BLIND: A Mastermind Novel (28 page)

“I think I’m expecting someone?”

She paused. “The reservation was made for one. Is that incorrect?
”
she asked nervously, no longer removing the extra dishes.

One? He wasn’t coming? Such sharp devastation filled her, she lost her appetite as her mood deflated and her smile fell.

“Oh.” Disappointment clamped tight around her heart. “No, you’re probably correct,
”
she forced out, trying not to show that she was upset. Of course she sounded crazy and was now on the verge of tears. Any sane person would know they were eating alone.

She internally winced at the thought of eating alone, something she loathed to do in public. The hostess, a bit confused, left the other place setting and made some comment about sending the server directly to her table.

Scarlet didn’t know what was worse, openly eating alone, or eating across from an empty place setting and looking as if she’d been stood up. For as excited as she was about the evening, she suddenly wanted to leave.

The waiter arrived with a cheery smile she couldn’t reciprocate. “Good evening, Ms. Farrow.
”
She drew to attention the moment he said her name. How had he known her name when the reservation was under Stone?

“Good evening.”

He poured fresh water in her glass. “My name is Xavier and I’m here to make sure you enjoy your experience as our guest at the Imperial Room tonight. Have you ever dined with us before?”

Her eyes scanned the restaurant. “No.”

“Then you’re in for a lovely treat. Mr. Stone has taken the liberty of ordering for you this evening. He’s asked that we start you off with a bottle of our Imperial Red 1947. Will that be acceptable?”

Nineteen forty-seven? She really hoped he was picking up the tab, because a bottle of such aged wine might overdraw her bank account.

Stop being bitter. Embrace the experience for what it is. A treat and something no one else has ever come remotely close to doing for you.

Sighing, she pressed on a grin and said, “That would be fine. Thank you.”

When the server disappeared to retrieve the wine, she was extremely self-conscious. Sitting alone in a dining room filled with other patrons had a way of making her feel on display. She glanced around the room and noted who was talking with company and who wasn’t.

No one seemed to be watching her, so she tucked away all expectations, and tried to embrace the moment.

****

Asher noted the moment her happiness flipped to disappointment. The hostess had begun to clear the additional place setting and Scarlet’s happy expression wilted. He had to fight the urge to join her. It wasn’t time.

His heart was still racing from that afternoon. He’d spent days researching the human body and decided he wanted to touch her. Over a conversation with Jet the idea for a sensual massage came to him. It was tricky, but he’d pulled it off, making arrangements with the hotel and convincing them he had a surprise for the woman in his life. After throwing a little money their way, they’d been more than agreeable to his terms.

Had Scarlet asked him to leave, he would have. He had no intention of violating her privacy any more than necessary and he had touched her only after her consent. It took a solid hour for his body to recover from seeing her so beautifully exposed. Her skin was silk under his fingers, traces of the memory still a threat to his composure.

With her stunning appearance this evening, he was again struggling to mask his body’s reaction to her presence. She was divine in the emerald dress his stylist had suggested.

The waiter returned and filled her glass with wine. Something in her downtrodden expression shifted as she took a sip.
What changed?

Keeping his expression blank, he continued to sip his cocktail at the bar, studying her through the mirrored wall. She fascinated him. When the waiter returned, she grinned, the gesture appearing genuine. Perhaps she’d come to terms with his absence.

As the meal progressed he enjoyed observing her. An evolution of confidence took place right before his eyes. He’d assumed it would be a touch distressing, dining alone, all dressed up in a five star restaurant. But her adjustment to the circumstances was impressive. They both appeared to be evolving in that department. Pride and shared understanding filled him, strengthening their connection in an unexpected way.

The meal concluded with a beautiful chocolate soufflé. Every bite she took was erotic. Her eyes fluttered shut as her lips closed over the tines of the fork, her expression pure delight as she savored the last nibble.

When the waiter returned, Asher noted her surprise that there was no bill. Did she think he’d invite her to dinner and not handle the tab? What sort of lowlifes had she dated? He tucked that question away for another time.

As she stood, he diverted his attention, not wanting his position made obvious. His body tensed when his stool was bumped and the clatter of her little purse fell to the floor, her soft whispered apology only an arm’s reach from his position.

“I beg your pardon.”

Not thinking, he bent to pick up the clutch and slowly handed it to her. Their eyes met for the briefest moment and she smiled, her blush most likely the result of her clumsiness. His heart thundered as she took the clutch, his gaze fastened to her striking eyes, the eyes he’d carefully avoided until now.

“Thank you.”

He nodded, cautious not to speak and the moment was broken. An unexpected fury burned through him. Had she seen nothing remarkable in him? He breathed roughly through his nose as she left the restaurant without even a second glance.

What should he expect? Gratitude? She had no way of knowing he’d been the one responsible for her meal or the luxurious suite. Still, unpleasant and oily doubt coiled in his gut. Just as she always had, she saw right through him as if his presence was inconsequential while he’d spent every minute trying to see her soul and memorize every detail of her personality.

