Wrapped In Shadows Read Online Free

fingers together. “Trust me.”
    Butterfly wings fluttered in my belly, but as much as Michelle enjoyed teasing me, I knew I could trust my friend. “I’m nervous,” I confessed on the next breath.
    “You can still change your mind.”
    I shook my head firmly, netting the butterflies. “I need total anonymity,” I rushed out. “I don’t want to know who he is. I just want to…do it.”
    Michelle squeezed my hand reassuringly and spoke a few more words to Ms. Carmen, who nodded and showed us to a small waiting parlor. She closed the door behind her as she left.
    “Try not to be so nervous. Just enjoy yourself, Ivanna .” Michelle dissolved into laughter when we were alone.
    I rolled my eyes. “Eddie is officially on my shit-list. Just letting you know.”
    “He’s just having a little fun!” Michelle dismissed my comment with a wave of her hand. “You will have a great time. I promise. The men here are trained to please women. I hear to get the job they have to measure up to standard.” She grinned widely. “Get it? Measure up?”
    I scoffed at her pun, but couldn’t help chuckling. Michelle could always make me laugh no matter how nerve-wracking the circumstance. The wait for Ms. Carmen’s return seemed endless. Finally she entered the room and requested that we follow her. She brought us to a stop outside a nondescript door and I had to take a deep breath.
    “Wait in here. All will be arranged,” she said, pushing open the door for me to enter. I suppressed the urge to turn my neck and look behind me. Was she talking to me? I heard the theme song to the Twighlight Zone as I stepped across the threshold.
    I turned back to Michelle and she shot me a reassuring wink and a tiny wave goodbye.
    Alone, I walked into some sort of ante-room. It was a small dressing area with a comfortable sofa and coffee table. This room had two doors besides the one I’d just come through. One door was closed, the other door was partially open, offering a view of a large canopy bed situated in the center of an unoccupied room. I scanned the ante-room again and noticed a man’s jacket hanging from the rack in the corner. I caught my lip between my teeth, examining it.
    Did that jacket belong to the man who’d be servicing me tonight? I studied the article of clothing, hoping to glean information about him from his outerwear. It was a large peacoat of dark blue. The buttons had a design that reminded me of a royal crest. Maybe he was Prince Charming, I smiled nervously. Maybe he’d decided to stop off at a sex club on his way to the castle.
    The fabric was of excellent quality, neatly stitched and appeared almost brand new. Did that mean he was a man who cared for his things? Was he meticulous and attentive to detail? Would that make him a better lover? My eyes landed on small smudges of pink paint on the underside of the cuff and a smaller smudge on the elbow. My brows flew up. Or was he a filthy pig who’d be slobbering over me all night? I swallowed hard and swiveled my head toward the door I’d just come through.
    Should I head for the hills? Forget this whole thing? Go home and…what? Sulk? Cry? No! I was being ridiculous! I thought about Michelle’s words. The men here were professionals who were skilled at pleasing women. And tonight my aim was to be pleased, to get drunk on pleasure!
    Lifting my chin, I ignored the melancholy that had crawled to the pit of my stomach, and marched into the room with the bed. The decor was surprisingly warm and inviting, and could have easily been a room from my Hampton estate. The hard wood floors were strewn with woven wool mats. Fluffy down comforters were piled onto a high four poster bed, and there was a tufted chair draped with a colorful afghan.
    I hadn’t asked what would happen next and had no idea what to do. Was I expected to undress? Should I have done it in that ante-room? I scanned the eerily quiet room as I pushed back my shoulder length hair. The movement caused my