in reaching Rainie, Jake shook hands with William Renard and answered the man’s question. “My parents are enjoying their trip. Thank you for asking.” He smiled. “They made a stop in Paris before heading home.”
“I can’t believe you didn’t join them,” Mrs. Renard said. “Certainly you’d have more fun in Europe than running that clinic of yours.”
Jake shrugged. “I get bored on vacations.” Although a holiday with Rainie might defeat boredom nicely. He glanced over his shoulder, but she’d been pulled out to the floor by Uzuri, Saxon, and Holt.
She really could dance…
He’d noticed her talent at the Shadowlands and the bachelorette party. Here she was simply having fun and looked incredibly sexy in that floaty-skirted gown. “Damn,” he said under his breath.
A body blocked his view. Irritated, he sidestepped.
Two soft hands clasped his. “Jake, don’t you recognize me?”
Startled, he glanced down to see a slender woman. Dark copper hair in an up-swirl style, gold designer dress, sultry blue eyes. “Nadia.” His distant cousin looked beautiful, as always. “It’s good to see you. Mom mentioned you might come. Is your husband here as well?”
“Oh, we’ve been divorced for ages. That’s why I took a job with William’s law firm.” A pout crossed her expression as if she were miffed Jake hadn’t kept track of her.
He had, at one time. As an undergrad, he’d chased her until his tongue dragged on the ground, but she’d scraped him off in favor of richer prey.
“I’m sorry about the divorce,” he said politely. “However, I’m sure William is pleased to have your expertise. I imagine he keeps you busy.”
She drew closer. “He does. But I can always find time for you.”
“We’ll have to have a drink one of these days.” Over her shoulder, he noticed Rainie heading for the drink table. “Excuse me, please.”
“Of course.” Nadia rose up on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “Later, honey.”
Rainie managed only a gulp of punch before Jake steered her away. Typical Dom—he hadn’t even asked if she wanted to dance.
Then again, slow dancing with Jake was almost as good as having sex with him. She snuggled closer. “Truly Madly Deeply. I love this song.”
“You’re welcome.”
“You got them to play it? Is that why they played two slow tunes in a row?”
He rubbed his cheek against hers. Although his hands were positioned properly, he kept her plastered against him…and the half-erection he boasted. “Did I mention that in high school, my friends and I had a garage band? I know from experience that a good bribe works wonders on a playlist.”
She breathed in his cologne, spice and pine, and melted even closer.
“This one was worth every penny since I’ve been wanting to dance with you,” he murmured. “I’d like to find a closet and do more, but the staff’s monitoring the private areas. Maybe the beach though…”
Thinking he was joking, she laughed. “You are…” The heat in his gaze made her swallow hard. Maybe he wasn’t joking. “Um. I’m not dressed for sex in the sand.”
“Mmm.” He nuzzled her temple and set her heart to pounding. “I wouldn’t put you in the sand, buttercup. I’d bend you over a table, hike up your gorgeous gown, and take you from behind.”
He rubbed his chest sideways to tease her breasts. “Because that way I can reach around and play with your nipples…using my right hand.”
What about his left hand? “Behave, Sir.”
“Now the left”—his voice lowered—“my left hand would tease your pussy.”
The flames sizzling over her skin might well ignite her clothes. As she dampened, she tried to step back. His arms flexed into iron bars holding her captive.
“I like your little whimpers when I’m balls deep,” he whispered. “I like how your cunt squeezes my cock as you come.”
He was liable to make her climax right there in the middle of a crowd. As her legs wobbled, he laughed.
“Jake.” Linda walked through the dancing couples. “Sam says you’re in charge of summoning the two limos for the newlyweds. It’s time.”
“I’m on it.” With his usual impeccable manners, Jake escorted Rainie to the edge of the dance floor and kissed her fingers. “Enjoy yourself, sweetling. I’ll be back in a bit.”
“Right,” she said under her breath, watching him stride away. Jacob Sheffield in a tuxedo had to be one of the wonders of the world.
He made her feel so special when he danced with her. Talked with her. Laughed at her jokes and teased her. His gaze said he thought she was beautiful.
But… She winced. Mr. Politeness-Itself Sheffield had witnessed her tirade at the evil mothers, Mrs. Kouros and Mrs. Renard. Why hadn’t he mentioned her behavior?
A knot formed in her stomach as she remembered his ease with Gabi’s parents—and they with him. The totally snobbish Renards wouldn’t converse with someone they considered beneath them. But he was at their level.
Her shoulders tightened. She hadn’t missed how Jake attracted female attention—like the redhead who’d made a play for him, kissing his cheek and rubbing her breasts against his arm.
But he left her to dance with me.
“You must be Rainie.” Like a witch materializing out of black smoke—obviously summoned by Rainie’s unhappy thoughts—the redhead approached.
Wine glass in hand, she gave Rainie an insolent scrutiny, making her aware of each hair out of place, of every bulge of her hips and stomach, of how her chin was round, not pointed.
“I’ve heard quite a bit about you tonight.” The woman’s snide tone established she wasn’t applying to be one of Rainie’s BFFs.
“How odd,” Rainie said evenly. “I haven’t heard a thing about you.” A feeble comeback, but better than none.
“I can see how Jake would enjoy a woman like you for a quick fling,” the redhead said. “There’s a certain appeal to fat and coarse, at least for a brief change in diet.” Her flawlessly curved eyebrows lifted to complement a delicate sneer.
Rainie stiffened. What in the world?
“However, since I know the Sheffields, I suggest you don’t get comfortable. Men rarely marry beneath their class, and you, my dear, are so far below you’re barely out of the gutter.”