It'll Be An Adventure (Masters of the Shadowlands #15)(89)
Author: Cherise Sinclair

 

“Well.” Kim pursed her lips. “It’s never too late, but I’m wholeheartedly in favor of a makeupless life. Except maybe for special occasions.”

 

“Hear, hear. Although it helps if you’re brunette like you and Murphy. Your eyelashes are already dark.” Blonde Jessica pouted. “You can’t even see mine unless I use mascara.”

 

Murphy smiled, remembering waking beside Saxon. His eyelashes and eyebrows were a few shades darker than his hair and simply mesmerizing in the morning sunlight.

 

“There.” Rainie finished and sheathed her weapon. “Now the lips.”

 

“What you left of them.” Murphy eyed her. “Are you sure you aren’t a sadist?” Rainie had scrubbed her lips doing a so-called exfoliation of loose skin before putting on a balm. Murphy eyed the new line of tubes. “What’s all that?”

 

“Primer and concealer to keep the lipstick on and make it kiss-proof.” Rainie touched a stick. “Liner to keep it from bleeding. And the actual lipstick. A long-lasting one.”

 

Good grief. It was just as well she’d never tried to learn this stuff.

 

A few minutes later, Rainie nodded. “Done. And you look spectacular, if I say so myself.”

 

Hoots and hollers came from the other women.

 

Murphy turned to the mirror and stared. “Wow.” Her eyes were bigger. Darker. She had real cheekbones, and her mouth was a fuck-me red. “I do look spectacular.”

 

Would Saxon think so?

 

She gave Rainie a hug. “Thank you!”

 

“Totally my pleasure.” Rainie’s grin turned mischievous. “Your next lesson will cover the basics of sex toys for women.”

 

Jessica clapped. “Toy party next month!”

 

As the others cheered in agreement, Murphy shook her head. Would her life ever be the same?

 

Following Saxon’s example, she offered up her gratitude to the deity of all authors for seating her next to Josie at the book signing. Because she loved these women.

 

A few minutes later, Murphy joined everyone as they started down the staircase to the ground floor and the empty entryway. “No wonder the Regency gentry made a big deal about descending a staircase. This would be intimidating if there was a crowd below.”

 

Rainie busted out laughing. “Can you imagine wearing a micro-miniskirt and coming down these stairs. Anyone watching from below could count every hair on your lady bits.”

 

A few steps in front of them, Jessica sputtered a laugh.

 

Then Murphy’s giggles stuttered to a sharp halt. Because the men were strolling in to wait at the bottom of the stairs.

 

Surpassing any James Bond for sheer sophistication, Master Z held out his hand for Jessica. “Kitten, you are lovely.” His gray eyes had turned a soft silver.

 

Murphy’s heart turned to mush because his love for his wife was so very clear for anyone to see.

 

Master Raoul smiled at Kim. Holt stood beside him, his eyes heating as he looked at Josie.

 

Coming through the door was Jake, and damn, the man looked amazing in a tux…like a movie star, all chiseled hotness. “Come, my gorgeous Rainie—and you can tell me what you said that had everyone laughing.”

 

Behind Jake was…

 

Murphy’s heart skipped a beat as her eyes met Saxon’s. His intense blue gaze swept over her as he held his hand out.

 

But she was having trouble navigating the steps and staring at him at the same time.

 

He’d pulled his thick hair into a half-up, half-down style with the sides in a low man-bun, leaving the back flowing loose. And oh, the way he looked in the perfectly fitted tux made her mouth dry. All broad shoulders and flat stomach, and she just wanted to touch him, to peel him out of that suit and…

 

His eyes went molten with desire.

 

 

 

Murphy looked…incredible. At the bottom of the stairs, Saxon stared.

 

A red cocktail dress clung to her streamlined curves all the way down to just below her knees—and the bottom had a side slit to show off her gorgeous legs. Her strappy high heels were red…as was her luscious mouth.

 

When she reached the floor, he took her hand and spun her slowly so he could simply admire. Her hair was in an intricate soft bun that revealed her elegant neck and sparkling long earrings.

 

“You’re killing me here,” he murmured as he drew her against him. “Do we really need to go to this thing?”

 

When he curved his hand under her ass cheeks, he felt her go boneless against him. Nothing in the world was more satisfying, more wonderful, than the way she responded to him.

 

Except…now he was uncomfortably hard.

 

Pressing closer, she ran her hand up to his shoulder and under his hair. “Saxon.” Her voice had the husky note that he usually only heard after she’d come a time or two. “We…we must go, or Jake will kill you. But later…” She tipped her head back, looking up at him.

 

Damn, he wanted those red lips around his cock.

 

“Later,” he promised. Once home, he’d slowly peel her out of that dress and take her in every way possible.

 

 

 

 

 

So this is a gala. Murphy stared around, probably looking like the hick she was.

 

No, no, don’t think that way. This is an adventure.

 

She pulled in a breath.

 

Please God, don’t let me spill anything on my dress.

 

But wow. The hotel ballroom moved past elegant and into pure grandeur with stunning limestone columns and a pale marble floor. Sparkling crystal chandeliers dotted the gilded thirty-foot ceiling. Men in tuxedos and women in swirling gowns filled the room. “Where are my glass slippers?”

 

When Murphy heard masculine chuckles, she realized she’d spoken aloud.

 

Oops.

 

Arm around her, Saxon gave her a reassuring squeeze. On her other side, Jake grinned.

 

Rainie peeked around him. “I hear you. It’s totally a fairy tale.”

 

“Only if Prince Charming is a dog or cat.” Saxon grinned. “Check out the servers.”

 

Murphy sputtered a laugh, because the black-vested servers serving champagne had dark brown, painted-on dog noses and floppy spaniel ears. The ones with perky cat ears, pink noses, and whiskers were walking through the crowd and selling raffle tickets.