He'd broken away from everyone else and found a secluded balcony facing the lake. She watched, waiting for the right moment. No one else passed by, most guests had no idea this balcony existed. His drink was two thirds of the way gone and she had a fresh one ready. It was the best way to approach him. When men came here they expected their needs anticipated. They wanted the complete catering to their desires and egos that comes with innumerable money and power, and these particular men were a breed unto themselves, with power unlike anyone else.
He took a large sip of his drink and put the glass down. Placing both hands on the railing he looked out into the night. The lights from the dock were barely visible, but the dim lights around the property lit up the area festively, and carried on the breeze, were those enjoying the evening from the veranda, just out of sight. The mansion was a place of pleasure and vise, and their party of forty had the entire house to themselves. Food, drink, music, dancing and everything else that could be imagined, was theirs for the taking, along with the bodies of young men and women. One of her matrons called them offerings, like they were part of a meal, which she figured they were. It was the appetites of these men they existed to sate.
This night was what she'd been groomed for. It could be wondrous or awful depending on the man, and the majority of them made her stomach flutter with unease. They were predators, even without knowing what she did, that was obvious in every gesture and every look. But he was different. She'd watched him with the others, making them laugh. She could tell while many of them didn't like one another, they all liked him. His smile and laugh were infectious and he showed a kindness to their offerings that made her want him to be the one.
He finished his drink, and she ran a hand through her loose brown curls, her copper highlights, catching the light. Her makeup was perfectly done to appear as if she barely had any on, making her green eyes pop, especially against her slightly almond complexion. She was the perfect blend of her Saudi Arabian mother and Irish father. Her red wrap dress and heels made her hair and eyes stand out even more. None of them were dressed like whores in a bordello, they looked classy and elegant, something these particular men liked. Their appetites were all over the scale, but they always wanted the appearance of class and sophistication.
Stepping out from the behind the pillar, she walked the short distance to the balcony. Just as she was about to offer him the drink he said, "I was wondering how long you were going to skulk in the shadows."
He caught her by surprise and then she remembered, they could hear more than the average person. He'd known she was there the entire time. Fixing a sultry smile on her face, she stepped up beside him and held out the glass. "I thought you might be ready for another."
"Thought I might be ready or waiting till I was ready?" he asked, standing up straighter. At his full height he had to be 6'3, maybe even 6'4, and burly, with a barrel chest that dwarfed her. His dark blond hair was cut short, and his blue eyes focused on her with thinly veiled amusement.
She looked at him coquettishly through her eyelashes and held out the drink. "You caught me."
He looked like he was about to laugh, but took the drink. "Thank you..."
"Laurel," she said automatically, and almost lost her smile. Her real name hadn't slipped from her lips in a long time.
"And why dear Laurel are you stalking me this evening when there are men inside who'd love the attention of such a beautiful young woman?"
"You're not like them," she said, her slips continuing. "I mean to say...you're...you..." She floundered, and he took a sip of his drink trying to hide his amusement. "You have kind eyes," she said, throwing caution to the wind. "And I was hoping for kindness tonight."
He was puzzled for a moment and then it dawned on him what she meant. "A virgin," he breathed, looking her over, not with longing, but regret. "And what do you want to happen Laurel? A night of whatever I choose? What if that means hurting you? What if that means making you scream?"
She looked into his bright blue eyes and said, "That's not who you are."
He barked a laugh and said, "It's exactly who I am. I'd produce women to back me up, but I killed them. All except one, and she wouldn't step foot in this place."
She could see the truth in his eyes and for a moment she felt afraid, but behind the bravado was so much pain and sadness, the fear melted away. "It's not who you are now," she said, resting a hand on his cheek.
He regarded her with a mixture of surprise and uncertainty. When she stepped closer, he gently but firmly removed her hand and stepped back. "You don't know me, and I have no interest in taking you to bed. You're a beautiful girl, you'll have no trouble finding company."
"I want you," she said.
"Ah, the innocence, the pouty lip, you're good. But you're feminine wiles are wasted on me."
He started walking away and she watched his back for a moment then took a chance. "The except one, you're in love with her aren't you?" He turned around surprised and she said, "Your heart is in your voice."
"You're very astute Laurel," he said, suddenly suspicious. "Did Fisher or maybe Antonio tell you to seduce me? Spill secrets to a young nubile girl; it's an old trick, and I'm not that foolish."
"No," she said, taken aback. "Only a few of us were chosen for specific men, the pretty king, jovial giant, snake, dark heart, and the cold one. No one was chosen for you."
He instantly went from suspicious to amused. "The jovial giant," he chuckled. "Solomon. Snake and dark heart I can easily figure out, but the cold one...ah, David. Not as cold as he appears, although he's cultivated it well."
"Scilla and Amber are flummoxed. He's barely acknowledged them since being introduced. The cold shoulder is all they're getting."
"David's a one woman man, and from what I've ascertained over the past few days, one woman is already in his life. Those men have names you know."
"We aren't supposed to know names. If we hear them, we're to immediately forget them. To say them out loud is dangerous, although there isn't a man or woman among us who doesn't know the name Alexander. Honestly, pretty king takes away some of the fear." He raised an eyebrow and she said, "Not all who are chosen for him return."
He shook his head and looked back out at the night. "Alexander gets what he wants."
"Where is she?" she asked softly.
