Part 9 (1/2)

”Oh, and this!” The cas.h.i.+er grabbed a cone, dipped the scoop into dark chocolate, and then handed it to Paige. ”On the house.”

Paige thanked her, then made her way to one of the tables in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Mayson kicked her foot against the brick building and settled in to watch Paige from the darkened alley across the street.

She wondered if Paige knew how gorgeous she was. Wondered if she knew what she was looking for. It wasn't s.e.x. It wasn't teeth-grinding o.r.g.a.s.ms.

But what, exactly, was she searching for?

Happy ever after? Happy for now? Was she looking for her butch in s.h.i.+ning armor or just a midnight f.u.c.k? Was it possible that she truly was only seeking the perfect s.e.x like she stated in her blogs?

Mayson watched as Paige let the ribbon fall in a heap on the table and then lift the top off the box. She shoved the white tissue paper aside with a mischievous grin.

Paige looked like she was enjoying her scavenger hunt. What female didn't? It was s.e.xy and romantic. It was mysterious and adventurous. It's what she'd described in her blog. That she wanted someone to reach outside the box, to take her on the ride of her life.

For Mayson, it was seduction. She wanted Paige to crave her. Wanted her desperate and wet.

Paige frowned when she reached the bottom of the box. A cell phone?

She glanced at the cas.h.i.+er, who was now preoccupied with an iPad, then turned back to look out the window, but she only saw her own reflection. She focused her sights across the street. There was no movement from the darkened crevices between the buildings. She was certain her mystery woman was there, watching intently. Paige could feel the heat from her gaze penetrating her skin.

The phone vibrated and she jumped.

She scooped the phone out of the box to find a text. Vinden's name had already been saved in the ID box.

Vinden: Let me watch you lick your ice cream, Fedora.

Heat ribboned down Paige's body as she turned completely in her chair to face the window. The text confirmed she was being watched. She took an extra-slow lick of her cone, rounding her tongue along the sides, and then sucked the tip into her mouth. Making out with the velvety chocolate.

When she could take no more of her own teasing, she punched in her response and was happy to see that Vinden had preprogrammed her blog name.

X: Show yourself.

Vinden: Patience, Fedora. Enjoy the ride for now.

Paige studied the words while heat cradled between her thighs. Enjoy the ride, she would. This game, where the excitement resided in not knowing the ident.i.ty of her mystery woman, made her wet. This was where she found the s.e.xual high. Behind the mask.

Yes. This was the only place. Behind the mystery. Deep inside the game. The mask seemed to be where her natural desires existed. It was crazy, but she was without willpower to change her own mind. Right now, she couldn't gather enough common sense to pretend she wasn't a h.o.r.n.y disaster in need of fast relief.

She wanted another scalding kiss. Wanted to ride this mystery woman until an o.r.g.a.s.m bit down hard. G.o.d, the promises were written all over this night. Over the mystery location, the heavenly ice cream, the phone. How much seduction did this woman think Paige needed? Paige didn't want gifts or ice cream or a f.u.c.king phone. She wanted to come, screaming, on the tip of this woman's tongue.

Couldn't a girl just get laid?

X: You brought me here for a reason?

Vinden: To seduce you.

X: Mission accomplished. Where are you?

Vinden: Watching you.

Paige looked back through the window and concentrated on the widest alley between the buildings. If Vinden was there, Paige couldn't see her. But slick heat swelled between her thighs with the confirmation of being watched. She wanted Vinden to watch her. Wanted her to need just as much as Paige needed right now.

She bit into her cone and held her gaze on the spot she was positive Vinden was hiding. Was she brave enough to inspect? Was she brave enough to walk out of this store, cross the street, and investigate?

Of course she was. But then the game would be over. She wasn't ready for it to come to a close. Not when the fire was scorching her.

Vinden: Time to go.

X: So soon?

As calmly as any h.o.r.n.y girl could manage, Paige gathered the phone, dropped the empty box and the remains of her cone in the trash, then left the store.

On the sidewalk, she responded.

X: Which way?

Vinden: Right.

Paige walked two more blocks before she got another text to turn left. She crossed the street, continuing to glance over her shoulder. No one was there, but Paige was positive she was being followed. From somewhere in the darkness, Vinden was watching her every move.

It gave her a rushed thrill to know she was close by. Why didn't she just come out of hiding, introduce herself, and then use one of these brick buildings to bring Paige to spasms? h.e.l.l, at this point of the heated madness, she'd only need to step out. No introductions were necessary.

Her insides tightened at the thought, and she walked faster.

The final text ordered her to turn right, and she found herself staring at her own neon sign. Visions.

X: Where now?

Vinden: To the beginning.

Paige pondered her comment while she studied the small groups of women in front of the nightclub. The beginning, meaning in her dressing room? Where she'd experienced that torturous kiss?

No. It had started long before Vinden braved that walk into private territory.

Paige pulled the Fedora down over her eyes and moved past the women. She spotted her little bench, as well as the box beneath it.

Excited, Paige dodged for her sanctuary under the trees and pulled the box out from under the bench. The gift was wrapped in the same ribbon.

With her heart sputtering, Paige sat down and s.n.a.t.c.hed at the bows.

This was all so s.e.xy, so mysterious. So romantic.

She'd never been seduced before. Unless her other mystery woman's outstretched hand in New Orleans had been seduction. It sure had felt like pure, raw seduction. Actually, her seduction had begun as soon as they locked eyes on each other, eye f.u.c.king from across the room. The extension of that hand had only sealed the deal. Or had the click of that lock?

Paige had no clue why New Orleans had suddenly invaded her thoughts, only that her crotch was a soaked mess and she needed relief, with or without the contents of this box.

She tugged the ribbon off to find the single word Cartier in gold cursive letters on the lid. She'd never held such an expensive box, let alone opened it to find a gift meant for her inside.