We took a break for lunch, presented with some quaint little British cheese and cucumber sandwiches that I enjoyed as we chattered some girly chatter between the three of us.
It was after lunch that Marissa presented me with a rack full of occasion wear and my heart truly started to thump. Silks and satins and sparkles. Diamante and mermaid tails and backless gowns. Every one of the dresses was enough to take my breath.
So were the price tags, but once more I was back to Constantine status, on the arm of a Morelli. Once more price had no relevance in my world.
It was a deep dark blue ballgown that transfixed me more than anything else. Taffeta interlaced with silks, absolutely divine. But there were others, SO many others. A silver satin slip which glided just perfectly over my curves. A little black dress that hugged me like a glove. A pale pastel pink gown with a tail and diamante all around the neckline.
I knew I’d be taking them all.
Francesca covered her mouth with her hands as I stepped into the room once Marissa had fastened me into the little black number. She was nodding like crazy as she moved one hand to her chest.
“Jesus, Elaine, that is truly sensational! SENSATIONAL!”
It felt it.
I felt sensational.
But not nearly as sensational as I felt once Francesca’s beautician turned up later that afternoon armed with a mobile salon chair and every tool she could ever need.
She styled my hair, lashes, and eyebrows. She gave me a facial, and did my nails, and waxed all the bits of me that needed waxing. Then she addressed my makeup situation—making me up like the Elaine Constantine everyone expected me to be, then leaving a full makeup case of supplies for me in her absence.
Once again Francesca covered her mouth with her hands as I stepped back in to the sitting room.
“You really do look like Elaine Constantine again now,” she said. “You look absolutely fucking perfect.”
I only hoped Lucian agreed with her when he arrived back that evening. Only it seemed that evening wouldn’t be all that long coming. Francesca checked the time on her cell phone before shooting a glance out onto the driveway through the main windows.
“Devon messaged an hour ago to say they will be home before dinner. We only have an hour or so left.” She smiled at me. “So what’s it going to be, sweetie? What are you going to wear for Lucian when he steps in through the door?”
I’d already chosen. I was smiling as I stared over at my new rack of items, eyes hovering on the silver satin slip. My God, just to imagine his hands over me through that fabric. The very idea sealed the choice in my mind.
I held it up for Francesca to see and she gushed all over again.
“YES! He is going to go crazy to see you in that! CRAZY!” With that she sighed and gestured down to her own outfit, smiling a girly smile. “It seems I’d better select something fitting myself, then,” she said, and summoned the housekeepers to take my new wardrobe upstairs while she guided me along with my arm in hers.
“Let’s get ready,” she said. “Let’s give our men something that knocks them truly senseless.”
22
Lucian
I’d enjoyed my day with Devon Quentin, it had given me a new lease on life. A thrill. That’s the ultimate word for the buzz that was coursing through me. The satisfaction in knowing you are forging deals which will lead to an epicenter of success. Huge success. The kind of success that I’d been bred to create, and excelled at through my own nature.
We rolled back up at the manor in the limo, still talking through the finer details of some of our newfound partnerships. The driver opened the door for me and I stepped out, looking up at the magnificent house with a sense of satisfaction. Satisfaction and excitement.
My angel was waiting for me in there.
I couldn’t wait to hear about her day with Francesca’s stylist. I couldn’t wait to see the smile on her face as she showed me her collection of new attire, my princess getting whatever she wanted and deserved. Elaine Constantine deserved everything in the world, and I was going to give it to her. I was going to give her everything she ever wanted and more.
“Dinner will be a good one tonight,” Quentin told me. “Roasted pheasant.”
I had no doubt it would be a good one. Quentin’s chef was Michelin starred.
“My mouth’s watering already,” I responded. “I’m looking forward to it.”
I felt so alive as we stepped into the hallway, alive and buzzing and eager to see my angel, but I was stopped in my tracks when Quentin’s gaze shot up to the balcony and mine followed.
Francesca and Elaine were standing there, proud and poised together as they leaned against the railing and stared down at us with a smile.
Christ, my sweet angel looked absolutely fucking sensational.
There she was again, the woman in gold who’d transfixed me right from day one. Only this time she was a woman in silver, in a gown that graced every part of her perfect body.
This was the goddess I couldn’t keep my eyes or my hands off at Tinsley Constantine’s birthday ball, only this time she was her to a whole other league. She was now the goddess that I was in love with.
Quentin elbowed me in jovial camaraderie as they began the descent down the staircase and fully came into view. Francesca was also a stunning creature, but my fucking God, Elaine was divinity itself.
It looked like she had a new lease on life, too. There was a confidence in her eyes and smile that made me smile proud right back.
“Welcome home, boys!” Francesca exclaimed, but my gaze wasn’t on her, it was on my siren as she stepped on over to me and wrapped her arms around my neck.
She didn’t need to speak and neither did I, our stares said more than words ever could. I imagine they said a lot to the Quentins as well since Devon cleared his throat to get our attention, then gave us a laugh.
“You can get a room later, we have pheasant on the way,” he said, and Francesca was laughing too.
Elaine laughed along with them, blue eyes sparkling like pure fucking sapphires as I let out a laugh of my own.
We’d most certainly be getting a fucking room later.
I gripped Elaine’s fingers nice and tight as we made our way on through to the dinner hall. The places were all set at the top of the table and I pulled Elaine’s seat out for her, my mouth watering at the sight of her bare back as she sat herself down. I saw just a glimpse of one of the bruises I’d left on her shoulder and that made my dick hard in a flash as I took my place beside her. I could feel her, her whole body a tempt and a tease in that dress.
The server delivered the meals, but the food held no interest to me. Roast pheasant could go fuck itself compared to the woman I wanted to ravage. I ate mine with an appreciative smile on my face, but it was barely more than paper thin. My attention was all on Elaine recounting her day along with Francesca, gushing with excitement about all of the wonderful things she had tried on.
Devon Quentin was glazing over as his wife talked about clothes, attention fully on his dinner, but I was transfixed by the women, completely captivated by their exclamations.
“Elaine looks AMAZING in her dresses!” Francesca told me. “Every single one of them.”
“Marissa was so, so good,” Elaine said, putting the achievement on the stylist and not on the way she could look amazing in goddamn pig shit if she rolled in it.