Back at the hotel, where Delilah waits for her ride…
I could not have been more thrilled than when Savannah Kensington asked me to come down to NOLA and help coordinate a fundraiser which would benefit the shelter where she and Matt adopted their adorable dog Moose. With it being so close to Halloween we decided on a family friendly Barksylvania adoption-themed carnival at the actual shelter and then an adult-themed Halloween ball later on in the evening. Tonight’s extravagant event is being held at the home of Athena Francesca Summers, a benefactor of the shelter (and friend of the Kensingtons). Athena comes from old Southern money and, from what I understand, she has a gorgeous plantation home on the outskirts of New Orleans. It’s on the annual New Orleans spring garden tour, so I am beyond excited to see it. She also has a fiancé who is a gorgeous retired Navy SEAL. Since not only Dale but a group of his SEAL buddies who volunteer at the shelter will be at the event, I’m anticipating a scenic tour of those sights as well. Lisa, who is dressed as the very sexy Elvira for the Ball, is probably knee deep in those Navy SEALs right about now. Volunteering for this event certainly comes with some very delicious benefits!
However, as much as I’m looking forward to this evening, my mind is focused a little bit more on the near-present. I am not only about to ride to the event in a limo with the K&A men, but the very exquisite K&A women as well. It’s a good thing I don’t get flustered easily, since I revealed my very own Boardroom fantasy to the men during an earlier interview with them. My body flushes with heat as I distinctly remember pushing the limits of my fantasy by asking Matt for some “hard core, knock down, dirty, I can’t walk for a week hook me up to an IV sex” and calling Lucas’ tongue a “weapon of mass destruction”. I have a distinct feeling that Cass would back me up on the tongue thing.
I claim temporary insanity when it comes to these men. Your mind has a will of its own when you are near them! As I take one last look in the mirror and make a slight adjustment to the costume I have selected for tonight’s Ball, and chastise myself for not having an extra pair of hands to help me get it on, my cell phone rings. It’s Max telling me that they are a few minutes away and that I should head down toward the hotel lobby. I’m all too familiar with the way the Knights like to tease and push the limits. I should know; I’m just as bad myself. So with my body already hyper aware that this will be no ordinary limo ride, I give myself the courtesy of one delicious shot of liquid courage, courtesy of Mr. Grey Goose himself, and I’m off.
My heart skips a beat as I come down into the lobby and see Max out in front of the hotel, already standing by the limo door. A woman could certainly get used to the sight of such a handsome man waiting on her. He’s working the full security detail/chauffeur look tonight in his dark suit, white shirt and thin black tie, an outfit that emphasizes the powerful, ready-to-end-a-fight-before-it-starts kind of body. Of course, with him being a former Navy SEAL, it’s not window dressing. My pulse picks up a little when I think about the fact that there’s probably at least one gun under his coat and a wicked looking knife tucked somewhere else. It makes this girl itch to take my hands and slide them under his coat. I’d fan my fingers across that broad chest and then slowly glide them down over the six pack abs that are no doubt hiding under that white shirt of his. I’d keep going until I could skim my fingers ever so gently above the waistband of his pants.
It’s hard not to fantasize what it would be like to feel all of that power on top of you, or better yet, nestled between your thighs underneath you. Janet certainly is a very, very lucky woman. The sun has set, but it’s light enough that he’s still wearing the dark glasses that make the most of the strong jaw and give him that very remote, sexy look. He’s getting more than a few looks, the “who the hell is he picking up?” vibe that can’t help but make me feel like I am the luckiest woman in the world. As I make my way toward him, and he offers his hand to help me into the limo, I wonder if I should have had another shot of liquid courage. Especially if I can’t even get past Max without my mind wandering into places it shouldn’t go.
Of course, I do have to suppress a bit of disappointment that he’s not in costume…
“Good evening Max. It is such a pleasure to finally meet you face to face.” The smile I offer him is genuine and warm and returned in kind as I place my hand in his. “I see you’re not dressed for the ball tonight. Aren’t you and Janet attending?”
