by T. N. King
The blue silk hugged every curve as a bit of thigh flashed when she took a step. And with each step, her blue heels reflected diamond light as well. The diamonds around her chest sparkled under the light of the chandelier and lit up her face.
Morgan couldn’t breathe. He’d never had this reaction to anyone or anything before.
She held her head high as her hair was coiffed up and long chocolate ringlets bounced along her shoulders. Her eyes though were what stood out, the blue reflecting the dress nearly perfectly. As she drew closer, he could see she wore teardrop bluish diamond earrings. She wore no necklace. She didn’t need to.
The lobby grew quiet as all the heretofore activity came to a halt.
Every set of eyes in the place were tilted upward and followed her progress down.
“Sir?” Frank asked from beside him.
Morgan stood transfixed. “Huh?”
“You need to greet her—”
Morgan suddenly realized he was not close enough to grab her hand when she took the last step. “Shit!” he muttered under his breath. He could hear his driver’s chuckle behind him as he rushed forward.
Ellie smiled as he neared. She looked nervous.
He knew she shouldn’t, she should look confident…No, she looked like Ellie, sweet and unassuming. Truly unknowing of her beauty. God dammit, he was hard as he may have ever been in his life. He stopped right at the bottom step and reached for her hand.
Trembling, she placed hers in his.
He helped her down to the marble flooring. Then leaned close to whisper, “Ellie look around.”
Blinking her eyes, she did so and slowly gazed around at the silence in the lobby and at the expressions of awe on all the people there.
The uniformed men at the door bowed at her in sure reverence.
“Oh…” She gasped.
“Yes, they are transfixed by you.” He beamed at her. “As am I.” He walked her across the marble as their audience gave out whistles and gasps.
He leaned in to her ear as the door men opened the doors. “It was worth every damn dime, I spent.”
Her eyes widened and she laughed.
Morgan looked back to see men ogling her and women glaring. Yes, maybe the dress helped, but he really felt like it was Ellie who helped the dress in fact.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Ellie
Ellie thought she might pass out as Miss Petra set her at the top of the stairs. Ellie’s argument about taking the elevator fell on deaf ears.
“You will make an entrance. You shall see. The man will probably faint.” Miss Petra laughed.
Ellie didn’t laugh. She’d never done anything like this. To make a grand entrance like in some movie? No, she wasn’t nearly pretty enough. It didn’t matter if she were decked out in diamonds. Oh! Don’t even think about that. The earrings were a big battle between her and the Fashion Consultant. They were worth at least 50,000 dollars! Miss Petra insisted that she should wear them, saying that they too, matched her eyes.
It had been the shoes that Ellie fell in love with. They were spectacular to put it weakly. She still could not believe they were what Morgan had chosen for her. Well, she could not believe any of this. It was like a dream. Then the reception she got. The people’s faces in that opulent Lobby. It was the dress, she had told herself. Then when she saw Morgan’s expression, she wasn’t so sure. He stared at her like she was a blue cream sickle and he was about to eat her up.
She shivered. Well, that experience bolstered her up for the entrance into the ball. Or so she hoped, she still trembled all over and felt like someone, anyone was going to rush up to her and tell her she didn’t belong in the dress—with this man—in his life.
“Ellie?” Morgan spoke close to ear her again.
Goosebumps rose up along her arms. Just look at this man! He looked like one of those models on a magazine cover and he was on a date with her! She wished he would quit with the sexy whispering, it wasn’t doing her nerves any good at all. “Yes, Morgan?”
He bowed toward the limo door.
“Oh!” She had been standing there daydreaming about him in fact. She got into the car.
Morgan slipped in after her and the car was moving instantly.
He reached for her hand.
Staring down at it, she thought it felt damp. She then looked up at him. He had looked like a dream himself of course, in his tux. Damn, a god wearing a tux...is what she thought when he had rushed forward to greet her. She had also wondered what in the hell was wrong with him. Why did he want a poor girl from the slums? She knew the dress made her look good, but she was still just Ellie, a waitress at The Liberty Bell diner.