Paying his tab, he left the bar and returned to his suite. It was only as he slid his key into the lock that another thought crossed his mind. Perhaps it wasn’t that she hadn’t seen him. Perhaps it was that she only had eyes for Mr. Stone. That theory managed to repair a bit of his hurt.

Could she be that invested in the charade of Mr. Stone that she would only react to his known introduction? Asher contemplated this for several minutes as he drew off his suit and started the shower. There was no way of knowing how devoted she was to the mysterious Mr. Stone without asking.

Settling onto the bed, he pulled out his phone and hit send.

              Chapter Eleven

Vulnerability

Scarlet carefully zipped the dress back into the garment bag and touched the packaging affectionately. So she hadn’t gotten the chance to meet him face to face as expected. The evening was still one she’d remember forever.

They had nine encounters left until the next phase began—whatever that was. She wished there was some sort of future guarantee, but there wasn’t.

It was bizarre. Her entire day had taken a one-eighty at the hands of this man, yet she missed him. Sure, he’d been at the spa, but she was so taken off-guard by his presence she’d barely managed to utter more than a few syllables.

Her stomach suddenly swooped as though dropping into her feet. What if she’d made a fool of herself and he’d intended to join her for dinner, but then changed his mind after seeing her naked? Her belly clenched and she struggled not to lose her delicious meal.

A soft chirping came from the bed. So distraught over the course of her thoughts, she almost didn’t recognize the muffled sound of her cell phone. Maybe it was Nicole. She was strongly considering confiding in her friend, if only to chase away her ridiculous paranoia.

She unsnapped the clutch and gasped when she read the word “Restricted.
”
Quickly accepting the call, she brought the phone to her ear, hoping this wasn’t a courtesy goodbye. “Hello.”

“Good evening, Ms. Farrow.”

Her voice shook with trepidation. “Good evening, Mr. Stone.
”

She silenced the compulsion to apologize for all of her awkwardness. It seemed the aftermath of her exposure was a lot more difficult to cope with than the actual moment she was exposed. Vulnerability and inadequacy were living-breathing things inside of her, strong enough to destroy everything.

“Why do you sound upset?
”
The sharp tone of his voice caused her to wince.

Because
I’
m overanalyzing the crap out of everything like I always do until I squander any hope or confidence I have left
.
“I’m…I’m not upset.”

“Lies, Ms. Farrow. I assumed we were past that.”

She swallowed. Earlier she’d decided to bare all. It was time to practice that concept—as difficult as that was for her. His clipped tone didn’t make it any easier. “I am upset. But first I have to thank you for everything you did today. It was amazing. No one’s ever treated me to such an experience.”

“The pleasure was mine. Now, tell me why you’re upset.”

Her throat constricted as she confronted her greatest fear. “Is it over?
”
Tears rushed to her eyes, blurring her view of the pretty suite.

“I beg your pardon?”

“You…you didn’t come to dinner.”

“Who says I wasn’t there?”

Her body drew up tight and she looked around nervously, wishing she were back at the restaurant. In a breathless whisper, she asked, “You were there?”

“You looked exquisite, Scarlet. Emerald suits you well.”

Her insides melted at the compliment followed by the use of her first name. However, par for the course, there came a great sense of grief. He’d been there and she’d missed him. Right before her eyes and she hadn’t known he was there.

Her mind played over every other patron at the restaurant. “Were you alone?”

He chuckled. “Where would the fun be if I answered that?
”
Still he answered her anyway. “I was sitting with others, Ms. Farrow.”

Her body shivered as chills chased over her arms and legs. “I wish I had known. I was hoping to finally see you.”

“And what if I turned out to be beneath your expectations, Ms. Farrow?”

“Impossible.”

“Interesting. So have we changed our emphasis on physical appearance?”

She lowered herself to the chair and her phone beeped. Crap. Her battery was running low. Discreetly digging in her purse, praying she’d packed her spare charger, she explained, “It doesn’t matter what you look like. I want to meet you.”

“In time, Ms. Farrow. What are you doing? It sounds like you’re rummaging around for something.”

She huffed, not finding the charger. “I’m looking for my charger. My phone’s not going to last long.”

He was silent for a minute. “Do you have a charger with you?”

Dumping the contents of her bag on the bed she flung the items around, not finding it. Voice laced with distress, she said, “No. It’s not here.”

“What kind of phone do you have?”

“What?”

“I’ll have Pennyworth run out and pick you up a charger. What kind of phone, Ms. Farrow?”

She laughed. Why was she surprised? “It’s the new iPhone.”

“Very well. Hold on please.”

She was placed on mute and wondered if he was in the same room as Pennyworth. She considered paying the chauffeur a visit, perhaps running into Mr. Stone.

“My apologies. Your new charger should be there soon.”

“Are you sharing a room with Mr. Pennyworth?
”
she blurted.

“Full of questions this evening. No, Ms. Farrow. I called him from the landline. Now that we have that straightened out, let’s move on to more important things. Tell me how it felt to eat alone this evening. I trust the fare was to your liking.”

