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  “I don’t need an escort. Just show me where the bathroom is around here, will you?”

  He stepped out of her path. “At the very end of the hall. Right door or left door. I can’t remember.”

  “Thanks.” Arianna excused herself and once again made her way through the frenzy of sex crazed bodies.

  She understood the Caedmon hormones. The need to mate. And procreate. Heck, she had the same genes in her blood. But she wished the wolves would be a little more discreet about it. If she passed by another couple fondling each other’s genitals in broad fob lights without regard to anyone around them, she would puke.

  As she neared the end of the hall, the feeling of being boxed in faded. Sure enough, as the wolf had advised her there were two doors on either side of the end of the hallway.

  She choose the door on the right, knocking first to see if anyone occupied the toilet. When no one answered, she turned the knob and went in.

  “Shit!” It wasn’t the bathroom. It was just another room. Damn, she needed to go. Maybe she should have left the pineapple daiquiris alone.

  Just before she backed away, a noise caught her attention.

  There was a tall shelf near the door obstructing the view, but as she peeked between the trinkets that lined the wooden surfaces, her eyes widened at the image before her.

  Three women knelt before a man as he sat in a chair in the center of the room. Arianna immediately realized that it was the groaning sounds that caught her attention.

  At first thought, it seemed the women’s heads were resting on his lap. Closer inspection revealed that they were pleasuring him and taking turns sucking him off.

  Arianna swallowed, and her head reeled back in shock, but she failed to tear her gaze away from the show. She couldn’t see the man’s face, as it was raised toward the ceiling, and his eyes appeared to be closed.

  She focused on the object of interest—his dick. It was standing vertical and at fierce attention. It was big enough and long enough, that all three women pleased him at the same time. One sucking the swollen head. Another dragging her lips along the rigid column. The other teasing his testicles with her tongue.

  The man gripped the edge of his seat and the veins in his neck seemed to pulse with the force of his emotions. He moaned once again, and Arianna’s breath quickened. Her body grew heated and a wicked sensation awakened between her legs.

  She could tell he was on the verge of orgasm by the way he thrust his pelvis upward.

  “Damn it,” he growled.

  Arianna gasped. The sound of his voice stirred something carnal inside of her.

  Her hand accidently hit an object in an attempt to cover her mouth. She caught the trinket just in time, and leveled it before it crashed to the floor.

  When she looked up again, her eyes locked with the heated stare of the man.

  Jayson.

  She knew him. Those smoldering grey eyes were something that she’d never been able to forget. There was a hint of blue around the irises. It reminded her of the sky right before a thunderstorm.

  He squinted and focused on her. A wide grin spread across his face.

  Her mouth fell open as her heart beat wildly against her chest. Her nipples tightened against her top. The dampness between her legs embarrassed her. Yet, his hypnotic gaze kept her rooted to the floor.

  Arianna shook her head and forced herself to back away slowly, but by that time, she knew it was too late. She’d been discovered.

  Suddenly, he bit his bottom lip but his intense gaze still bore into her. Her attention dropped to the three women. One of them was now sucking him ferociously. Her pretty blonde curls fell against his thighs like a curtain as she took him deep into the back of her throat while the other two licked his taut sac.

  Jayson groaned, flashed fang, and pumped into the woman’s mouth. He never took his eyes from Arianna. Not even when he climaxed. It was as though he was teasing her…taunting her.

  And worse of all…feeding off her blatant arousal.

  Arianna finally tore her gaze away and ran out of the door. It slammed shut behind her.

  Without bothering to knock on the adjacent door, she rushed inside.

  Arianna was relieved to find that no one occupied the stall. She bolted the locks, pressed her back against the wall, and dropped her face into her palms.

  What was wrong with her? Why couldn’t she contain herself? She was stronger than this.

  It took a while before her breathing returned to normal, but what did not return to normal was her raging libido.

  Dashing toward the sink, she turned on the cold water, and began splashing it against her face. As she stared at her bewildered expression in the mirror, specks of gold flashed around her irises. She closed her eyes, took several shallow breaths, and willed the powerful spirit coursing through her veins to settle down.

  The sound of the running water aided in calming her.

  She still couldn’t believe her misfortune. After all this time, she’d run into the man she’d been successful in avoiding for almost a year.

  Jayson Truman.

  She was over him. Well…she was supposed to be over him. So why did it feel like she wanted to be the one between his knees…pleasuring his cock and bringing him to climax just as the woman back there had?

  Arianna cringed. She would never give into her weaknesses again.

  She turned the faucet off, and after relieving herself, she washed her hands and exited the bathroom.

  Before Arianna even turned the corner, she knew Jayson waited on her. His scent had been magnified twice as much now that he’d indulged in such a carnal sex act.

  He was leaned up against the wall with one sole of his boot on it. She tried to fly past him, but it was no use.

  Jayson caught her by the wrist, pressed her back to the wall, and molded his body to hers. He grinned, sliding his tongue across his fangs. “Arianna,” he whispered against her face.

