Last Kiss Part 1

Last Kiss.

Dominique Adair.

To Raelene, Francine, Cheetah, Bubba and the rest of the girls a" wherever you area "I suppose they like me because I bring romance into their life for a few moments."

a" Rudolph Valentino

Chapter 1.

Somewhere in Colorado.

Itas show time!

b.u.t.terflies crowded Elaine Nicholsa stomach as she climbed out of the limousine, ever mindful of her long skirt. The last thing she wanted was to land in a heap upon her arrival. Retrieving her small overnight case, she shut the door. Stepping to the side, she watched as the car pulled away, wondering if she shouldnat run after it, jump inside, and go back to the airport.

Do not pa.s.s go; do not collect two hundred dollars.

No, this was something she wanted to do. Scratch that; make it Had To Do. She had to pay taxes, be a good person, pay her bills, keep a roof over her head, and have s.e.x with a stranger.

Though not necessarily in that order.

After ensuring that her half-mask still s.h.i.+elded her face, she straightened her spine and smoothed her damp palms over the form-fitting evening dress. Standing before her mirror at the hotel where shead been taken upon landing in Denver last night, shead pondered her decision to wear the body-skimming Vera w.a.n.g dress. Now, having left the dubious sanctuary of her hired car, she wished shead worn the silk pantsuit shead first selected. It hid more flaws than the dress.

A Rolls Royce pulled up and Elaine eyed the woman who exited the car. A brilliant gold half-mask concealed her face, but not her flame-red hair and sheer, black Versace dress. It was obvious the newcomer wore nothing underneath.

Yes, shead chosen well if somewhat modestly, in comparison. Besides, who would wear a pantsuit, even a Dior original, when coming to a party to seduce a total stranger?

The Rolls pulled away and a silver Audi took its place as she quelled a nervous laugh. That was what they all were here for. s.e.x. And lots of it.

She tugged her thin shawl tighter around her shoulders and took a deep breath. Rubbing her hand over her stomach, she picked up her skirt and ascended the steps leading to the front door.

The house resembled an English castle though it boasted a mult.i.tude of lighted windows overlooking the curved drive. Discreet landscaping and an abundance of blooming roses, columbine, and impatiens added a splash of color against the severe gray stone of the house. Illuminated by the flicker of tiki-style torches, it looked warm and welcoming.

As she neared the entrance, a man standing by the door turned to her. Dressed in a formal tuxedoa"Armani if she wasnat mistakena"his gaze was impersonal.

aYour invitation, Madame?a aOh, yes.a Fl.u.s.tered, she turned and loosened her shawl to bare her shoulder with the small white rabbit painted on her skin. aI was invited by the host, Dirk Pren-a aNo last names,a he interrupted. aAnonymity is key here. We want the guests to feel welcome so we only use first names and you may call me Nigel.a His expression changed from cool to welcoming. aYou must be Miss Elaine. Mr. Dirk told me to watch for you.a She tugged her shawl back into place. aItas very nice to meet you, Nigel.a He smiled as if her words amused him. aYour luggage arrived several hours ago and was delivered to your room. If youall permit me, I will escort you there now so you may freshen up from your drive.a Elaine bit back a smile as he held out his arm toward her. He looked to be a bit younger than her own forty-one years, but his manners bespoke of a time long since dead. aThank you, Iad appreciate that.a Slipping her hand into the crook of his arm, Nigel led her into the house. Though shead known Dirk for almost twenty-five years, shead never been to his ancestral home. Built in the late 1800as, Prentice House was the creation of a megalomania cal railroad baron, the first Prentice to make a name for himself. Many years ago over c.o.c.ktails, Dirk had laughed about the ostentatiousness of the house and grounds. After seeing it, now she could understand.

The floor seemed like an acre of carved, Italian marble with bra.s.s inlays of railroad tracks, engines, and cattle. She stifled a grin at the sight of a particularly well-hung bull. The ceiling soared two stories overhead with two ma.s.sive arches of rich mahogany interspersed with a chandelier the size of which shead never seen outside of an opera house. The light reflecting off the numerous crystals dazzled her eyes.

The colossal staircase fit the overwhelming size of the house itself. Carpeted in a rich, wine red, the width was at least fifteen feet and ascended to a dizzying height. She allowed her fingers to trail on the polished mahogany banister as she climbed, her gaze fixed on the three towering stained gla.s.s windows at the top.