Morgan chuckled and removed his strong hand from hers.
Ellie turned to look at him.
“God dammit. I am sweating, even my palms. I am so sorry Ellie.”
She scrunched her brows at him. “What?”
He smiled. “You made Morgan Hunt break out in a cold sweat.”
Her eyes rounded.
He nodded. “You just do not know how absolutely perfect you are. You actually burn me up.”
“We are here sir,” the driver said through the speaker.
Ellie now felt a little bead of sweat herself running down her neck. “Dammit,” she whispered as her hands shook.
Morgan chuckled. “You have nothing to worry about.” He looked up and saw a man standing at the huge glass doors and his smile faded. “But maybe I do.”
Leaning forward to follow his gaze, Ellie stared. She blinked, then looked closer. “Oh.”
Morgan bristled next to her. “Oh?” he asked with an edge in his voice.
Ellie looked over at him. “Is he a doorman too?”
Morgan halted and stared at her. Then he laughed hugely.
Startled, she gasped.
He grabbed her face gently in his hands and asked, “You think he is—do you think he’s hot?”
Batting her lashes in confusion, she leaned her head around him and looked again. Yes, the man was handsome. He was tall and well built too. But he didn’t have any redeeming features that really caught her eye. “He’s…” She shrugged. “Okay, I guess?”
Morgan stilled. “Okay?”
She nodded. “Why? Is he someone important?”
Morgan grabbed her hand as the limo door swung open. “Not anymore.” He stepped out and leaned in to take her hand.
She smiled and suddenly felt calm. No nerves as she looked up and the lights from the front of the building glowed around Morgan. My angel man. She grabbed his hand and swung a leg out as it flashed from the blue silk.
Morgan pulled her up and tucked her arm under his.
Ellie felt like she was walking on air. Something in Morgan’s eyes seemed to buoy her up.
He led her to the doors where the man in a tux stared at her. His emerald like green eyes never left her.
Who is this man? Oh, god is he Morgan’s brother or something? Is he like someone close to Morgan? Oh, wow. She never thought of this.
Morgan stopped at the doors. “Be a good man and open the doors will ya?”
The man blinked and opened his mouth to speak then seemed to think better of it and shut it. Then he gave a sweeping but rather sarcastic bow and opened the doors.
Oh, so he wasn’t anyone in the family, he must be an employee as Morgan had said good man?
Morgan swept her through them with a little bounce to his step.
The man stared at them, then broke out into laughter.
Ellie turned her head to glance back. “What an odd doorman.”
The man looked stunned by this statement as his laughter slowed.
Morgan started to laugh as he leaned in and kissed her cheek. “Dammit, you are perfect!” He then held his head high and led her into his world.
Morgan
Men and women alike, turned their heads to stare at them.
Morgan knew she would do this, even when she argued that she wasn’t anything special. Damn, h
e loved this woman. He knew it for sure now. Her reaction to Chance seemed to be the last hurdle. Every woman he’d been with would stop and stare at Chance and then the game would be on. But not with Ellie, she thought he was just okay. But that wasn’t why he felt he could admit to being in love with Ellie. It was everything about her. He now desperately wanted to make sure he did not lose her.
The whole night went well. Ellie spoke very little but everyone gravitated to her and insisted they be introduced.
Then finally, Chance made his suave way over.
Her it comes. Morgan thought wryly.
“Morgan.” Chance nodded at him.
“Chance,” Morgan replied.
Chance shook his head as he smiled and focused his sole attention on Ellie.
Yes, it was one of his best and most dazzling too. Morgan recognized it. The killer smile. Next, would be the charm.
As if on cue, Chance reached out and grasped Ellie’s hand then bent low over it and kissed it sweetly.
Ellie’s eyes rounded and she stared.
“I’m Chance Givens,” he stated proudly.
