Chapter 7
Piper
"You have got to be kidding me." I gaped at the full-length gown Darren had laid out for me to wear to dinner. Gown was being generous. The thing barely had any material to it. The fabric it did have was pale blue tulle, which fell in strips down to the ground and up around the hanger, where I assumed my breasts would go. The only saving grace to the dress was a thicker piece of blue material beneath the skirt that would cover my private bits. The part that worried me most, however, was the strategically placed flower buds that covered the tulle. I figured they were there to cover up the important parts of my breasts, but that still left a whole lot of boob to be seen.
Darren sighed in exasperation. "We are trying to make a statement here. We need to—"
"I thought we were trying to make me less appealing?" I interrupted Darren with a scowl. "Not tempt Valentine like a dog with a bone."
Darren lifted his eyes to the heavens. "You have a great deal to learn about vampires."
I sighed and slipped my shoes off as I worked on disrobing. I didn't have to worry about the guys, since they'd all scattered to their own rooms to get ready, leaving me with Darren and Antoine. Antoine hid in the bathroom where he was preparing for tonight’s festivities, letting Darren break the news of my clothes. Coward.
It should bother me to undress in front of Darren, but I didn't see how I was going to get into that thing by myself. I pulled my shirt over my head and groaned. "Is it weird that I miss the slutty maid outfit?"
Darren's lips ticked up at the edges. "It was quite entertaining."
When I got down to my bra and panties, I placed my hands on my hips and looked over the dress. I was not going to be able to wear my underwear or my bra with this. Fuck.
My eyes skipped over to Darren. His dark eyes were locked on to my form, confusing me. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he was checking me out.
"Darren." His dark eyes jerked up to mine when I said his name, and that neutral mask fell over his face, hiding what he was really thinking. With a slight smile, I turned to him and struck a what I hoped was seductive pose. "Are you checking me out?"
Not even bothered by my question, Darren adjusted his gloves before clearing his throat and putting his hands behind his back. "I have eyes and you are a very lovely woman."
I blushed. Pulling my lower lip into my mouth, I peered up at Darren beneath my eyelashes. "Why, Darren, you old charmer you. I didn't know you had eyes for anyone other than Antoine." I cocked my head to the side as I watched his reaction.
Darren's lips twitched. "My relationship with Master Durand is a complicated one, which has not kept me from enjoying the fairer sex."
"Fairer sex?" I grinned. "I never understood that phrase. Are we fairer because we are weaker? Or prettier?"
Darren let out an exasperated sigh. "And once again you ruin it by opening your mouth."
I stuck my tongue out at him playfully before giggling. "Still, it's nice to know I can draw even your eye."
Letting out a snort, Darren moved over to the bed where the dress was laid out. "You have five immortal vampires who are more than happy to show you how attractive you are. I certainly don't think you need to add another admirer to the mix."
I flushed. "Yeah. Well, they might want to screw me, but physical attraction can only get your so far..." I trailed off, my eyes going to the dress as my fingers played with the tulle skirt. "Especially when you have forever."
Darren was quiet for a moment, and then he placed a hand on my shoulder. My eyes drifted up to meet his gaze. "How are you? With the changes and everything?"
I sighed and looked at the dress once more. Lifting it up, I searched for a zipper or some way into the scrap of material. "It's strange, I guess. I don't know how to describe it. It's like...it's like..."
"Every nerve ending has been hyped up to a million?" Darren offered with a small smile. "It ties around the neck."
"Huh?" My mouth fell open as I stared at him in confusion. Then I realized he was talking about the dress. Giving him a sheepish grin, I turned the dress around and stepped into the solid piece of the skirt. I wiggled into it, not removing my underwear or bra just yet. No need to give Darren more of a show than he was getting. "Could you?" I turned and lifted my hair so he could tie the top around my neck.
The soft material of Darren's gloves brushed my neck where Antoine's scar sat, and I shivered. A hot flash of need raced through me and I swallowed it down. Pull it together for Christ's sake. This was Darren we're talking about. Anal. Clean freak. No fun. Darren.
"Don't worry," Darren murmured, as he finished tying the top. "The sensitivity will wane...a bit."
I gave a harsh laugh. "That's encouraging. Good to know that I won't be horny all the time." A voice cleared. My head jerked up and I locked eyes with the pale blue orbs of Antoine. My face heated to a million degrees as I realized what I'd just said in front of him.
"Antoine, uh, hey, Darren and I were just talking about, uh, you know, side effects." I shifted from foot to foot, feeling pretty ridiculous wearing this piece of nothing on top of my bra, while Antoine was dressed in a spanking new suit that made him look even more the dashing vampire lover than before. Plus, the unbuttoned shirt and loose tie around his neck was definitely doing things to my panties.
Antoine hummed as his eyes scanned over my form.
Before he could make a comment about it, I reached back and unsnapped my bra. "I was just finishing up when you..." I grunted, struggling to get the straps of my bra off and out from beneath the sheer fabric, and not flash Antoine my boobs. Darren saw me struggling and reached out to help, but I smacked his hands away. "I've got it." I scowled and turned my back on them to get it out from beneath, before readjusting my tits into the right position. Happy that all the parts that were supposed to be covered were covered, I turned back around. "There. All done."