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  The way she clung to her clutch; the way her eyes scanned the crowd, looking from one face to the next but not focusing on any one person in particular; the way she clearly was forcing herself to stay put, though it was clear that she would rather be anywhere else than on that stage right then—these were all things that I ravenously enjoyed.

  At last, the bids began to dwindle, and I could see that Mr. Boerner was looking rather smugly around the room as he settled into the confidence of thinking he was going to be the highest bidder. That was when I made my move. I didn’t have anything against the older man, but I wanted to meet this girl for myself; if he won, that opportunity would be lost to me.

  I had every intention of leaving L.A. as early as possible the next morning, which only added more pressure to the situation; if I wanted to have a hope of catching this girl, I was going to have to be the highest bidder—something that just so happened to be what I did best.

  After a light flick of my hand, Cora looked over and saw me place my bid. I listened with satisfaction as the murmur swept through the crowd. They all knew that, once I entered the ring, it was going to be impossible for anyone else to win. The girl standing up on the stage looked as though she were wondering about the murmur that ran through the crowd herself, but there was so much going on in the room, she didn’t have much time to focus on that one thing.

  A few others tried their luck, but everyone knew that the moment I started the competition, I had won. They were quick to subside and allow me to take over, which I proudly did. It was music to my ears when Cora announced that the girl—Miss Shadows—would be mine for the evening. But, even then, I knew that my battle was only half over.

  As I walked over to greet her, coming off the stage, I felt a twinge of something in my stomach. Part of me wondered if it was nerves, but I was quick to brush off such an absurd notion. I never got nervous around anyone, and certainly not around a girl I had just paid good money for.

  I put on my most charming smile as she stopped directly in front of me, eager to break the ice. I could see she was still on edge, but it appeared to me that the attraction I had felt for her was reciprocated.

  After asking her if I could buy her a drink, we headed to the bar. This was going to be an interesting night, indeed.

  Chapter Five

  Emily

  “Please, call me Kyle.”

  The man they’d introduced as Mr. Cunningham sat at the bar next to me, sipping on his whiskey and smiling at me as though I were the only girl in the room. Every now and then, he would turn his attention to the other guests, but I never felt like he was focusing on anything but our conversation.

  “But that really is enough about me. I’d love to hear about you; I don’t recall seeing you here—or in any other club around here—for that matter,” he said, looking down at me as he lifted his glass to his lips and took a drink.

  I immediately felt flustered and began stumbling over my words. I had kept up my sister’s identity throughout the entire evening, but now that I was with a man who not only found me attractive, but didn’t recognize me as my sister, I felt I had the opportunity to drop the act and tell him the truth.

  “My name is Emily Shadows. I’m a model.”

  So much for telling him the truth.

  Kyle looked at me for a moment with raised eyebrows, as though he were both impressed and somewhat incredulous. I began to feel as though he were judging me, or that he doubted the truth behind what I’d said. I quickly pulled out my phone.

  While there had been many times when I’d been jealous or annoyed about my sister’s career, the sisterly side of me hadn’t been able to resist saving a few photos from her social media accounts on my phone. If there was any work I admired that my sister did, it was the more artsy, avant-garde stuff, and those were the pictures I saved.

  After all, there were times when I had to show off another side of me besides ‘sensible nurse’, and having an international model for a twin sister was a great conversation starter.

  I quickly pulled up the photos, grateful that Maddy’s name didn’t appear on any of them, and smiled nervously as he took my phone. Part of me was dying to hear what he had to say, but another part of me wanted to stand up and be proud of what my sister had done—and what I was now claiming I had done.

  Yes, there was a feeling of guilt in the back of my mind for impersonating my sister, but at the same time, I felt she owed it to me after the way she’d treated me.

  If this job was so important that it took the place of me in her life, then it ought to at least give me some small payback for what it did. And that small payback was going to come in the form of attention from this handsome billionaire.

  At long last, he handed back my phone, and I was once again glad that I had taken care of myself enough to pass for my sister.

  “That is most impressive, Miss Shadows,” he said as he picked up his glass once more.

  I breathed a silent thanks of relief as I took my phone back—both relieved that he had fallen for my little trick as well as relieved that Maddy hadn’t called at that moment. The last thing I needed was to have her name and picture flash across my screen when the man of my dreams was holding my phone and looking at her photos, thinking it was me.

  “Thanks, I’ve been at it for a few years now. It’s nothing really major, but I have to say that I am proud of what I have accomplished.”

  I knew it was a lie as I said it, but that didn’t stop me. The more I could get this man to be impressed by me, the better my chances were. He gave me a smile that made my heart pound, then he looked over his shoulder.

  “Are you sure you’re going to be okay with being mine for the night? I’m sure a pretty girl like you would be hoping for someone in particular in the crowd, and here I came along and threw in my two cents’ worth and stole you for myself.”

  Though he spoke with a lighthearted and teasing tone, there was something about Kyle that was so charismatic, so domineering, that I was instantly captivated. I giggled like a schoolgirl and instantly chided myself for doing so.