Ellie’s expression looked blank. “Are you one of Morgan’s employees?” she asked innocently and pulled her hand from his grasp.
Chances eyes widened as his gaze shot over to Morgan. “Is that what you told her?”
Morgan shrugged. “I didn’t tell her anything.”
Chance smiled at her. “I am on the board of Hunter Industries. I am also…” he paused and glared at Morgan. “…Morgan’s best friend.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh. I am sorry. I thought you were the doorman.”
Morgan could not help it, he bent over with laughter.
Chance couldn’t help it either, as he chuckled. “Well, if you ever need a door opened and held for you. Just call me.”
Morgan’s laughter slowed. There it was. The line. He knew Chance would bring one.
Ellie just stared at him and no, she did not get the innuendo apparently. “Umm, well. I am not used to all of this anyway and I am used to opening my own doors.”
There! He swiveled his gaze over to Chance. No go, buddy!
Chance looked stunned for a second. Then he glanced over to Morgan. He tilted his head at him in puzzlement. Then he took a really good look at Ellie. He seemed to see something all the sudden. He then turned to Morgan. “I have to congratulate you, Morgan. You found it.” He bowed, turned then walked away.
Morgan felt stunned. This was the last reaction he’d expected out of this man.
“Congratulations for what? You found what?” Ellie asked from beside him.
Morgan turned toward her. “For finding you. The woman made for me.” He grasped her face and kissed her. He delved his tongue into her sweet warm mouth.
Her body instantly melted against his.
She belonged to him, with him and he intended to make sure it stayed that way.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Ellie
The night had gone so well. Everyone had been so nice and no one treated her with any kind of rudeness. Maybe they thought it would be a bad idea since she was on Morgan’s arm the entire time. The strange introduction to his best friend did leave her feeling confused as she felt something else was going on that she just didn’t know about. She had shrugged it off as Morgan seemed happy and it didn’t seem to bother him.
A man stood up on a stage as the music slowed in the ball room. “Good evening ladies and gentleman and welcome to the Tri Star Charity Ball.”
Applause went up for a few minutes as everyone clapped.
The man leaned into the mike. “We will be starting our auctions. And we have had a special placement for the Feed- The-Children charity.” The man looked around. “Yes, Hunt Industries have a special donation, especially for this evening’s functions.”
More applause and Morgan gently grasped her arm as he led her toward the man on the stage. “That’s our cue,” he whispered to her cheek.”
Ellie looked around at all the faces they passed. “O-our cue?”
“Yes, sweetness, the dress, remember?”
No, she didn’t have any idea of what he was talking about.
Then he led her to the steps of the stage. He made a sweeping bow for her to walk up them.
It suddenly dawned on her.
The man on the stage above them spoke again, “The starting auction involves something utterly beautiful…”
Ellie’s eyes widened. “You mean I have to go up there and stand in front of everyone?” Her voice came out as a scared squeak.
Morgan’s smile dropped. “Why yes, Ellie. They have to see the dress in order to start the bidding.”
Her heart pounded in her ears and the room’s sounds went in and out of her hearing. Oh god! She was supposed to stand up and look like a model? NO—no! She wasn’t one of them. They would see that as soon as she stepped under the lights.
Morgan seemed to realize what was happening as he stared at her face. “Ellie. Sweetness, look at me.”
Her eyes had been roaming the room and her panic grew to heights she’d never felt before. At his voice, her panicked gaze swung over to him.
“That’s right. Just look into my eyes,” he purred.
Her body stilled and her focus tapped right onto his face.
Those magnificent steel toned eyes looked at her with a loving warmth. “You are the most stunning woman here. You are better than all the women here. With a huge heart and a strength that they do not have. I know you can do this. And think of all the poor that will be taken care of, just with what you are wearing. This is your chance.”
