Passion Unleashed (Masquerade Part I) Read Online Free Page A

not take it back. He made a feeble attempt to make it right.
    “Yes, of course. I knew. I saw you go into the party.”
    “But I’d never seen you in person before. We were wearing masks. We were disguised. We were….”
    “I’d never forget a beauty like you. Those sensual blond curls, those pouty lips, that cute little round ass.” Oh no, that was the wrong thing to say. He could tell by her expression.
    She pushed against his chest to move him off of her. She got up from the desk, pulling up her lacy bra and adjusting her panties. She was a mess.
    “You knew who I was last night and didn’t say so!” It wasn’t a question.
    Ryan roughly pulled up his jeans and fell into the chair. Sexual frustration, be damned.
    He quickly tried to fill in t he blanks to satisfy her, seeing her falling away from him. He feared losing her.
    “I saw you. I remembered you from Steve Jenkins house. We’re friends. We’ve worked on several films together. I stopped by the same day you dropped off his finished painting. I was just pulling up as you walked down the brick stairs to climb into your waiting limo.
    I’ll never forget the vision of you, gliding down those stairs in your short skirt, jacket blowing open, revealing thos e lovely breasts under your thin blouse. Even from a distance, you were a sight. Those lips, your blond curls bouncing against your checks as you slipped away, disappearing inside the limo door the driver held open.
    I thought about you for weeks afterward. Steve told me who you were. He showed me the painting you’d done for him. I have to say, I was impressed. Your passion is reflected in your work. You’re a passionate woman, Heather.
    I wanted you from the first moment I saw you. I try to avoid parties if I can. They bore me as a rule. But I happened to see the guest list Patricia left on her desk. I recognized your name. That was my chance to meet you. Patricia was likely surprised that I didn’t resist her encouragement to attend. I normally would have found a reason to decline. It was a big event with all the right people.
    I had no interest in all that. My only interest was you. I arrived a little early that night. Once again, you walked right in front of me, entering the party. That gown was very fetch ing, I must say. Tight gold strap less evening gowns are brought to life with your softly rounded feminine shape.
    I was delighted to see you arrive . Of course, the masks created a unique situation. We were supposed to be incognito. I probably would have just introduced myself as soon as we were alone, but you have to admit that the emotional tone in the library that night didn’t lend itself to polite introductions.”
    “No, it didn’t!” Heather snapped. Ryan’s confession gave her time to realize what had really happened. He saw her, he wanted her. Well, he got her. Of course, he got what he wanted. What woman in her right mind would reject Ryan Spencer Blake?
    The answer to that was obvious. What was also obvious, was that now that he’d had her, there was no challenge. She’s given herself to him with reckless abandon, not once, but twice. She was appalled at herself.
    Ryan, as stunning as any Greek god she’d seen, could have any woman he wanted. And she was sure he’d had many. Now, she was just one more conquest.
    Her cheeks flushed. She’d been used. She pulled her jacket closed and swiped her notebook from the desk.
    “I have to go ,” she whispered. Her eyes started to well with tears, while simultaneously she began to shake.
    She went towards the door. Ryan reached for her. “Heather, please…”
    She didn’t want to hear it. “Don’t touch me. I’m leaving.”
    With that, she plunged toward the door and made her way out dramatically. Ryan’s eyes followed her. Once again, he heard the click of the lock embedded in the thick soundproof door. This time it shut with finality.
    He could have his pick of women. At the moment, he sure didn’t feel like a guy who has