Masque

by Lexi Post

  “All right!” Matt slapped his hand down on the desk. “I’ll go talk to my buddy right now. Can’t do any planting yet as I still need to buy the plants. You wait. This pond will be real romantic.” Matt turned to Synn. “By the way, thanks for the help earlier. I appreciate it.”

  Synn gave his usual regal nod. “It was my pleasure.”

  Matt didn’t hang around for more conversation. He raced out of the library, excited to work on his pond project.

  Now what had Synn helped him with? She looked at Synn to find him studying her, his expression impossible to read. “Does this pond have any significance to the history of the Abbey or one of the ghosts?”

  He pushed her hair back away from her face before answering. “Doesn’t everything here relate to both?”

  She found the blue flecks in his eyes fascinating. There were so few, but they were the color of sapphires. The color combination of bold blue among murky gray made her think of raw, naked sex on a soft down comforter. Ach. She broke eye contact. “Speaking of one of the ghosts, Valerie has had an unpleasant experience, and I was wondering if you could help. After all, you are the keeper of the ghosts.” She smirked because she liked how he had first introduced himself, but his face hardened.

  “What happened?”

  She wanted to lighten the mood, but he had stiffened like a pointer finding a scent. The phrase “Just the facts, ma’am” flitted through her brain. “Val said a male ghost with blond hair appeared in her room last night, naked. He woke her up as he examined her belongings. But it wasn’t Jonathan because she said this man had a skull-like head and a skinny, um, penis.”

  Any levity her hesitation might have engendered was lost on the man. He rose from the desk and walked to the iron spiral staircase that led to the second half-floor of the library. He stopped beneath it and spoke without looking at her. “Did Valerie mention anything else?”

  His body language made it clear this ghost was serious business. “Not that I remember.”

  He touched one of the books on the shelf near the stairs. “I’ll look into it.”

  Synn’s stance had her thinking of a mafia hit man. He wouldn’t simply “look into it”. He would take care of the situation. When did she ever feel that from a man? And when had she known such confidence in his abilities?

  Actually, two nights ago. She’d had the same confidence in Synn when he coaxed her through the Purple Room in a way that protected her and helped her enjoy it. Oh sugar, she trusted him.

  But right now he was too deep in thought for her comfort. History. They were talking about history before she mentioned Valerie’s issue. “I want to know all about this place. I want to feel like I lived it, so when I speak with my guests it feels authentic.”

  He refocused on her. “I can tell you all, but some of it you may not want to share.” His gaze turned devilish as he moved toward her with the grace of a fisher cat. “I can tell you about the prince and his famous Masques. About the revelry and debauchery that occurred here. Would you like to learn more about the colored rooms after the stroke of midnight?”

  Synn cupped her cheek, his thumb stroking it sensually as his eyes filled with remembered pleasure.

  Rena swallowed hard. “After midnight? Is that when I happened into the Blue and Purple Rooms?”

  “Yes.”

  “Tell me more about the Blue Room. For instance, where is the bed? There is nothing in the middle of that room. Was it a ghost bed?”

  He smirked as he dropped his hand. “The rooms change after midnight much like the Purple one did. The bed in the Blue Room comes up from beneath the floor. That is by far the simplest room.”

  “How do they change? There is no electricity in the Abbey.”

  “It’s a complicated series of cogs, wheels and pulleys that when set in motion, change each room at the same time. Quite ingenious.” From the look on his face, she’d have thought he’d designed the mechanisms himself. He must love the Abbey to have so much pride in its inner workings.

  She leaned forward and rested her elbows on the desk. “Does that mean when you said this abbey was built as a Pleasure Palace, it didn’t have anything to do with the music room, or the billiards room, or the game room, but rather with the rooms after midnight?”

  He nodded once. “Correct. Each room has, let us say, a more advanced experience.”

  They were currently in the Green Room, the library. “What experience does this room offer after midnight?”

  He shook his head and sat in the wingback chair across from her desk. “I can’t tell you that. Each room must be experienced in order to appreciate the Masque.”

