Bared to You: A Crossfire Novel

by Day, Sylvia

  Having us undress one another for a steamy shower, our hands petting and caressing the curves and hol ows of each other’s bodies; then dressing for dinner. He went al out in black tie, but skipped the tie.

  His crisp white shirt was unbuttoned at the col ar, revealing a flash of skin. The cocktail dress he selected for me was a champagne silk Vera Wang with a strapless bustier bodice, an open back, and a tiered skirt that ended a few inches above my knees.

  I smiled when I saw it, knowing it was going to drive him nuts seeing me in that dress al night. It was gorgeous and I loved it, but it was a style meant for tal , slender models, not short curvy girls. In a pitiful bid for modesty, I left my hair down to hang over my breasts, but it didn’t help much if Gideon’s expression was any indication.

  “My God, Eva.” He adjusted himself in his slacks.

  “I’ve changed my mind about that dress. You shouldn’t wear it in public.”

  “We don’t have time for you to change your mind.”

  “I thought there was more material than that.” I shrugged with a grin. “What can I say? You bought it.”

  “I’m having second thoughts. How long could it possibly take to remove it?”

  Sliding my tongue along my lower lip, I said, “I don’t know. Why don’t you find out?”

  His eyes turned dark. “We’d never get out of here.”

  “I wouldn’t complain.” He looked so damn hot and I wanted him—as always—real y damned bad.

  “Isn’t there a jacket or something you can put over that? A parka, maybe? Or a trench coat?” Laughing, I grabbed my clutch off the dresser and wrapped my arm around his. “Don’t worry. Everyone wil be too busy checking you out to even bother noticing me.”

  He scowled as I tugged him out of the bedroom.

  “Seriously. Have your tits gotten bigger? They’re spil ing out over the top of that thing.”

  “I’m twenty-four years old, Gideon,” I said dryly. “I stopped developing years ago. What you see is what you get.”

  “Yes, but I’m the only one who’s supposed to be seeing, since I’m the only one who’s al owed to be getting.”

  We moved into the living room. In the short time it took us to pass through to the foyer, I relished the quiet beauty of Gideon’s home. I loved how warm and inviting it was. The old world charm of the décor was so elegant, yet it was also remarkably comfortable.

  The stunning view out of the arched windows complemented the interior, but didn’t distract from it.

  The mixture of dark woods, distressed stone, warm colors, and vivid jeweled accents was clearly expensive, as was the art hung on the wal s, but it was a tasteful display of wealth. I couldn’t imagine anyone feeling awkward about what to touch or where to sit. It just wasn’t that kind of space.

  We caught the private elevator and Gideon faced me as the doors closed. He immediately tried tugging my bodice up.

  “If you’re not careful,” I warned, “you’l expose my crotch instead.”

  “Damn it.”

  “We could have fun with this. I could play the role of a bubbleheaded blond bimbo who’s after your cock and your mil ions, and you can be yourself—the bil ionaire playboy with his latest toy. Just look bored and indulgent while I rub up against you and coo about how bril iant you are.”

  “That’s not funny.” Then he brightened. “What about

  a scarf?”

  Once we checked in for the gala dinner benefitting a new crisis shelter for women and children, we were directed to a press gauntlet, triggering my fear of exposure. I focused on Gideon because nothing distracted me as thoroughly as he did. And because I was paying such close attention, I was able to watch the change from private man to public persona as it happened.

  The mask slipped smoothly into place. His irises chil ed to an icy blue and his sensual mouth lost any hint of curve. I could almost feel the force of his wil enclosing us. There was a shield between us and the rest of the world simply because he wished it to be there. Standing beside him, I knew no one would approach or speak to me until he gave them some sign that they could.

  Stil , the don’t-touch vibe didn’t extend to looking.

  Gideon turned heads as we walked to the bal room and eyes fol owed him. I got a nervous twitch from al the attention he garnered, but he seemed oblivious and completely unruffled.

  If I’d had my heart set on cooing and rubbing al over Gideon, I would’ve had to wait in line. He was pretty much mobbed the moment we stopped walking. I stepped away to make room for those vying to catch his attention and wandered off to find some champagne. Waters Field & Leaman had done the pro bono advertising for the gala, and I spotted a few people I knew.

  I’d managed to snag a glass off a passing waiter’s tray when I heard someone cal out my name. Turning, I saw Stanton’s nephew approaching with a broad smile. Dark-haired and green-eyed, he was around my age. I knew him from the times I’d visited my mother on holiday breaks and was glad to see him.

  “Martin!” I greeted him with open arms and we hugged briefly. “How are you? You look fabulous.”

  “I was about to say the same.” He eyed my dress appreciatively. “I’d heard you’d moved to New York and meant to look you up. How long have you been in town?”

  “Not long. A few weeks.”

  “Drink your champagne,” he said. “And let’s dance.” The wine was stil bubbling nicely through my system when we moved onto the dance floor to the sound of Bil ie Hol iday singing “Summertime.”

  “So,” he began, “are you working?”

  As we danced, I told him about my job and I asked what he was up to. I wasn’t surprised to hear he was working for Stanton’s investment firm and doing wel .

  “I’d love to come uptown and take you out to lunch sometime,” he said.

  “That would be great.” I stepped back as the music ended and bumped into someone behind me. Hands went to my waist to steady me and I looked over my shoulder to find Gideon at my back.

  “Hel o,” he purred, his icy gaze on Martin. “Introduce us.”

  “Gideon, this is Martin Stanton. We’ve known each other for a few years now. He’s my stepfather’s nephew.” I took a deep breath and went for it. “Martin, this is the significant man in my life, Gideon Cross.”

