Show Me, Baby:A Masters of the Shadowlands Novella(29)

Off to one side, the Shadowlands' security guard Ben stood with Galen  and Vance. As they talked, the two grooms watched their bride with wide  smiles. Ben's gaze kept drifting to Mistress Anne.

As the song came to an end, Rainie moved out. She should check in with the brides in case they needed something. After that-

Around the side of the room, Jake was heading toward her.

Her heart skipped a beat. Not knowing how late her bridesmaid's duties  would keep her, she'd told him he was on his own, and she'd go home to  her apartment after the reception was over. Now she regretted her  decision; she wanted to sleep in his arms.

But, either way, at least she'd get to dance with him.

Unfortunately, even as she watched, Gabi's parents intercepted him.  Rainie considered a rescue, but from the way Mr. Renard clapped a hand  on Jake's shoulder and shook his hand, they were well acquainted.





Despite his annoyance at the delay in reaching Rainie, Jake shook hands  with William Renard and answered the man's question. "My parents are  enjoying their trip. Thank you for asking." He smiled. "They made a stop  in Paris before heading home."

"I can't believe you didn't join them," Mrs. Renard said. "Certainly  you'd have more fun in Europe than running that clinic of yours."

Jake shrugged. "I get bored on vacations." Although a holiday with  Rainie might defeat boredom nicely. He glanced over his shoulder, but  she'd been pulled out to the floor by Uzuri, Saxon, and Holt.

She really could dance …

He'd noticed her talent at the Shadowlands and the bachelorette party.  Here she was simply having fun and looked incredibly sexy in that  floaty-skirted gown. "Damn," he said under his breath.

A body blocked his view. Irritated, he sidestepped.

Two soft hands clasped his. "Jake, don't you recognize me?"

Startled, he glanced down to see a slender woman. Dark copper hair in an  up-swirl style, gold designer dress, sultry blue eyes. "Nadia." His  distant cousin looked beautiful, as always. "It's good to see you. Mom  mentioned you might come. Is your husband here as well?"

"Oh, we've been divorced for ages. That's why I took a job with  William's law firm." A pout crossed her expression as if she were miffed  Jake hadn't kept track of her.

He had, at one time. As an undergrad, he'd chased her until his tongue  dragged on the ground, but she'd scraped him off in favor of richer  prey.

"I'm sorry about the divorce," he said politely. "However, I'm sure  William is pleased to have your expertise. I imagine he keeps you busy."

She drew closer. "He does. But I can always find time for you."

"We'll have to have a drink one of these days." Over her shoulder, he  noticed Rainie heading for the drink table. "Excuse me, please."

"Of course." Nadia rose up on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "Later, honey."







Rainie managed only a gulp of punch before Jake steered her away. Typical Dom-he hadn't even asked if she wanted to dance.

Then again, slow dancing with Jake was almost as good as having sex with  him. She snuggled closer. "Truly Madly Deeply. I love this song."

"You're welcome."

"You got them to play it? Is that why they played two slow tunes in a row?"

He rubbed his cheek against hers. Although his hands were positioned  properly, he kept her plastered against him … and the half-erection he  boasted. "Did I mention that in high school, my friends and I had a  garage band? I know from experience that a good bribe works wonders on a  playlist."

She breathed in his cologne, spice and pine, and melted even closer.

"This one was worth every penny since I've been wanting to dance with  you," he murmured. "I'd like to find a closet and do more, but the  staff's monitoring the private areas. Maybe the beach though … "

Thinking he was joking, she laughed. "You are … " The heat in his gaze  made her swallow hard. Maybe he wasn't joking. "Um. I'm not dressed for  sex in the sand."

"Mmm." He nuzzled her temple and set her heart to pounding. "I wouldn't  put you in the sand, buttercup. I'd bend you over a table, hike up your  gorgeous gown, and take you from behind."         

     



 

He rubbed his chest sideways to tease her breasts. "Because that way I  can reach around and play with your nipples … using my right hand."

What about his left hand? "Behave, Sir."

"Now the left"-his voice lowered-"my left hand would tease your pussy."