The jeweled panes caught the fading sun, casting colored shadows across the landing like jewels tossed carelessly about. The center pane depicted a golden-haired woman of amazing proportions. Clad in angelic attire complete with halo, her rapturous expression, exposed b.r.e.a.s.t.s, and outstretched hands decried her heavenly aspirations. Flanking panes framed the wanton creature with fat little cherubs armed with harps and mini bows and arrows. As she neared, she noted that many of the little creatures boasted impressive c.o.c.ks.

Elaine couldnat prevent the laugh that bubbled up in her throat.

aInteresting piece, isnat it?a Nigel commented as he led her to the left toward yet more steps. aThe original owner commissioned the piece. Itas rumored that his wife refused to use the main steps, preferring instead the servants entrance.a aI can see why.a aMr. Dirk instructed the staff to take special care of you.a Nigel led her down a long hallway lined with doors.

aHe did? Dirk and I have been friends for many years. I adore him.a As they pa.s.sed an open door, Elaine glimpsed a sumptuous bedroom suite in the process of being prepared for a guest.

Nigel gave her fingers a friendly pat before releasing her to open one of a pair of doors at the end of the hall. aThis will be your room for the duration of your stay.a He stepped back to allow her entrance.

Her heels sunk into thick cream carpeting as she entered the room, a sigh of pleasure on her lips. To her left, a large fireplace arranged with logs and tinder awaited the touch of a flame to bring it to life. A comfortable-looking couch covered with an array of plush pillows sat facing it. A small desk was positioned in front of a large window and next to that a large rocking chair with no arms. Directly opposite the doorway was a set of French doors leading onto a balcony overlooking the gardens.

To the right was the bed. A substantial four-poster shrouded in cream silk gauze, the king-sized bed was covered in an ivory and lilac striped comforter and a quant.i.ty of pillows.

It looked heavenly.

aThis is lovely.a aIam pleased you find your accommodations to your liking. The bathroom is through the door over there.a He gestured to the open door on the far right beyond the bed. aYour maidas names are Molly and Rachel and you can reach them by dialing 9 on the phone at any time of the day or night.a Elaine ran her fingers over the comforter, luxuriating in the feel of raw silk. aThank you for your help, Nigel.a aYouare welcome, Miss Elaine. I hope this visit fulfills all your expectations.a Her gaze darted to his face but his expression was as friendly as before. He gave her a sketchy bow before leaving the room, closing the door behind him.

She tossed her clutch purse on the bed, then walked to the bathroom. Flicking on the light, she sighed with pleasure at the sight of the immaculate room. Thick peach-colored rugs covered polished marble while spotless mirrors lined one wall. A ma.s.sive garden tub occupied one corner with a large stall shower complete with a built-in bench next to it. The commode was tucked into another corner along with a bidet.

On the vanity was a selection of fat vanilla candles in bra.s.s holders along with a selection of top line creams, lotions, and shampoos. A pile of peach towels awaited her pleasure on a padded stool within reach of the tub.

If there was one thing she loved, it was a s.p.a.cious bathroom. When shead bought her house several years before, shead had few requirementsa"several fireplaces, a big kitchen and a s.p.a.cious bathroom. Shead been lucky to find two out of three then shead remodeled a bedroom into her luxurious bathroom.

Elaine made quick use of the facilities before moving to the vanity. Removing her sequined mask, she stared at her own familiar face.

Dark green eyes stared back from a vaguely heart-shaped face. Her nose was average but her lips were full and pink. Thanks to moisturizing, her skin was good, her figure decent thanks to a love of running.

Her long brown hair was arranged in a simple twist with a few tendrils allowed to escape. Her hair had always been both a blessing and a curse to her. It was thick and, when the humidity was high, unruly. Because shead lost her hair several years ago, she loathed to cut it short and something deep inside started screaming the moment her hairdresser ever turned in her direction with scissors in hand.

She grinned at the thought.

Some would say she was pretty; several men had even dared to call her beautiful. She turned to the side to check the line of her dress by running her hand down her side. Yeah, not too shabby for a lady just dipping her toe into her forties.

In short, shead have a good-looking corpse at her funeral.

She took a deep breath and straightened her spine. She wasnat going to think about that now, for it was time to make merry and, darn it, she was going to have a d.a.m.n fine time even while wondering if shead finally gone off the deep end.

