Surrender to Temptation Part IV: Tempted to Entice Read Free

shifted uncomfortably, my body overly warm, as if he had touched me.
    “You always look lovely.” He took my hand and helped me from the car as Charles opened the door. “And this isn’t a typical club.”
    I raised my eyebrows in question, but he didn’t respond, just placed his hand at the small of my back and led me to the door of the building.
    “St. Brenton.” The man holding some kind of digital device at the door scrolled down the screen, his eyes widening when he found what he was looking for. I wondered if there was a note beside Zach’s name that said something like “temperamental billionaire: treat with utmost caution.”
    Before I could ponder it further, we were passed off to a woman, some sort of hostess, I thought. She was a statuesque beauty with jet-black hair that fell in a sleek sheet to her ass, and the low-cut back of her dress rode nearly as low. Though her manner was utterly professional, I couldn’t miss the up-and-down stare that she directed at Zach, nor the blatant hunger in her gaze as she did so.
    He seemed oblivious, but he was an intelligent man. He had to be fully aware of it. I just didn’t know how he felt about the attention that he received everywhere he went.
    Insecurity plagued me, though I reminded myself over and over that he was there with me. I didn’t comment on my thoughts, either, because I didn’t think that he would take them well.
    The gorgeous woman led us into a theater. It was a venue unlike anything I had ever seen before. I gaped as we were led to a private balcony, one of fifteen that I could count, all arranged in two neat semicircles before a small stage.
    Each balcony was like a private dining room, though the walls extended only waist high to allow a view of the stage. Each contained a small table draped in a heavy black cloth, and on top of the table was a lush arrangement of deep, wine-colored roses, an array of fat white candles, and a silver bucket holding a pale green bottle.
    As we sat, Zach gestured to the bottle. “This is the Stella d’Or that I requested?”
    The woman nodded, her mouth pouting wetly. I was more than a little bit impressed with the brand of wine—Stella d’Or was high-end, and I had never tried it. I gulped as I thought of the cost, but was distracted when Zach sat on the curved leather loveseat that was pulled up to the table in lieu of regular chairs.
    I wasn’t sure what was about to happen, but anticipation hung in the air like a heavy velvet curtain. As Miss Come-Hither-Stare popped the cork on what turned out to be a beautiful Bordeaux the color of berries and poured Zach and me each a glass, I watched others being shown in to the theater and seated in their own balconies.
    All were couples, with the exception of one group of three, who nonetheless seemed to all be together in a way that my mind couldn’t quite comprehend. Clothing ran the gamut from a tuxedo and evening gown to a tiny, red lace teddy and matching satin shortie robe.
    “Zach, what is this place?” Though he shook his head to tell me that he wasn’t going to tell, a small smile played over the corners of his lips—a small, wicked smile.
    I took a large sip of my expensive wine, trying to wet my suddenly dry throat.
    “That will be all, Marguerite. Thank you.” Zach turned his attention entirely toward me, and I could see that our hostess didn’t care for being dismissed. A small frown marred her features, and she stepped in closer to Zach, as if trying to insinuate herself between us.
    A jade green streak of jealousy flashed before my eyes, and before I could think it through, I leaned in close and placed my hand flat on his chest, right over his heart. I looked up at the woman with wide eyes, as if startled to find that she was still there.
    “Yes?” My voice was sweet, but even I could hear the venom underneath. I was surprised at myself. I’d never been the jealous type.
    The woman who Zach had called Marguerite scowled at the placement of