All Souls' Night - Renee Rose Page 0,15

take my kitten home, teach her how to be good.”

“Yes, please, Sir.”

“Are you sure?” he asks in a more serious, out-of-scene tone, and I answer as Gwen.

“Yes, Sir. I’m sure.”

“Very well.” He straightens, rising from the chair and lifting me at the same time. “Come, princess. My palace awaits.” He lets me down to walk, but holds me close. Instead of us linking hands, his fingers shackle my wrist as he leads me to the stairs.

Chapter 4

Gwen

As we exit the club, I wink at the lady with pink hair. And the bouncer. I strut past everyone, the silky fur of the tail tickling the backs of my thighs. Who am I right now? What have I become?

Dimitri’s car is parked right outside the club. It’s matte black and super fancy looking, like something Batman would drive. As we approach, Dimitri must hit a button of some sort, because the doors open upwards, like wings.

A few guys smoking near the curb nudge each other as Dimitri helps me in. “Holy shit, a McLaren.”

I smile to myself as I climb in. Dimitri gets into the car and we purr away.

“What do you do for a living?” I ask. He’s obviously extremely rich, yet he lacks the tightly-wound businessman persona I would expect. He lounges around at a nightclub like he has nothing better to do.

“I’m in antiquities,” he says. “I buy and sell ancient artifacts.”

I look over, fascinated. “History buff?”

He laughs. “You could say that. I’m particularly well-versed in the last two and a half centuries.”

“Where are you from?” I’ve detected a slight accent on him, but can’t place it.

“My family is from Corfu. I still own quite a bit of property there. But I’ve traveled all over the world.”

“Do you live here now? Or are you just visiting?”

“Just visiting.”

Disappointment pierces through the blanket of contentment I felt ever since he offered his arm and escorted me in the club.

“For how long?”

He shrugs his elegant shoulders. “A few months, maybe more.”

“And what brought you to Club Toxic?”

“I am long-time friends with the owner, Lucius Frangelico.” He smiles at me. “My turn for questions. What do you do for a living, pet?”

“I was a Special Ed teacher, but now I’m going back for my Master’s in social work.”

“Of course you are,” he says silkily.

“What does that mean?”

He slides a hand to my knee, brushing my bare skin with the backs of his fingers. “I mean, that’s a perfect, selfless profession for my sweet Gwen. I applaud your choice. It suits you.”

His words warm me and I lean back in the leather seat, shifting slightly because I still have the plug in my ass. I just strutted my stuff down the sidewalk wearing a tail. I walked right past my ex in the club, and got into a car that costs as much as a house. I’m going with a man I’ve just met, a man I seem to know but can’t remember how. And now I'm going to lose my virginity to him.

Holy wow, what am I doing? Is this really me?

“Breathe, babygirl,” Dimitri murmurs without looking at me. “Do you still want this?”

I nod. “Yes.” I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. He makes me feel safe. Safer than I ever felt with Chad, and we were best friends. Or so I thought.

My phone buzzes, and I see a text came in from Aurelia. I’m at Club Toxic for the masquerade. Where are you?

I reply, I’m hooking up with someone tonight. I’ll text you when I get there, and in the morning.

Little dots appear on Aurelia’s side of the chat right away. Are you sure? she writes.

I text her back, Yes. I’ve never been more sure of anything. I don’t know why, but I’m sure. I glance at Dimitri, and the shadows and moonlight playing over his face. His expression is an enigma—one second, he’s handsome as the devil, with full lips made for sin, the next, he is the devil with a hint of cruelty edging that same mouth. And yet… And yet… I know him. I connect with him in a way I’ve never connected with anyone before. On a cellular level. He makes me feel special like no one else has. He makes me feel safe.

When I’m with him, I feel like I’m in a fairytale. It might sound crazy, but I believe in true love. In fate. And I believe I was made for him.

We zoom down the highway, past “A” mountain, and wind over