The flames sizzling over her skin might well ignite her clothes. As she  dampened, she tried to step back. His arms flexed into iron bars holding  her captive.

"I like your little whimpers when I'm balls deep," he whispered. "I like how your cunt squeezes my cock as you come."

He was liable to make her climax right there in the middle of a crowd. As her legs wobbled, he laughed.

"Jake." Linda walked through the dancing couples. "Sam says you're in  charge of summoning the two limos for the newlyweds. It's time."

"I'm on it." With his usual impeccable manners, Jake escorted Rainie to  the edge of the dance floor and kissed her fingers. "Enjoy yourself,  sweetling. I'll be back in a bit."

"Right," she said under her breath, watching him stride away. Jacob  Sheffield in a tuxedo had to be one of the wonders of the world.

He made her feel so special when he danced with her. Talked with her.  Laughed at her jokes and teased her. His gaze said he thought she was  beautiful.

But …  She winced. Mr. Politeness-Itself Sheffield had witnessed her  tirade at the evil mothers, Mrs. Kouros and Mrs. Renard. Why hadn't he  mentioned her behavior?

A knot formed in her stomach as she remembered his ease with Gabi's  parents-and they with him. The totally snobbish Renards wouldn't  converse with someone they considered beneath them. But he was at their  level.

Her shoulders tightened. She hadn't missed how Jake attracted female  attention-like the redhead who'd made a play for him, kissing his cheek  and rubbing her breasts against his arm.

But he left her to dance with me.

"You must be Rainie." Like a witch materializing out of black  smoke-obviously summoned by Rainie's unhappy thoughts-the redhead  approached. Wine glass in hand, she gave Rainie an insolent scrutiny,  making her aware of each hair out of place, of every bulge of her hips  and stomach, of how her chin was round, not pointed.

"I've heard quite a bit about you tonight." The woman's snide tone established she wasn't applying to be one of Rainie's BFFs.

"How odd," Rainie said evenly. "I haven't heard a thing about you." A feeble comeback, but better than none.

"I can see how Jake would enjoy a woman like you for a quick fling," the  redhead said. "There's a certain appeal to fat and coarse, at least for  a brief change in diet." Her flawlessly curved eyebrows lifted to  complement a delicate sneer.

Rainie stiffened. What in the world?

"However, since I know the Sheffields, I suggest you don't get  comfortable. Men rarely marry beneath their class, and you, my dear, are  so far below you're barely out of the gutter."

Before Rainie could find a response to the unexpected vitriol, the bitch  spun on her high heel and stalked away … back to the Renards, who were  staring at Rainie as if she'd crawled out of some lagoon for monsters.

After a second, Rainie got it. Gabi's mother had unleashed the woman as her own personal attack dog.

Turning her back, she fought the sickness trying to crawl out of her  stomach. Yes, she'd been rude to Mrs. Renard and Galen's mother, but  only in defense of her friend-and with good cause.

Being attacked for a background she hadn't chosen, that wasn't … wasn't fair.

Then again, was it fair in college when boyfriends like Geoffrey took  her home, then dumped her after their parents disapproved? Was it fair  when teens like Mandy had ridiculed her in the classrooms?

Or, worse, at the Sheffield's house? Tears pricked the backs of her eyes  and burned in her throat. The redhead was right about the Sheffields.  They were elegant. Refined. Cultured.

Rainie closed her eyes, remembering. As a foster child, she hadn't  visited anyone's home, not until popular, charming Jennifer Sheffield  invited Rainie to her birthday party. Rainie'd worn her coolest,  prettiest clothes and spent hours getting her hair and makeup just  right. She'd walked into the Sheffield's home, with her ugly backpack  slung over her shoulder. In wonder, she'd stared at the parquet floors,  the antique furniture worn to a smooth patina, and the paintings with  vivid colors and textures. Everything merged to create breathtaking  beauty in a way she'd never seen before.

And there had been another kind of beauty as well. Jake had been there.         

     



 

Staring blindly at the dance floor, Rainie heard the song change to  Nobody Knows it But Me. Could a tune get any sadder? Crying inside was  right. She realized she was backing away from the music, from the  guests.