She slipped her mask back into place, straightening it with the aid of her reflection. For the moment she was feeling good, looking good and that was all she neededa for now at least. Dirk had invited her to his house to relax, meet people, and, if desired, engage in consensual physical pleasures with a man of her choice. A glance at her watch told her it was time to begin the hunt.

She paused long enough to touch up her lipstick before turning the light off and exiting the bedroom, careful to close the door behind her.

When Dirk had extended the invitation to his weekend party, shead been shocked. In all the years shead known him, shead never dreamed he threw such soirees consisting of an entire weekend of hedonistic indulgences: s.e.x, great food, fine wines, and stimulating company. She knew he ran with a much more sophisticated crowd than she did, but shead never dreamed of such occurrences, certainly not with her friend playing the host. Not that she was a prude, not by a long shot. But Dirk hosting a weekend of illicit s.e.xual encounters for a houseful of guests? She stifled a chuckle as she moved down the central staircase.

The entry hall was crowded with partygoers, each sporting a mask that covered at least half of their faces. The men were almost uniformly clad in tuxedos while the women were dressed in every color of the rainbow. Many of the dresses were the same seen at any New York c.o.c.ktail party, while others were downright non-existent. She looked away from a woman who appeared to be clad in a scarf and nothing else.

A soft chime caught her attention and her comrades in s.e.x began filing through a doorway and out of sight. As she reached the bottom of the steps, Nigel appeared at her side. aMiss, if you will please step into the ballroom.a He gestured toward open doors. aMr. Dirk will be welcoming his guests and you can partake of the refreshments.a She gave him a smile of thanks and hurried into the room, one of the last to arrive.

Overhead, chandeliers were dimmed, casting a muted, golden glow over the guests. Joined with the soft light from a variety of floor candelabras and the scent of exotic incense, the effect was an aura of indulgence.

Along the far wall, arranged against the windows, was a large table filled with a vast array of finger foods and, in the center, a fountain flowing with champagne. Waiters and waitresses dressed in togas circulated the room with trays of wine and canaps if the partic.i.p.ants didnat wish to serve themselves from the impressive spread. Elaine eyed the mountain of c.o.c.ktail shrimp. A few of those would hit the spot right now.

At the far end of the room stood a dais with two ornate chairs draped in yards of red silk and black velvet. Dirk sat in one of the chairs like a King surveying his subjects. She recognized him, not because he wasnat wearing a mask for he was, but for the rich spill of his hair. Too pale to be called blonde, he wore it long, several inches below his shoulders. Normally he wore it clipped or tied back, but tonight it was free, pale as moonlight against the black of his tuxedo.

As the bell sounded for the final time, he rose to his feet, effectively shus.h.i.+ng the group with his presence alone. Dressed from head to toe in black, he looked like an angel whoad taken a wrong turn and she smiled at the image that formed in her mind.

A waiter approached bearing a tray of champagne and Elaine had to force her gaze away from his well-filled loincloth. Smiling her thanks, she accepted a gla.s.s before stepping back to lean against the wall and listen to her friend.

aI wish to welcome everyone to my home this evening.a Dirk addressed the forty or so attendees standing in a semi-circle near the platform. aMany of you have been here before, while for some of you, this is your first time. Here in Eden, the normal societal rules do not apply with the exception of one. No means no. If something makes you uncomfortable, speak up and everyone in this house will heed your wishes. For this weekend, the only hard and fast rule is to enjoy yourself and indulge your wildest fantasies.a Nervous twitters sounded from several women as a few men tugged on their ties.

Elaineas gaze swept the crowd and she grinned. Yes, this was going to be an interesting few days. Her skin p.r.i.c.kled as the hair on the back of her neck rose to attention.

Someoneas watching me.

She slowly scanned the room, looking for the source of her discomfort. Standing in the back as she was, she couldnat see anyone paying her the slightest bit of attention until she looked up.

To her left, a balcony ran the width of the room and a man stood in the center, his gaze fixed on her.

His raven-black hair was long and loose, trailing below his shoulders. He looked quite tall with long legs encased in black leather knee boots and tight black pants. A burgundy velvet jacket covered impossibly wide shoulders while white ruffles from his s.h.i.+rt peaked through the open front. A simple black mask covered most of his face, but not his mouth. Unsmiling, he looked firm and commanding.

She looked away, willing her breathing back under control. She was being foolish. It couldnat be him because he didnat exist. He never had.

