did nothing to help the tension. Though I did manage to start a hot—literally—naked make-out session with her in there until she cried uncle.
“My poor Canadian blood can’t take this heat,” she gasped as she left, wrapping that white towel around her generous chest and hips and… damn. She was just so sexy.
“To be continued, then?” I asked.
She sent me a sly grin. “Oh, yeah.”
Aaaaand I was sporting uncomfortable wood again for the rest of the afternoon.
While she disappeared to get ready, I logged into the VPN and did some work. My outfit and I were relegated to another guest room for the preparations.
I’d asked the butler to prepare us before-dinner cocktails at the bar—Sea Breeze, vodka with cranberry juice—that I’d deemed appropriate for the occasion. Then I’d given him a few semi-secret instructions for the afterparty. It was about time we enjoyed that private rooftop garden. If—no, when—I could pull her away from the party to enjoy it.
Deleon also acted as my valet, old school style, when he helped me with my tuxedo. In keeping with the Gatsby theme, it was a vintage 1920s style tailcoat with a white tie, authentic as possible, right down to the rented diamond-studded art deco cuff links.
He was just brushing off my coat when Kat came down the stairs followed by the hair and makeup artist that Julia had sent over to help her.
And, holy shit, she was downright fuckin’ beautiful. I hadn’t thought that perfection could be improved upon but here she was.
The dress hugged her curves and was cropped above the knees. Each step she took or movement she made was accompanied by black fringe dancing to her command. The dress itself was peacock-blue with gold, green and violet sequins sewn in the patterns of peacock feathers. Her shoulders were covered with short cap sleeves, adorned by more of the fringe. And the bodice dipped low, showing off the curve of her generous bustline. She wore satin gloves in a matching color that went up past her elbows.
The hair stylist had pinned Kat’s shimmering hair up to make it resemble a 1920s style bob cut. And the bandeau across her forehead was a rhinestone-studded glittery number festooned with peacock feathers.
Delicious.
And, to my dismay, I realized that tailcoats were useless at hiding erections. Since I was going to be with her all night, plotting ways to get her into bed, I’d have to get creative covering for it.
Chapter 20
Katya
My husband was flat-out gorgeous tonight. Not a sentence I’d anticipated saying to myself at the very beginning of this year but… this definitely hadn’t been a typical year in my as-yet short life. The tuxedo tailcoat and white vest underneath displayed his fit form perfectly, hugging broad crew-trained shoulders and tapering down to his slender waist and hips.
He looked like the perfect gallant gentleman—tall, dark, wavy hair. Even fitted white gloves on his hands. Dayum.
“Well, Mr. Baron van den Hoehnsboek van Lynden.” I said, taking the drink he offered me, then bringing it to my lips as I did another once-over. He was hot… so very hot.
His brows twitched.
I blinked up at him. “I thought I finally pronounced it right?”
“Yeah you did. But no ‘mister’ needed if you’re doing the title, which I rather you didn’t, anyway.”
“I won’t use the title if you don’t like it.” I moved in front of him, pressing my chest against his. “But tonight, you look every bit the part of a European aristocrat.”
His hand came up to my chin, angling my head to peer into my face. “And you just look downright fucking gorgeous.”
He said it with such intensity that I almost felt those words pass through me like fiery arrows, igniting a heat deep inside. Honestly, it threatened to melt my panties right there on the spot. My eyelids drooped and my throat burned. For a second, I fantasized about going back upstairs, peeling these fancy clothes off each other and have our own fun for a while.
But no, playing Roaring Twenties pretend would be fun, too. And how often did two game testers for Draco Multimedia Entertainment get to be glamorous and step into another world?
“Don’t even ask how much this dress cost me.”
His eyes scorched a path down the front of my dress from neck to knee. “Whatever the price, it was worth every damn penny.”
I grinned, and he stepped away, holding his arm out for me to take. As it was still very warm in this part of the valley tonight, I didn’t