She sighed and eased back on the bed. “Everything was exceptional. I wish you’d have joined me, but I’m beginning to think you like making me wait.”

“Very much so, Ms. Farrow. There’s something quite intoxicating about stimulating such longing that it becomes physically evident. Now, once you realized I wouldn’t be dining with you, what did you feel?”

“Hurt.”

“Why hurt?”

It was difficult to put her emotions into words. “Because I thought you’d be there.”

“I was there.”

Her lips tightened. She didn’t want to think about him being there and her being too blind—might as well have worn the damn blindfold—to see him. “I thought we’d actually have a date.”

“Is that what you’d prefer, a typical date? I assumed the way we were doing things was a touch more interesting.”

He was right, of course. A collective look at her dating history absolutely paled in comparison to her experiences with Mr. Stone. Even without all her senses, he was safe and securely holding the title of best rendezvous partner ever. “No, I like the way you do things. I was just hoping…”

“We have time, Ms. Farrow. Now, after your surprise settled in, what did you feel?”

“Like I was on display.”

“Was that a pleasant feeling or an uncomfortable one?”

“Uncomfortable.”

He chuckled. “So no little exhibitionist hiding inside that body of yours?”

She blushed and then scowled as her phone beeped, informing her she had five percent battery life remaining. “I’m afraid not.”

“Yet, you managed to enjoy the meal anyway.”

“I had to get over it or I wouldn’t have been able to eat at all.”

“It pleases me that you made the best of an unexpected situation. Today you were very exposed. You dealt with your circumstances rather well.”

She smiled at the compliment, but flushed again at the attention to how exposed she’d actually been. “Thank you.”

“I enjoyed touching you this afternoon.”

Her body immediately called to attention, her sex contracting and heart racing. “I enjoyed it too,
”
she whispered.

“Did the massage arouse you, Ms. Farrow?”

How could it not? “Yes.”

“Are you aroused now?”

“Yes.
”
She swallowed.

There was a sharp knock at the door and she jolted off the bed.

“That will likely be Pennyworth with your charger. Thank him and tell him goodnight.”

She went to the door and opened it. Pennyworth handed her a package. “There you are, Ms. Farrow.”

“Thank you.”

“Goodnight, ma’am.”

“Goodnight, Mr. Pennyworth.
”

She shut the door and placed the latch over the bolt for extra measure. She quickly slipped open the box, grateful Apple didn’t package things in a way that required a chainsaw. Finding a plug at the base of the lamp, she quickly hooked the phone to the outlet.

“Better now?”

“Yes. Thank you so much.”

“You’re quite welcome. I believe we were discussing your arousal.”

The interruption had been a distraction, cooling her body, but the moment Mr. Stone mentioned anything sexual she was right back in a state of excitement. Sucking in a breath she waited to hear what he’d say.

“Are you still aroused, Ms. Farrow?”

“Yes,
”
she confessed quietly.

“What is it that’s arousing you?”

“You.”

He paused. “How can you tell you’re aroused? Describe it to me.”

“I feel it. My heart’s racing and I’d do anything to have you here.”

“Anything?”

She tried to think of something she wouldn’t do. Nope. She was pretty desperate in that moment. “I’m pretty sure anything.”

“Interesting. Do you masturbate, Ms. Farrow?”

Her eyes closed as humiliation choked her. Creeping carnal delight provoked her answer. “Sometimes. I think everyone does.”

“Does it arouse you to know I’ve masturbated while thinking of you?”

“Oh, God.
”
She couldn’t recall ever being this turned on. “Yes, very much so.”

“Are you still in the dress, Scarlet?”

Her name. She savored it, but couldn’t help the panic that it hinted to a goodbye. “No. I hung it up because I didn’t want anything to happen to it.”

“Describe what you’re wearing.”

“The hotel robe.”

“Anything else?”

“No.”

“Where are you sitting?”

“On the bed.”

“Good. I want you to follow my directions. Are you ready?”

Her sex pulsed with need. She was beyond ready. “Yes.”

“Lie back and extend your legs. Keep your knees together.”

She scooted onto the pillows and slowly moved her ankles down the mattress. “Okay.”

“Don’t let go of the phone. Use your free hand to untie the robe and then carefully spread the lapels wide, exposing your body.”

Her fingers trembled as she fussed with the knot of the tie. Her own breath ricocheted through the receiver and she winced. Once she had the knot undone, she separated the lapels. “Okay.”

“Is the room cold? Did exposing yourself make your nipples hard, Ms. Farrow?”

Biting her lip she clenched her thighs tight, needing the pressure. “They were already hard, Mr. Stone.
”
She smirked when she sensed she’d discomfited him. Maybe she could be sexy after all.

His voice turned gravely. “Touch your breasts, but you are not to touch your nipples. Move your hand slowly. Take your time and feel every caress. I want you to shut your eyes.”

Her lashes lowered and she arched as her fingertips slowly traveled between her breasts, over the slope of chilled flesh, circling close to the areola, but not touching.