  The sensual look he gave her had her remembering the image of them both in masks as he lay on top of her. A warm shiver seeped through her body. “You mean, I would have to participate in each one to discover its secrets?”

  He crossed his ankle onto his knee and watched her keenly. “Yes. In order.” His gaze held her own and excitement shone in his eyes.

  What would it be like to experience that? She studied Synn. Some of his hair lay upon his left shoulder, but its length only enhanced the masculinity of his sculpted features. A heady feeling flowed through her veins as she lost herself in his striking eyes. The man before her had been her lover, and it appeared he wanted to continue in such a role. Bryce wouldn’t approve. But Bryce wasn’t part of her life anymore. So screw him.

  Synn broke their connection and studied his coat sleeve. “Then again, it may not be right for you. Not many women are that adventurous. Back then, there were but a few who participated and even fewer who continued through to the Black Room.”

  If he thought she was some wimpy female, he was dead wrong. She might not have had a lot of variety in her sexual encounters, but she had been more than willing. Yeah, and that worked just great. She ended up no longer engaged.

  She slumped back in her chair. It was wrong. Classy women didn’t have sex in front of… Wait, Eve and Jonathan were upper crust. At least their clothes appeared that way. They were ghosts, but they had been alive at some point and participated hadn’t they? “Did you say a prince owned this place?”

  Synn’s eyebrows rose in question but he answered. “Yes, Prince Prospero. He came from Sweden to settle in Nova Scotia. As a third son, he had little chance of inheriting the throne, but here he had become very popular and served as a member of the assembly. Why do you ask?”

  Rena jumped up. Her blood raced through her veins like a thoroughbred racing to the finish line. Maybe a part of her wanted to show Bryce she wasn’t beneath him because she enjoyed sexual variety, but really she wanted to show herself. Maybe it was time to stop fighting her natural curiosity and see exactly what her limits were. Could she make it through to the Black Room where few women ever entered? More importantly, did they leave satisfied? That’s what she planned to discover. “I’ll do it!”

  She stepped closer to Synn. His expression was priceless. Confusion warred with excitement and caution. She’d have him as a regular lover, wouldn’t she? She took a step back and found her butt against the desk. She grasped it to steady her nerves. “Do I do this alone or with you?”

  He rose, all six foot four of graceful muscle beneath impeccably tailored nineteenth-century clothes. He closed in on her and held her jaw again, his lazy thumb stroking her cheek. “I will be your guide through every room.” His gaze remained cautious. “Are you sure?”

  Her heart pounded as she pushed Bryce’s voice out of her head. She nodded, too breathless to speak.

  He smiled. A real smile that made her heart take notice. Leaning forward, he pressed his lips to hers in a gentle kiss, pushing her against the desk. His body told her he wanted her, but his lips said something else, something sweeter.

  Synn lifted his head. “Then we’ll continue tonight.” He turned to leave, but she grabbed his arm.

  “Wait. Aren’t you going to tell me more about the Abbey’s history?”

  His smirk returned as he bowed. “Definitely.
Tonight.”

  She let him go, anticipation already speeding her metabolism. She had a party to go to tonight with a devastatingly handsome man. She needed to make herself as sophisticated as she could.

  She left the library and entered the Purple Room with its theater stage. What could be more adventurous than having sex in front of an audience?

  Tonight, she’d find out. Excited, she passed into the entryway and headed up the stairs. Should she wear her short red or black evening dress?

  Oh, damn. She stopped mid-stair and turned around to descend. They had no hot water unless she boiled it first. Crossing her arms over her chest, she headed for the kitchen. Damn, the things a woman had to go through to have a little sex. She grinned. Then again, with a male specimen like Synn, it was well worth it.

  Chapter Seven

  Synn found Valerie in the kitchen, overseeing the work of three men. He found it strange they would listen to her about such critical building needs. She must be related to someone of importance. He’d tread carefully with her since she could influence Rena the wrong way.