My chance. She fought her panic and heard the announcer saying this was a Desaunt gown worn by Ellie White. She swallowed heavily and kept her focus locked onto his eyes. “Okay…” She let out a breath and turned to the short stairs. You can do this. Make Morgan proud. Miss Petra’s parting words came back to her, “It was an honor to help you as your beauty is the kind makeup cannot do any justice to.”
She squared her shoulders and took the stairs one slow graceful step at a time. She fought to slow her breathing and keep calm. You are just walking out to a table to get someone’s order. She almost laughed in giddy nervousness. A half a million dollar order. Then she was there—under the lights.
Ellie set her brightest smile on her face and carefully strode across the stage.
Morgan
He watched her with a steady but disturbing awe. He’d forgotten that she wasn’t used to this kind of attention. He should have thought about it first before he arranged this. He just put her up to all the scrutiny of his world. Dammit, he was a fool. How could he have done this to her? Morgan now felt truly awful that she had no warning. But then when she looked into his eyes, she seemed to come right under his immediate influence and she calmed. Yes, the perfect submissive and perfectly in tune with him. Then she just walked right up there as if she did this every day. Pride swelled through him as he watched her walk over to the mike and the announcer.
The lights glared down on her and glinted off the diamonds. Her face glowed just from the diamond light. Her porcelain skin looked ethereal. She then took a slow, graceful walk around the MC as he spoke of the dress, about the 24-24 karats she wore and she stopped then slowly turned to show the back of the dress.
His chest tightened at the pure luster of her smooth unblemished skin. Like the silk she wore, her skin looked the same only white and against the cobalt, it looked creamy and lovely. The dress dipped all the way down to the dimple above those lovely ass cheeks he remembered squeezing and adoring as she rode him to heaven. Morgan found his throat was swollen shut, his cock rock hard and his chest felt too tight as if his heart wanted to stop or leap out and it couldn’t make up its mind which to do first.
My god, I love this woman!
This realization hit him full force. With a sledge hammer accuracy. I am not just falling in love with her. I LOVE HER!
Now, the crowd ooohed, and ahhed and were completely ent
ranced by Little Miss Ellie White in her ball gown of diamonds. They only reflected the sudden and overwhelming feeling that one Morgan Hunt was enduring.
The bidding started and Morgan barely heard any of the proceedings, all he could do was stare. Stare at the little slip of a girl he’d pulled from a fire. One who owned that stage once she stepped on it. She owned the crowd too. Even the MC stood and stared in a stunned awe. The man almost forgot to acknowledge a final bid of—what did just he say? Morgan tried to hear over the gasps in the crowd.
“One million dollars!” the MC announced with a gasping sound in his voice. “Going Once, Going twice…Gone, to the man in the far corner.”
Morgan’s stunned gaze swung around the room to land on the one and only, Chance Givens.
Chance smiled at him. Then mouthed, “I at least got the dress.”
Morgan glared at him for a moment then he smiled as he thought, and I got the woman inside the dress. And she is worth more than a million.
Suddenly, Ellie was stepping down the steps toward him. He instantly jumped to attention and met her halfway to help her down.
Trembling a bit, she gave him the brightest smile he may have ever seen on her face and she said breathlessly, “I don’t have to take the dress off yet, do I?” Her wide blue eyes sparkling and full of innocent wonder.
He halted at this when they got down to the bottom step, and grabbed her up to swing her body down. Then he leaned in and whispered, “Not until I take it off of you.”
Her eyes rounded and her trembling stopped as she looped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
Morgan allowed her to lead the kiss.
With all her exhilaration, joy, and sexuality, Ellie kissed him.
To Morgan, it was the sexiest, most sensual kiss that he had probably ever received from a woman, as Ellie now owned the kiss she gave him.
Breaking the kiss, she still held his face in her hands. Gazing into his eyes she whispered, “Thank you for this, Morgan. It was the most perfect night of my life.”
Morgan was breathless from her kiss and her humbling words as he gazed into those pools of sparkling blue, mesmerized by all that was Ellie, and all he could do was nod. For once, he had nothing to say, as it was the most perfect of nights.