  “I would be most honored to be your date for the evening,” I said, hoping that I didn’t sound lame or offensive.

  Kyle gazed into my eyes with a look that made me feel as if he could see into my very soul. He once again glanced over his shoulder, and this time, I looked, too. All the other “lots” had been auctioned off, and people were scattered about the club.

  Some were standing against the walls talking to each other, others pressed up against the bar, each vying for the solo bartender’s attention. The music had been turned up without me even realizing it, and as I looked around now, the room reminded me of a club that I’d see downtown, rather than the posh mansion it was.

  “What do you say we hit the dance floor? I’ve just gotten off a long flight, and it would be nice to stretch my legs a bit.” Kyle winked at me, which made me a little lightheaded again. How was he so ridiculously sexy?

  I eagerly agreed to the idea, though at the same time, I felt a flutter of nerves within me. I did my best to remind myself to maintain the same aura I had upheld since walking into the club, but it was a real battle.

  You’ve got to get a hold of yourself. He’s going to see right through you if you aren’t careful, and you’ll not only get dismissed from him, but you’ll be thrown out from this club entirely!

  I had never felt such attraction to a man in my life, and I felt as though I were doing everything wrong. What was meant to be laughter came out as weak giggles, only making it look all the more like I was desperate for his approval.

  Kyle led me out to the dance floor, holding my hand in his like a gentleman in the romance movies I had seen. Of course, a brief moment of panic swept over me as I thought we may be preparing to dance in a way I had no idea how to accomplish, and I was going to make a complete fool of myself in front of everyone.

  I quickly glanced around the dance floor, not finding much solace in the different dance moves that were
being utilized across the room. To my surprise and pleasure, Kyle planted me directly in front of him, facing away from him. His hands were on my hips and I could feel his body press against mine.

  I watched the other girls, and I did my best to mimic them in spite of my inexperience of dancing in a club. I swayed back and forth to the rhythm of the music, doing my best to cut loose from the careful behavior that had been so strongly engrained into my mind.

  For a brief moment, I could almost hear the sound of Maddy’s voice whispering in my ear, telling me that I looked ridiculous. I could picture her dancing on the floor in front of Kyle, and for that moment, I imagined how incredible she would look.

  With a sudden surge of resolve, I thrust my hips back and began grinding against Kyle. My dress and his pants offered little interference to the sensation, and I felt a shock run through me as Kyle put his hands around my hips and helped guide me as I swung with him to the beat of the music.

  Everything around us seemed to fade away as the music engulfed us. I could feel the hard beat of the bass hanging in the air, and I could smell the sweat of the other dancers as they swirled around us, but none of it mattered. I was encompassed by Kyle and every move he made.

  The song changed to another faster, more intense track. The energy on the floor increased dramatically with the beat, and the sound of everyone’s feet hitting the hardwood floor made a dull thud with the sound of the bass. I could feel my heart beat in time to the beat of the music, and with each sound of the drum I felt it skip a beat and sync with the next.

  Faster and faster, Kyle and I moved across the floor amidst the sea of moving bodies, and the longer we danced, the more sensual our movements became.

  Suddenly, I could feel Kyle’s warm breath on my neck as he used his finger to gently pull the hair away from my ear. He was still pressed up against me, and I now reached my hands behind me and placed them on either side of his hips, continuing with the grinding motion.

  “I want to have you so badly right now,” he whispered, his hot breath full of passion.

  I felt an electric sensation on my neck as goosebumps rushed all the way down my spine, and an excited shiver fluttered in the very pit of my stomach. I wanted him, too, more than I could put into words. The practical side of my mind told me to be careful, and that I should be mindful of the message I was sending to this man, but then, another thought of Maddy slipped into my mind.

  If Maddy were in my shoes, she wouldn’t hesitate to do anything she felt like with Kyle. In fact, there appeared to be more to Maddy than I ever thought. Evidently, she had made a habit of doing these kinds of things, and if she could do it, I could do it, too.

  I leaned back into Kyle, allowing the full length of my back to press against the front of him. I could feel the definition of his muscles as I did so, and felt a rush of arousal at the sensation.

  “I was hoping you would say that,” I replied, in my most seductive voice.

  I wasn’t sure how Maddy would handle such a situation, though she was a professional at this sort of thing by now. I closed my eyes, doing my best to rid my mind of my sister.

  “I’ll tell you what. I thought we could get another drink, then go see if there is another part of this party that is of any interest to us.”

  Kyle smiled as he put his hand on the small of my back and led me back toward the bar. I felt proud to stand by his side—and full of anticipation for whatever was coming next.

  Chapter Six

  Kyle

  I kept my palm on the small of Emily’s back as we headed for the staircase, fresh drinks in hand. There were a few men and women scattered along the way—some engrossed in conversation, some busy watching the events on the dance floor.

  As for me, I had come to the conclusion that if you’ve seen the dance floor once, you’ve seen it a thousand times, and I felt I wasn’t missing out on anything taking her away from it.