  She spoke to one man as she pointed to a large hole in the kitchen wall. That must have been the task Matt had told him about, the one he felt unqualified to perform. When she finished, she headed for the door where he stood.

  “What is it, Synn? I’ve got a lot to do here and if you’re not going to help, you need to get out of the way.”

  As she brushed by him, he smelled lilacs. How strange. He didn’t see this straightforward woman as one to wear such a flowery scent. He much preferred Rena’s pomegranate fragrance. Shrugging, he followed her into the dining room. “Rena told me you had a visitor last night.”

  She stopped her movements for a moment before she set down the pile of papers she’d been rifling through. He couldn’t help but notice one of her hands shook. Someone truly frightened her.

  She looked directly at him. “Yeah, I had a naked ghost floating around my room picking through my stuff. He dropped something on the dresser, which woke me up.”

  Synn motioned for her to take a seat and she did. “Did he appear curious or was he looking for something?”

  She played with the corner of her notebook. “I’m not sure. He didn’t just touch each item, he touched every part of it, like a blind person would, but it was less like he was trying to understand them, and more like he caressed them.”

  A strong chill filled Synn’s soul at her description. “What did he touch?”

  “Everything. My hairbrush, my perfume, my jeans, my underwear, which I have to tell you, really creeped me out. If he had been alive, I would have decked him, but what am I supposed to do with a ghost?”

  Synn laid a hand on Valerie’s shoulder. “Nothing. You do nothing. I will take care of this ghost. He will not be in your room tonight.”

  She lifted her brow. “How can you be so sure?”

  “Because I won’t allow it.” He removed his hand and turned, but looked back as he strode away. “If you have Matt knock out the hole in the dining room wall that you want, you will hit water pipes.”

  Before she could respond, he strode from the room and dematerialized to float up the stairs.

  He had work to do. First he’d speak to Eric, then he needed to prepare for the Green Room, the library, where knowledge could be gained on many subjects and many people, depending on the time of day…or night.

  * * * * *

  Rena paced the floor of her room, no easy task in four-inch heels. Tonight was worse than the night she lost her virginity. At least then she knew what would happen, or thought she knew. The fireworks and excitement of her big moment had been awkward and uncomfortable at best. Tonight could very well be the same.

  No. She had to believe it would be exciting. Having sex with Synn was amazing, and participating in these rooms appeared to be how he enjoyed it. New experiences, no intimacy. What more could she ask while focusing on proving she had what it takes to be successful? Besides, her natural sexual curiosity had been piqued. How far would she go?

  She sat on the bed, careful not to let the black, skintight sheath dress ride up her thighs. She wore her hot-pink thong underneath as a surprise. She could imagine Synn’s smirk when he found the bright color beneath her sophisticated cocktail dress. How opposite he and Bryce were. Both had class, but while Bryce had money and the world at his fingertips, Synn was content to camp in an old abbey and enjoy the company of ghosts.

  She checked her watch and started to pace again. Where was he? It was after midnight. By now, the rooms would have changed.

  Reaching the end of her room in her agitation, she turned to find the man of the hour standing inside her door. How the hell did he do that? “Sheesh, Synn. You almost scared the life out of me.” She put her hand over her rapidly beating heart and took a deeper breath.

  He stood still, but his eyes devoured her.

  Her breathing under control, she approached him warily because right now he reminded her of a wolf. “Synn?”

  His gaze reached her face and his neck muscles constricted as he swallowed. “You look like a goddess tonight.”

  Wow, that had to be the most unique compliment she’d had in her entire life. Her cheeks warmed. “Thank you. Any one in particular?”

  “Aphrodite.”

  His lack of hesitation combined with the desire in his eyes had her body responding with liquid warmth. Oh boy, she was in trouble.

  He took a step closer, making her tilt her head back to hold his gaze.

  “You are the embodiment of the goddess of love. Every rounded curve begs a man for attention, from your bountiful breasts to your enticing hips. I could sink between your thighs for hours.”