“No, ma’am.” That touch of Texas drawl just adds to the whole appealing package. “Janet’s giving the Kensington’s nanny a break tonight. I’m going to join her and Angelica after I drop you off. Wade will pick you all back up when you’re ready to go.” His gaze slides over my costume, and the twitch of the corner of the mouth tells me I’ve earned male approval—causing a warm tingle to spread throughout my already heated body. Obviously the hours that I have spent curling my long, dark brunette hair into shiny ringlets was worth it. Max’s eyes come alive as he sweeps them across my hair and down to where the silver cross hangs precariously close to the vee of my breasts—right at the opening of my white peasant blouse that is lurking underneath the soft, red velvet crop jacket. His look cruises onward from there over the black leather corset that is laced within an inch of my life with blood red velvet string.
He lingers an extra moment on the skin tight black riding pants that leave no room to the imagination as to what is underneath them; absolutely nothing at all. His attention finally settles at the thigh high suede boots that buckle up the side. Since I am going as Anna from the movie Van Helsing, my trusty sword sits in its holster, slung low across my slim hips. You never know when a girl may need a good, thick sword these days.
“I think Ben is going to feel himself doubly blessed tonight,” he observes, with a wry curl of his lips. “You look stunning, ma’am.”
Ben? I’m about to ask him what he means, but he’s already switched gears, back into professional mode. “You’ll find champagne, wine and soda chilling in the mini-bar, Miss Delilah. Apothic Red, to fit the night.”
“Apothic Red is an excellent choice for this evening, Max, and one of my favorite California wines. The delicious mixture of Zinfandel, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot is truly to die for. A very fitting choice for this evening indeed.”
Given my previous experiences with the K&A men, I’m sure there will also be a complement of chocolate to go with the alcohol choices, but, trust me, there isn’t an ounce of room to spare inside this costume, at least not yet. Besides which, Max’s fingers on mine, helping me into the car, give me another warning thrill. It tells me I better hold off on the alcohol, because my senses are about to be overwhelmed enough. Just being in the mere presence of these K&A men is intoxicating enough as it is.
As I slide into the seat, I make eye contact and smile. And find myself completely tongue-tied. Yes, that’s the normal state when confronted by Matt Kensington and the four prime males who work for him, but tonight my speechlessness has another cause. They had refused to give me a hint at their costume choices, but as I examine each pairing, a delighted grin spreads across my face, wider and wider. It’s a dream come true for me. All of these fine men are dressed as my favorite creatures of the night—vampires! There’s got to be a story behind this and I’m just the person to pry it out of them. That is, as soon as we all stop laughing over my choice of costume!
I realize then what Max had meant. Marcie is dressed as the beautiful Selene from Underworld, who, like Anna from Van Helsing, was also played by Kate Beckinsale. Accordingly, Ben makes the executive decision to tuck me in on one side of him, keeping Marcie on the other, and spreads his arms in a exclusive manner over the seat behind each of us, giving the rest of the men a very satisfied look. “I did say Kate was my fantasy tonight. I just didn’t realize I was going to get two of them.”
As I turn my head to the side to look into those stunning green eyes of his, I can’t help but take the opportunity to tease him. “All good things come in twos, double the pleasure, double the fun, as they say. Do you think you are up for the challenge tonight?” Marcie and I look over at each other and then we both give Ben a wicked grin.
I really should know better than to taunt a man who was rumored to have the stamina to wear out multiple partners in the same night, before Marcie became the full focus of his attentions. (I really need to ask her what vitamins she’s taking.). Those green eyes fill with what can only be called diabolical purpose. Lucifer would look like that. “The question is, are you?” he purrs, twisting one of my ringlets around his finger and giving it a tug. His other arm slides onto Marcie’s shoulder, his hand moving to her waist and then curving around her hip, thumb caressing the bone there, drawing her into the erotic threat he’s weaving around me. I decide it’s wise to turn my attention to the rest of the limo occupants. Quickly.
**********
The Limo Ride is just starting to heat up and it gets even hotter tomorrow when I find out that all of the K&A men have something in common. Something that could be very dangerous but oh so delicious at the same time! 
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