For as long as she could remember, shead had dreams about a tall raven-haired man who was her lover. The dreams had started when she was in her late teens and theyad begun innocently enough. Every three or four months, shead dream of walking under a full moon, his hand in hers, of stolen kisses that curled her toes under the cool, blue light. They would laugh, talk, and lie in fields to stare at the stars.

As she grew older, the dreams changed and increased in frequency. They were almost always sensual or erotic in nature, leaving her damp and aroused when she woke. On most occasions, shead been aroused to the point that a simple touch from her hand would bring her the satisfaction she craved.

She glanced up once more and their gazes connected. He nodded, sending a s.h.i.+ver of antic.i.p.ation through her as she saluted him with her gla.s.s and a big smile.

Shead rarely sustained a long-term relations.h.i.+p because, as crazy as it sounded, shead always had the strange feeling that shead been cheating on her dream lover. Face it, no real man had ever measured up to her nocturnal visitor.

What time shead wasted being faithful to a figment of her overactive imagination. The man on the balcony probably wouldnat measure up either, but she might have fun finding out.

A waiter dressed in a white loincloth distracted her when he offered her a mouthwatering selection of mini-quiches. Though she didnat want one, she selected a mushroom quiche and nodded her thanks as he left. After nibbling her treat, she took a leisurely drink of her champagne before returning her gaze to the balcony.

He was gone.

Chapter 2.

It was her, it had to be.

Count Alexei Romanov ran a shaky hand through his hair as he stepped into the seclusion of a small lavatory, taking care to lock the door behind him. No other woman had that smile or air of confidence that she possessed. When shead tilted her head to the side while listening to Dirk, he knew head seen that head tilt before.

Even now, after seeing her in person, it was hard for him to believe it was her. Head seen her photo in Dirkas office, but his friend had been remarkably tight-lipped about Elaine. It had taken four years of haunting Dirkas every move in pursuit of the woman in the photograph. And finally, shead turned up at this event. Head known that if he stuck close to Dirk long enough, the elusive Elaine would appear. And she had.

So many years had pa.s.sed since head last seen her but he knew his memory to be true. To be sure, there was one more test, one sure way to find out if it really was her. With any luck, head know within a few short hours.

He tipped his head back, his eyes stinging with tears of joy. After all these years, his quest was almost over. He closed his eyes and offered a silent thanks to the Universe for showing him the way to his love.

Elaine turned away from the balcony, disappointed. Where had the stranger vanished to so quickly? She could only hope head reappear later and shead get the chance to chat with him.

A round of applause brought her attention back to Dirk. aDinner will be served in one hour. Until then, please partake of the wines, canapsaand anything else you might...desire.a Elaine smiled as his voice dipped and he gave the crowd a slight bow. Stepping down from the dais, he headed toward her, pausing to exchange a word with one of the guests. Her heart swelled as his face broke into a broad smile when he reached her side.

aDarling!a He swept her into a hug. aIam so pleased you made it.a aAnd Iam pleased you invited me.a She returned his hug with a big squeeze. aThank you.a aYouare welcome.a He released her and stepped back to look her up and down, his gaze warm. aYouare looking well, my dear.a aIam feeling well.a She smiled. aVery well in fact.a He caught her hand and gave it a quick squeeze. aIave been worried about you.a She caught the glimmer of concern in his eyes and her heart tightened. One of the hardest phone calls shead ever had to make was to tell Dirk of her returning illness. Together theyad fought the same battle five years before and now it was back with a vengeance. Homemade soup and hand-holding wouldnat save her this time.