  He smelled of sandalwood and hot arousal. The combination sent her into panic mode once more. She fought to hide her lack of control over her emotions. Her body shivered as he held her tightly against him.

  His six feet five inch frame towered over her.

  “Let go.” She struggled against him.

  “You smell good. I always preferred you like that…wet with fiery desire. If I can remember correctly, you taste of warm caramel. The kind that melts in my mouth.”

  Her pussy clenched with need. “Fuck you.”

  He caught her ear between his lips, and teased the earlobe with his tongue before whispering, “Bend your sexy ass over, spread those long legs, and I’ll oblige this request.”

  Her face grew hot and she pushed against his chest with her fists. He was such an asshole. What did she ever see in him?

  Before she had the chance to utter a string of insults, he said, “I miss you. Badly. It’s been so long since we’ve seen each other.”

  “Sure you do,” she replied, flippantly. “I see you have no problems passing the time, either, but it’s pretty clear to me that you never learned how to keep your dick in your trousers.”

  “What are you doing at a party like this?”

  “I don’t answer to you.” The reason she’d come to this party was to get away from her controlling father. She didn’t need another man trying to tell her what to do.

  Jayson pressed his lips along her jawline. “Should I assume you’re up to something naughty?”

  “Move out of my way. I didn’t come here to be harassed.”

  “Why would a little-miss-rich-riding-hood who gets fed with a silver spoon be here among us poor wolves?”

  “Poor?” She gawked. “Oh, don’t act like you’re living in poverty. You go around flaunting yourself and money, partaking in everything your greedy hands can touch.”

  “Look at me, Arianna.”

  She tried to avoid eye contact, but it was useless when they were literally on top of each other. Giving in, her gaze swept across his face. First, at
the jet black hair that fell over his forehead as he leaned down toward her. At his broad face and chin. She took in his dreamy blue-grey eyes. And smooth, almost flawless skin. He was just too perfect…on the outside. It was easy for any women to be fooled by his exceptional good looks. But, he was just another playboy who couldn’t control his sexual appetite.

  “What must I do to earn a place back in your life?” he asked.

  Arianna broke the connection.

  “No,” he said gently, and lifted her chin so that he could see her face. “Tell me you don’t miss me. Can’t you feel how much I want you?”

  “I’m sure that you do want me, but unlike you, these empty emotions don’t control me.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “Empty?”

  “We’ve had this talk before, Jayson.” She pushed against his chest, and this time he stepped back. “Repeating the past is a waste of time.”

  “We don’t need to repeat the past when our future waits for us.”

  A future where her choice didn’t matter…

  Arianna swallowed and pulled completely from Jayson’s embrace. As he used to do in the past, he did not follow her.

  She made her way toward the noisy end of the hallway, this time appreciative of the thick crowd as it swallowed her up.

  No matter which way she turned, something or someone tried to dictate her life.

  Why should two people be fated to spend the rest of their lives together based on some stupid tradition?

  Whatever happened to committing to someone for love?

  Chapter Three

  “Don’t embarrass me, Arianna,” her father said in a low voice just before lifting a finger to ring the doorbell.

  The reason why she’d agreed to go anywhere with him was because she didn’t want to shame him in front of his clients. There was always something that caused her to change her mind and give into her father’s requests. Like this one. Ivan Zeldano was extremely well-known. Any investor would give an arm and a leg to get their hands on his money. A client like this one could aid her father in getting his business back on the right track.

  “I prefer not to be here,” she sneered. “You invited me. Why couldn’t one of your interns come along?”

  “Not now,” he warned.

  “Whatever…”

  The doorknob rattling, some locks banged inside, and a maid opened the door. Her thick brown hair was tied up in a bun on top of her head. Her reading glasses hung from her neck. She stared at them judiciously, and barely cracked a smile.

  “Mr. Klein.” She greeted her father with a nod, and repeated the same gesture for Arianna. “Ms. Klein. Come inside. I am Andrea. La gouvernante. And on duty for tonight. Give me your jackets.” She held out her hand, took their coats, and handed them to another maid behind her. “You are just in time. Please follow me.”

  As they were led down a narrow hallway, Arianna took in the surroundings. The monotonous textured wallpaper and framed paintings hanging from the walls reminded her of her grandparent’s home. Even the smell of it had some kind of woodsy, moth ball scent. The wooden floor planks seemed to creak as they walked.

  From what she understood, the home was older than dirt. Although the owner was just as young as she was. Ivan couldn’t have been a day over twenty eight. Last she checked, after his father had fallen ill, he’d taken over the reins of the Zeldano business. Just like the Klein’s, the Zeldano’s had an intricate family history that dated back hundreds of years.

  The maid pushed opened the double doors to a room midway down the long hallway, stepped aside, and let them pass through.

