Which brings a thought to my mind—if he wants me as his wife, he’ll want sex. Heat coils through me, settling low in my gut as I recall his fingers, how they taunted and teased, how I fell apart as he touched me. His perfectly timed strokes sent me reeling, and I don’t doubt he would and could do it again and again.
Flicking through the hangers, I find an emerald satin cocktail dress the same color as Lycan’s eyes. The garment is far too exquisite to wear in the house, but I can’t help the need coursing through me to impress him, to show him I’m not some stupid girl he can boss around.
I’m a woman.
I take the item into the bedroom and lay it on the bed. Next, I choose lingerie which has been packed in a glass cabinet in the walk-in closet. There’s everything from white cotton panties to black and red lace. Picking out a charcoal set, I smile for a moment, wondering if he’ll even see this tonight. The bra and panty are made of sheer lace, with thin straps that feel like heaven across my skin.
I find a pair of silver heels I slip on after I’ve donned the dress. At the vanity, which steals my breath each time I take in the scene of the wolf chasing Red, I settle on the stool and start applying some lip gloss over a nude shade I found in one of the drawers. As I line my eyes with black, I allow my mind to develop a plan of action.
The mascara makes my lashes seem even longer and curled. And when I’m done, I sit back for a moment to summon the courage to face him again. I haven’t seen Lycan since he left me in the dining room with Opal. Nervously, I get to my feet and head for the door, which I find still unlocked. In the hallway, it’s deathly silent, and I’m thankful for the peace before I have to make conversation with the man who wants to marry me.
I move toward the staircase with ease, taking in the tapestries hanging high against the walls. The home is enormous, just like my grandmother’s. I have to ask Lycan if I can talk to her, to see her. With the Bardot Gala coming up quickly, I’m sure she’s worried about where I’ve disappeared to unless Lycan has fed her some story about how I’m spending time with him.
The thought coils in my stomach, anger flaring as I reach the steps and take them slowly, wanting to prolong my alone time. But I can’t put this off forever, so when I reach the double doors of the dining room, I stop, inhale a deep, cleansing breath, and release it before I push my way into the vast space.
Everything has been returned to normal. The furniture—table, and chairs—fill the center of the room, allowing the cabinets against the walls to frame the place settings where I spot Lycan at the head of the table.
He’s dressed impeccably, just like I knew he would be. His suit jacket is unbuttoned, allowing me a view of his button-up, which is a dark gray, reminding me of storm clouds on a cool winter’s day. The color pops against the pitch black of his pants and jacket. I don’t miss the fact that he’s not wearing a tie, and the top few buttons of his shirt are undone. A glimpse of tanned skin has my mind wandering alone into territory I’d rather steer clear from.
“My soon-to-be wife,” he voices, his tone filled with arrogant confidence. His lips quirk as his eyes hungrily rove over me. He takes in my long, red waves, then his heated stare burns its way over my face, to my lips, and down, finding my cleavage just peeking out from the neckline of the dress.
When he reaches my legs, he lifts his fist to his mouth and stifles a cough before coming toward me. His long strides swallow up the distance instantly, and seconds later, he’s looming over me like a starving predator ready to devour its prey.
“You look rather breathtaking this evening,” Lycan murmurs in a low, seductive baritone, which has my spine tingling with awareness of just how close he is. His eyes, those gemstones, shine with a ferocious need that heats me from head to toe.
“Thank you,” is all I manage before he steps back and offers me his hand. I accept with trembling fingers, and he leads me to a chair to the left of him. He pulls it out, allowing me to settle before pushing it in. Everything is shimmering under the dim yellow bulbs from the chandelier, and even Lycan looks like a dark angel sent from the depths of hell to dine with me tonight.