She widened her smile and gave his hand a squeeze. aDonat worry about me, not this weekend anyway.a His smile reappeared. aYouare right. This weekend youare well and, for that, we shall be thankful.a He nestled her hand in the crook of his elbow, leading her from the room. aFor the next few days, I only want you to think about pampering yourself. Iave arranged for a daily ma.s.sage at 1 P.M. in the privacy of your room.a When she made a noise to object, he shushed her by placing a finger over her lips. aNo, dearest, let me do this for you.a He replaced his finger with a quick kiss. aI know how important it is that you be as relaxed as possible.a She nodded, her eyes stinging with unshed tears. aYouave been a good friend to me, Dirk.a aAnd you to me.a His expression turned serious. aElaine, I wanted toa"a aMr. Dirk,a Nigel approached. aIam terribly sorry to interrupt, but we have a slight problem in the kitchens that requires your immediate attention.a aOh bother.a Dirk rolled his eyes theatrically. aIall be there in a minute.a He steered Elaine toward a large set of open doors. aI want you to see my new acquisitions in the gallery. I s.h.i.+pped many of the paintings from the New York apartment to make room, however, I bought a new one specifically for this house.a He raised her hand to his lips and pressed a warm kiss to her knuckles. aI think youall enjoy it.a aIam sure I shall.a Elaine couldnat prevent a smile as Dirk moved away. He was such a kid, spending his outrageous inheritance with his usual dash and style. Which was not to say that he was indiscriminate, he wasnat. He donated much of his money and free time to various charities. The reality was that he was so darned rich he didnat know what to do with it. Shead always thought that he had more money than sense at times and she loved him for it.

Stepping into the gallery, the noise of the party faded behind her. Here, only a few drifted around to view the impressive collection. She wandered past a Gustav Klimpt that Dirk had acquired almost twenty years ago, one of his first serious purchases. Theyad been in Germany when the painting had come up for sale and head been determined to buy it.

Next came a Degas in pastel, a group of young dancers. Then a lesser-known Manet hung beside a series of Pica.s.soas work from the later period. An impressive collection of small Monetas were hung above a delicate gilt table topped with a vase of flowers.

He had exquisite taste in art.

She spied the new painting at the end of the room and she turned toward it, eager to see what gem her friend had found. Before she could get a good look at it, a couple entered the gallery, their laughter disturbing the calm of the room. Elaine stepped to the side, ducking behind a potted fern as the manas gaze swept the room.

aWeare alone, darling.a He spoke to his companion.

aSmas.h.i.+ng, just smas.h.i.+ng.a The woman grabbed his arm and led him to a padded bench near the center of the room. Pus.h.i.+ng him down, she zeroed in on his lap, concentrating on releasing him from his trousers. Pulling her voluminous skirt up, she climbed into his lap, impaling herself with a squeal on his erection.

So much for foreplay.

As the woman set to work, Elaine clapped a hand over her mouth to thwart her laughter. Heavens, what did she do now? She couldnat very well step out of her hiding spot and make her escape. Theyad see her and know shead been watching them. Maybe she coulda"

Their shared groans escalated and she bit her lip, trying desperately not to laugh. Just a few feet away were the terrace doors. Maybe she could sneak through there and make her escape into the garden, then around to the front of the house. She could only hope the alarm wasnat armed.

She shot a glance at the amorous couple and noted they were oblivious to anything around them. Holding her breath, she moved the few feet to the door and curled her fingers around the handle. With a quick, silent prayer, she opened it with nary a sound and she slipped outside into the darkness, careful to quietly shut the door behind her.

Backing away, she allowed a wild giggle to escape. That had certainly been a new experience for her. Shead been caught in quite a few embarra.s.sing moments in her life, but this one took the cake. Dirk would get a laugh out of this and she couldnat wait to tell him just as soona"

She stumbled as she backed into something solid, throwing her off balance. Pin-wheeling her arms, her breath caught as hands descended upon her shoulders, hauling her back into a broad chest. Warm breath tickled her neck as her unexpected companion leaned down to speak in her ear.

aShh, donat make a sound. We donat want to disturb our friends.a A s.h.i.+ver ran down her spine and those strong hands guided her back across the terrace. Once she was sure they were safe from detection, she turned to face her rescuer.

It was him, the man from the balcony. He smiled and her breath caught. As he captured her hand and raised it to his mouth, a jolt of awareness raced up her arm and her throat went dry.

aAllow me to introduce myself, I am Alexei.a He kissed the back of her hand, then raised his head, his gaze meeting hers. aAnd you are?a She swallowed hard. aE-E-Elaine. My name is Elaine.a A spark of amus.e.m.e.nt lit his eyes at her nervous stammer.

Great! She meets the most handsome man on the planet and shead just proven she was a nervous Nelly who canat even say her name successfully.

aA beautiful name for a beautiful woman.a His accent was faint and yet somehow familiar. Did her dream lover have an accent? In her dreams, she couldnat actually say that shead heard him speak. It had always seemed like she just knew what he was saying.

She s.h.i.+vered as he turned her hand over and pressed a kiss to her palm. aWhere are you from?a she blurted.