Page 6 of Always Knew It Was You

“A question?” Her voice is soft and unassuming, with a strange breathless quality to it that doesn’t feel rehearsed. I’d love to hear that voice whispering in my ear as I thrust into her.

Easy, Micah. Patience.“Yeah. Why the mask?”

She turns to me then and, behind the mask, I notice that her eyes are golden brown with dark lashes. I want to melt in them. She smells delicious too, a subtle sweet scent that I’ve never smelled before.

I’m so busy taking her in, I forget all about the question I asked until she answers it.

“It’s a masquerade ball,” she says, in a tone that implies that I might be an idiot.

I smile. “I didn’t ask why you were wearing a mask, just why you chose this one. If you haven’t noticed, most of the other women in the room have a half mask that at least gives some hints as to who they are. But yours does not. Which tells me that either you’re someone who wants to hide or you’re trying very hard to be seen as mysterious.”

She blinks slowly.

“Or I could just be frightfully ugly,” she says. “The type of ugly that scares children and makes small animals distinctly uncomfortable.”

“Like the Phantom of the Opera?”

“That’s who I’m channeling. Did you consider that option?”

A smile dances at the corner of her lips and I want to kiss them even more than before. “I guess I didn’t.”

“Somehow I’m not surprised.” She turns away.

“And that’s supposed to mean?”

“Just that you strike me as the kind of man who wouldn’t consider talking to anyone he thinks might be unattractive.”

“And that’s your way of saying I’m a shallow asshole.”

“Shallow? Maybe. Asshole is a matter of perspective. I don’t know you enough to call you an asshole.” A smile finally rocks her lips. “Although one of the ladies I was talking to seemed to imply that might be the case.”

“Which lady?”

“Somehow I doubt you’d remember her even if I told you.”

“And now I’m a manwhore too.”

“Do you deny it?” She’s full-on amused now, seemingly having fun with this conversation. And I’m having fun too, even if it’s at the expense of my reputation.

“Only in the sense that I don’t require money for my services.”

It takes her a moment to get the joke and she rolls her eyes. “Maybe you’re just not good enough to get paid.”

“Oh, I doubt your friend told you that,” he says. “She wouldn’t be calling me an asshole if I wasn’t.”

That finally gets a laugh out of her, a throaty laugh that makes hunger rush through me. I laugh too, feeling elated and a little buzzed.

It’s a good day, all things considered. I sold my hotel shares and found an intriguing woman to entertain me for the night. The only thing that would make it better is to find out what’s under that mask.

And under that dress.

“What would you say if I told you that I’m not half the shallow asshole you think I am?”

“I would be disappointed.” Her response shocks me as she smirks. “I happen to exclusively fuck shallow assholes.”

I gape at her for a second, unable to believe the words that left her mouth. And then my mouth moves again, faster than my brain.

“Well then consider me at your service.”

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