  “Oh my.” How could he say such dirty things and be so classy? She must have stepped into heaven, or Olympus, as he would have it.

  He handed her a simple black mask, and she tied it behind her head. When he crooked his arm in invitation, she hesitated. She’d hoped for at least one private kiss, but he didn’t make any moves, so she linked her arm in his and let him escort her downstairs.

  In the Blue Room, a dark-haired couple were already close to orgasm on the round bed. As she and Synn strolled through the Purple Room, she caught every angle of a couple engaged in oral sex, though the audience wasn’t quite as riveted as the night she was on stage.

  Stepping into the library, she stopped. Synn halted with her as she took in all the changes. There were no bookshelves to be seen on the main floor. Instead there were a number of beds and what appeared to be workout benches shaped in strange configurations, so contorted she had no clue how they could be used. It appeared the only constants in the room from the daytime were the iron spiral stairs and her three-by-six-foot desk.

  She shook her head. “What happens in this room? There’s no one here yet.”

  Without hesitation, he unhooked their arms and pulled her into an embrace. His lips sought hers as his hand held her head.

  She acquiesced readily, anxious to show him her willingness to experiment. As she melted against him, his other hand pushed her ass into him and another hand slid up her side to cup her breast.

  Wait! Synn didn’t have three hands. She pulled back.

  He smirked, a devilish glint in his eye.

  She looked around to see where the third hand had come from and found Matt, in a simple black mask and dashing tux, standing behind her. He grinned.

  She glanced back at Synn. “What’s going on here?”

  “You asked what happens in this room. I just gave you the answer.”

  “What answer? All I know is …” The picture in the sex journal flitted through her brain. Two men, one woman, basically heaven. She studied Matt. He looked a bit sheepish but ridiculously eager. And damn if her pussy hadn’t already decided for her as it contracted with the knowledge she would have two men tonight.

  Synn used his finger beneath her chin to bring her attention back to him. “Do you still want to participate in the Masque?”

 
His eyes had to be the windows to his soul because beyond desire and honest solicitation, she glimpsed fear and something else.

  “Rena? I can escort you back to your room if you wish.”

  No way. She could be as adventurous as he was. She shook her head and gave him her best flirtatious look. “I’m all yours.”

  Matt chose that moment to press his overeager body against her back, his hard-on fitting between her ass cheeks. “And mine.”

  She laughed in abandon and threw her arms up. “Yes. I’m both of yours.”

  Synn’s easy smile took her breath away before he lifted her into his arms and nodded at Matt. He brought her to the wrought iron spiral stairs and set her down. “Up you go to the third step.”

  Curious, she followed his instruction. It brought her halfway around. “Now what?”

  He walked in front of her. “Sit on that step.”

  She sat, facing the upper steps, her legs hanging off the back. Her dress rode up, but as she reached to adjust it, his hands caught hers and he shook his head. Another stair was a bit above her chest and Synn pulled her arms over it. “Lean here. You may need the support.”

  She smirked. It was like Twister, but much easier and it gave her the freedom to enjoy.

  Matt stood next to Synn. “You look very sexy tonight, Rena.”

  “Thank you, Matt. You look quite dashing yourself.”

  “Thanks, Synn gave me the—”

  “Rena. I want you to hang on to the bars on each side of that stair.” Synn’s tone brooked no argument and made it clear he was in charge.

  She nodded. The anticipation of what would happen next had her body tense and loose at the same time.

  Synn took off his evening jacket and rolled his sleeves, slowly. She could tell he enjoyed making her wait. She swung her legs like a little girl, impatient to discover what he would do next, or rather what he and Matt would do. Matt had already thrown his tux jacket onto one of the strange curved benches and stood ready. Synn threw a pillow from a bed onto the floor below her and knelt. Her blood raced from her head to the center of her legs as if drawn to the level of Synn’s lips. As she leaned forward onto the next stair, Matt stepped to the side of Synn. Rena licked her lips.