Deception (Infidelity #3)

“I suppose it could be either.”

I tilted my head and stretched out my plea. “I was wondering… if in your spare time… you could do a little research? I just want to know that my family isn’t up to something.”

“I’ll see what I can learn.”

A weight lifted from my chest as if I’d passed the baton of concern from me to her. From the little she’d learned about my trust fund, I knew I was passing my distress to capable hands. “Thank you, Deloris. You’re the best.”

The sound of an incoming call rang through my phone. I looked at the screen.





NOX - PRIVATE NUMBER


I hadn’t changed the name he’d entered in Del Mar.

“I need to go. Nox’s calling.”

“Okay. I’ll let you know what I discover,” Deloris replied.

“Thanks again.”

I swiped the screen.

“Hey,” I said with more joy in my voice than I’d felt all afternoon.

“Princess,” Nox’s deep velvety voice rumbled through me, washing away the last traces of anxiety over Chelsea and filling me with his presence. “Tell me you’re home,” he demanded.

My fingers instinctively went to my necklace. “I’m sure you can look at your phone and figure out exactly where I am.”

“I can,” he confirmed. “But I like hearing it from you better.”

“I’m home.”

“Is Lana there?”

“She just arrived,” I said.

“Tell her not to worry about dinner. I’m taking the most gorgeous woman in New York City out to dinner tonight.”

“You are? What will I eat while you’re out?” I asked with a smirk.

“Have I mentioned how much I love that sassy mouth?”

“Is there a special occasion?” My thoughts volleyed between excitement to be out on a date and the reading assignment that was due on Monday.

“Yes,” his voice slowed. “I plan to wine and dine her so I can seduce her later.”

My heart fluttered as my cheeks rose. “Mr. Demetri, that sounds intriguing. However, I’d bet any woman would be open to the suggestion of your seduction, even without the wine and dine.”

“But you see, I don’t want any woman. I want the woman who takes my breath away on a daily basis. I want the enamoring and alluring woman who blows my mind with her stubborn, smartass replies. I want the woman who’s intelligent beyond my comprehension. I know that she is excessively gifted, because she reads these ridiculously thick law books that would put me to sleep with only one paragraph. And I know she reads those books, because even though she has her own office and I’ve told her not to, she leaves them lying around the apartment.”

My smile grew. “Maybe you should bring that up to her?”

“Yes, princess, reminding her of my rules was part of tonight’s plan.”

I shifted uncomfortably in my chair. “After the wine and dine?”

“Whenever I say, because let me tell you that right now even the thought of what I have planned is making me uncomfortable. You see, I’m lucky enough to know what it’s like to have that gorgeous woman near me, to listen to her sweet voice—her moans and cries.”

Fuck!

“I’ve seen her fine ass reddened and know how tight she is when she’s coming apart around me.”

“Jesus, Nox.” My words were more of a whimper as my ass tingled with phantom redness. I loved that even after my confession of childhood issues, Nox didn’t treat me with kid gloves. Instead, he made me feel strong and capable in the midst of his dominance.

“So be a good girl,” he said, “and tell Lana to leave, or she may be in for more of a show than she wants.”

I nodded, trying to moisten my tongue and lips, but it was quite obvious that my mouth had gone dry, sending all the moisture to another part of my body. “Yes, Mr. Demetri. And when will you be arriving?”

“Six sharp, but you have a delivery coming any minute.”

“I do?”

“Your clothes for our evening,” he said. “Listen carefully, because I expect to be obeyed. The only items I want added to the ensemble that will arrive are those fuck-me black shoes and your necklace.”

My insides torqued at the memory of the shoes he described planted on the dashboard of the Boxster on Highway 101.

“Do as you’re told,” Nox warned, “and I’ll be nice and let you come. I believe it’s time to bring your vibrator back to life.”

“And if I don’t do as you say?” I asked playfully.

Nox laughed. “Sassy and sexy. Don’t worry, princess, I have plans for that too.”

The line went dead.

I sat unmoving for a minute, my chest rising and falling with exaggerated breaths as I imagined the possibilities for Nox’s plans. And then, hearing the sound of pots and pans coming from the kitchen, I stood.

“Lana,” I called as I headed her direction.





I STARED NERVOUSLY at the full-length mirror in our dressing room. When I’d opened the large box that had arrived earlier in the day, I gasped, shocked at the dress Nox had ordered. It wasn’t the dress itself. It was beautiful: direct from Saks Fifth Avenue with a designer tag. What surprised me was the color.

Red. Bright candy-apple red. Bring-traffic-to-a-screeching-halt red. I had to wonder if it was some kind of play on the skater dress I’d purchased months ago.

If it were, I didn’t believe he’d selected this one to make me look like a whore. The red dress I removed from the box was classy and would cover me in all the right places. Nevertheless, I’d searched the box and accompanying bags for a gold armband, like the one I wore that night but found none. As I looked from bag to bag, I also didn’t find a bra or panties. There was, however, a black lace garter belt and accompanying lace-top stockings.

Holding Nox’s choice of undergarments in my hands, I felt the contrasting sensations of the rough yet soft lace beneath my fingers, and it infused my bloodstream with adrenaline. The hormone flowed and swirled throughout my system until my heart raced and insides clenched.

Once I’d showered and completed my makeup, I secured my hair. With my auburn color, I mostly avoided wearing reds and pinks. Keeping that in mind, I styled it up, sophisticated yet alluring, purposely leaving long curls to dance and bob delicately around my shoulders.

At nearly six o’clock, I eased into the clothes he’d had delivered. Small clasps dangled from the garter belt and linked to the stockings, leaving my thighs and core uncovered. The different sensations from the various materials, or lack thereof, electrified my skin. Soft nylon caressed my legs, the lace of the belt hugged my hips and lower waist, and at the same time, my upper thighs were exposed and vulnerable.

I imagined how the bare skin would tingle as cool autumn air blew under the skirt of the dress and how that same skin would warm as my flesh rubbed together ever so slightly as I took each step. I closed my eyes and allowed one of my hands to cup my own breast as the other drifted lower. Brushing my clit and pinching my nipple, my core tightened. Instinctively, I knew that wind and friction wouldn’t be the only elements I’d be exposed to with this choice of undergarments. There would be nothing separating me from Nox’s inclinations.

Before my imagination took me too far, I eased the red dress over the lingerie. The fabric fit perfectly in all the right places. Tighter at the breasts, it was strapless with a high-low hem and chic pleats near the trim waist. The hem, even at its highest point was only slightly above my knees. In the back it dropped nearly to my calves. Even if I spun in a small circle and the skirt flared, no one could see what I wore underneath. Only the black nylons and my black Louboutins were visible.

While the ensemble underneath was sexy and flirtatious, it was totally hidden to everyone else. As I continued to peer in the mirror, I recalled something Nox had said. The memory brought a smile to my already-pink cheeks.