  I knew this was her first time at the Gathering, but Emily seemed to be enjoying herself, in spite of the nerves she must be feeling. I had to hand it to her, she did manage to fit in with the rest of the guests, though it was evident she hadn’t done anything of this sort before. I could feel a slight tremble in each step she took as we mounted the stairs, and I added gentle pressure to my palm on her back.

  There was no doubt in my mind that she was going to be fun in bed, but I didn’t want her to feel nervous taking this next step in her night. She was so beautiful, and though I could believe the fortune I’d had in winning her over the other bidders, I still found it amazing that she was the one who was spending the evening with me.

  The winding staircase continued to rise in front of us, and Emily managed to ascend each step perfectly, even in her incredibly high heels. I did my best to keep my eye on the top of the stairs, though it was difficult not to watch the delicious sway of her hips with every step she took.

  Emily reached the top of the steps with her hand on the banister and my hand at the small of her back, and she took a second to turn and look back at me.

  I extended my arm to her, and she quickly slid her hand in the crook of my elbow. We meandered down the carpeted hall toward a large set of doors at the end, where a sliver of warm, amber light met the gloomy shadows. I glanced down at her as we continued to walk together, and I could see excitement and anticipation glittering in her eyes.

  I could tell that she wanted to be with me as badly as I wanted to have her, and I was pleased.

  Perhaps it was the way we had danced together that had caused her to want to take things further; perhaps there was something between us that she could feel as well. Regardless of the reason, I was thrilled that she was the person I had by my side as we made our way toward the doors.

  Emily stopped suddenly, waiting for me to open the doors for her. I knew that it wasn’t often in the real world that women waited to have doors opened for them these days, but this wasn’t the real world. For someone as spirited as Emily, I could imagine that it was difficult to conform to the standard rules of doing things. Yet, rules were rules, and everyone in the Gathering was required to abide by them if they wished to remain.

  “I think you’re really going to like what you see on the other side,” I said as I put my hands on the polished wood. I gave a deliberate shove to both doors at the same time, adding drama to the unveiling. I wanted to give this girl a night she wouldn’t forget, and I knew as soon as she saw what was on the other side, she would remember the moment for the rest of her life.

  The open doors revealed the very sight I was expecting to see, but I could clearly see that Emily was shocked at the view.

  Rather than a private room in which the two of us could get away from the crowd and enjoy some time to ourselves, the room beyond the doors was quite large—and full of people. Men and women filled the space, some fully clothed, some partially, and some not wearing any clothing at all.

  There was music playing in this room as well, though the music here was far softer than the downstairs beat.

  I could feel arousal beginning in my pants, and I looked forward to the ways my date might join in on the fun alongside me. However, when I turned to look at her, I found Emily looking rather hesitant, standing nearer to the doors than the group, clearly unable to decide where to look.

  Feeling a slight twinge in my chest as I looked from the people gathered on the beds and carpet in front of me, then back to her, I sighed. There was a compelling force inside me that told me I needed to pay attention to her wants.

  I was a firm believer in stepping outside of the boundaries and pushing the comfort zone to the absolute limit, but at the same time, I didn’t want this woman to think that I only cared to do something wild. I put on my most reassuring smile and held out my hand, which she grasped quickly with her own.

  “Don’t worry; you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do,” I told her.

  Emily looked at me once more before she turned her attention to the group of people on the king-sized bed. Th
e more they moved, the more clothing fell from their bodies, and the more sensual their actions became.

  I could see by the look on Emily’s face she worried that we were going to join in next, and part of me felt bad. The only thing I really wanted from this woman was to have a carefree evening that ended in us both going our separate ways. But before then, I wanted to get her into bed, and I knew the only way I would be able to do that would be to make her feel comfortable without feeling pressured.

  I noticed that Emily’s eyes kept wandering from one person to another’s, though it appeared as though she didn’t focus on any one person in particular. I didn’t feel like she was admiring individuals, but rather like she were taking in the entire scene at once.

  “Do you care to join in?” I asked after a few seconds of silence.

  Emily looked up at me with wide eyes, clearly uncertain of how to answer. I could see in her eyes that she wanted to do something bold and adventurous, but at the same time, this situation as pushing her beyond what she was comfortable with. After a pause, she shook her head.

  “I don’t think this is really my cup of tea,” she replied gracefully.

  She put her hand around the back of her neck coquettishly, and I smiled.

  “Sure thing. How about we watch instead?” I asked, and she grinned.

  Yes, that was more like it.

  I allowed my fingers to fall on her shoulder, then I slowly and deliberately slid my hand down to rest on her hip. I took my place behind her and settled in to watch. The fever in the room was growing into nearly a frenzy, and illicit passion hung in the air.

  It was difficult for me to hide my arousal at the sight of what was taking place before me, and I couldn’t help but notice that there was a bit of rigidity to Emily’s body—as though she herself were feeling the arousal and excitement of what was happening in front of us, but she wasn’t certain how to handle it.