  Ivan was waiting for them in the den, sitting in a deep leather chair, with a leather bound book clutched in his fists. He stood to greet them. “Good evening, friends.” His voice was so powerful and authoritative, that even the servants who were in the room stopped what they were doing to pay him attention.

  His dirty blond hair was groomed neatly and slicked back from his face. He wore a crisp blue shirt and black slacks. The kind one wore to a more formal meeting. There was no doubt that he was mature for his age. It was the least one could expect from a man who was trained in this business ever since he could form a sentence. He was handsome—there was no mistaking that either. And on top of that, his bank account probably attracted more women than he could handle.

  “Mr. Zeldano.” Her father offered his hand, and Ivan shook it.

  “I’m grateful for your presence tonight.” Ivan grinned, showing even pearly whites, and turned to acknowledge Arianna. “And am pleased that your daughter was able to make it this time.”

  This time? Arianna fixed a questioning glare on her father, who managed to avoid eye contact. Did her father promise Ivan her attendance before tonight?

  Ivan offered his hand. “Arianna, you are just as beautiful as I can remember.”

  She wouldn’t embarrass her father this time, but next time, he wouldn’t be so lucky.

  Arianna gave Ivan a hand shake, surprised at the firm grip. She returned an even stronger grip, and looked at him with what she thought was a sweet smile, albeit a fake one. “Nice to meet you again, Ivan.”

  The last time they met was years ago when her father hosted a Christmas party for all his acquaintances. Even now, Ivan still had a staunched arrogance about him. The man was known for his overbearing nature towards his employees and a competitive drive that earned him his well-known reputation. It was no surprise that he and her father were business partners.

  “I hope you don’t mind, Mr. Klein, but my assistant will not be able to join us at dinner tonight,” Ivan said, leading the way into a dining hall. “Something unexpected happened to him.”

  Two servants were already on standby there in the room. The oblong marble dinner table was set for three. The row of chandeliers hanging overhead sparkled against the expensive wine glasses and fine china.

  “That won’t be a problem, Ivan,” her father said. “This has never stopped us from doing business before.”

  Their seats were pulled out for them, and they settled down with Ivan facing directly across the table from Arianna and her father. Without much hesitation, the glasses were filled with champagne by the maids.

  She took a few sips only to oblige her father. Maybe after securing this deal, he’d be so preoccupied that he’d leave her alone. When business was booming, she hardly ever heard from or was nagged by her father, but now that the money wasn’t flowing like it used to, things were different.

  “I heard that you love lobster, Arianna,” Ivan said, unfolding the cloth napkin and placing it on his lap. “I requested it as our main course of the night just for you.”

  “I do.” She forced a smile. “That was thoughtful.”

  “Your father tells me that you’ve recently graduated with honors from Northwestern.”

  She nodded. “It took countless hours and late nights in the library, but was well worth the efforts.”

  “I could imagine. I even hear that you worked for Drake and Murphy. They are long time colleagues of mine from Harvard.”

  Getting a job offer at that firm had been a challenge. It had taken her numerous inquiries and a few months living in New York City to even get someone to look at her resume there. “I had the privilege of working at the firm for a short while before I returned home.”

  Her father shifted in his seat beside her. “If it wasn’t for my daughter, my recovery wouldn’t have been as speedy.”

  Nearly four months into the position, her father’s doctors had him undergo surgery to remove a brain tumor. With no other choice, she’d resigned from her position to care for him after the procedure. Somehow her father had convinced her to stay in his home long after he’d recovered.

  “Well, we’re all glad that you’re okay, Mr. Klein.”

  “Okay, yes, but not like I used to be.” He sipped some champagne, before saying, “That’s where progenies like you and Arianna come in. We really root for our offspring to hit the ground running when we hand over
the reins.”

  “That’s only if said offspring will accept the reins,” Arianna said. She knew she couldn’t hold her tongue to prevent shaming her father no matter how hard she tried.

  “Arianna…” her father replied.

  The servants took that moment to bring out appetizers which were miniature crab cakes with some type of remoulade sauce on the side.

  “Elaborate, please,” Ivan said, cutting into his cake with a knife and fork.

  “What?” Arianna asked.

  “Are you afraid of accepting the reins of your family business?”

  Arianna was a bit offended that he would ask her something like this. She shook her head. “Afraid? No. You don’t know me well, Mr. Zeldano, but what you ought to know is that I do pretty much what I want to do with my life. If accepting said reins will be beneficial to the plans that I have for myself, then I might do so without opposition. Otherwise, I like to decide my own future.”

  She could almost hear her father’s stomach churn at her declaration.

  Ivan stopped chewing and studied her for several moments. “What are your future plans, then? I know many of your relatives quite well…including the women. They’re not accustomed to working outside the home or having the type of ambitious career that you seek.”

  A sexist idiot! No wonder she never liked him very much.

  “I was not aware that I was the main topic of discussion tonight. The business is between you and my father, is it not?” Arianna waited a few seconds for Ivan to answer, and when he didn’t, she said, “Let’s get down to the real business, shall we?”