  “Cross.” Martin grinned and held out his hand. “I know who you are, of course. It’s a pleasure to meet you. If things work out, maybe I’l be seeing you at some of the family gatherings.”

  Gideon’s arm slid around my shoulders. “Count on it.”

  Martin was hailed by someone he knew and he leaned forward to kiss my cheek. “I’l cal you about lunch. Next week maybe?”

  “Great.” I was highly conscious of Gideon vibrating with energy beside me, although when I glanced at him, his face with calm and impassive.

  He pul ed me into a dance, with Louis Armstrong singing “What a Wonderful World.” “Not sure I like him,” he muttered.

  “Martin’s a very nice guy.”

  “Just so long as he knows you’re mine.” He pressed his cheek to my temple and placed his hand within the cutout back of my dress, skin to skin. There was no way to doubt that I belonged to him when he was holding me like that.

  I relished the opportunity to be so close to his scrumptious body in public. Breathing him in, I relaxed into his expert hold. “I like this.”

  Nuzzling against me, he murmured, “That’s the idea.”

  Bliss. It lasted as long as the dance did.

  We were exiting the dance floor when I caught sight of Magdalene off to the side. It took me a moment to recognize her because she’d cut her hair into a sleek bob. She looked slender and classy in a simple black cocktail dress, but was eclipsed by the striking brunette she was speaking to.

  Gideon’s stride faltered, slowing fractional y before resuming his usual pace. I was looking down, thinking he’d avoided something on the floor, when he said quietly, “I need to introduce you to someone.” My attention shifted to s
ee where we were going.

  The woman with Magdalene had spotted Gideon and turned to face him. I felt his forearm tense beneath my fingers the moment their gazes met.

  I could see why.

  The woman, whoever she was, was deeply in love with Gideon. It was there on her face and in her pale, otherworldly blue eyes. Her beauty was stunning, so exquisite as to be surreal. Her hair was black as ink and hung thick and straight almost to her waist. Her dress was the same icy hue as her eyes, her skin golden from the sun, her body long and perfectly curved.

  “Corinne,” he greeted her, the natural rasp in his voice even more pronounced. He released me and caught her hands. “You didn’t tel me you were back. I would’ve picked you up.”

  “I left a few messages on your voice mail at home,” she said, in a voice that was cultured and smooth.

  “Ah, I haven’t been there much lately.” As if that reminded him I was next to him, he released her and drew me up to his side. “Corinne, this is Eva Tramel .

  Eva, Corinne Giroux. An old friend.”

  I extended my hand to her and she shook it.

  “Any friend of Gideon’s is a friend of mine,” she said with a warm smile.

  “I hope that applies to girlfriends as wel .” When her gaze met mine, it was knowing.

  “Especial y girlfriends. If you could spare him a moment, I’ve been hoping to introduce him to an associate of mine.”

  “Of course.” My voice was calm; I was anything but.

  Gideon gave me a perfunctory kiss on the temple before he stepped closer to Corinne and offered his arm to her, leaving Magdalene standing awkwardly next to me.

  I actual y felt sorry for her, she looked so dejected.

  “Your new hairstyle is very flattering, Magdalene.” She glanced at me, her mouth tight, and then it softened with a sigh that sounded fil ed with resignation. “Thank you. It was time for a change. Time for many changes, I think. Also, there was no reason to imitate the one who got away now that she’s back.” I frowned in confusion. “You lost me.”

  “I’m talking about Corinne.” She studied my face.

  “You don’t know. She and Gideon were engaged, for over a year. She broke it off, married a wealthy Frenchman, and moved to Europe. But the marriage fel apart. They’re now getting divorced and she’s moved back to New York.”

  Engaged. I felt the blood drain from my face, my gaze shifting to where the man I loved stood with the woman he must’ve once loved, his hand moving to the smal of her back to steady her as she leaned into him with a laugh.

  As my stomach twisted with jealousy and sick fear, it struck me that I’d assumed he had never had a serious romantic relationship before me. Stupid. As hot as he was, I should’ve known better.

  Magdalene touched my shoulder. “You should sit down, Eva. You’re very pale.”

  I knew I was breathing too fast and my speeding pulse rate was dangerously high. “You’re right.” Moving to the nearest available chair, I got off my feet. Magdalene sat beside me.

  “You love him,” she said. “I didn’t see it. I’m sorry.

  And I’m sorry for what I said to you the first time we met.”

  “You love him, too,” I replied woodenly, my gaze unfocused. “And at that time, I didn’t. Not yet.”

  “Doesn’t excuse me, does it?”

  I grateful y accepted another glass of champagne when it was offered to me and took a second for Magdalene before the waiter straightened to move on.

  We clinked glasses in a pitiful display of scorned female solidarity. I wanted to leave. I wanted to get up and walk out. I wanted Gideon to realize I’d left, to be forced to leave after me. I wanted him to feel some of the pain I felt. Stupid, immature, hurtful imaginings that made me feel smal .

  I took comfort from Magdalene sitting silently beside me in commiseration. She knew how it felt to love Gideon and want him too much. That I sensed she was as miserable as I was confirmed what a threat Corinne might be.

  Had he been pining for her this whole time? Was she the reason he’d closed himself off from other women?

  “There you are.”

  I looked up as Gideon found me. Of course Corinne was stil on his arm and I got the ful effect of the two of them as a couple. There were, quite simply, impossibly gorgeous together.

  Corinne took a seat beside me and Gideon brushed his fingertips over my cheek. “I have to speak with someone,” he said. “Would you like me to bring you back anything?”

  “Stoli and cranberry. Make it a double.” I needed a buzz. Bad.

  “Al right.” But he frowned at my request before he walked away.

  “I’m so glad to meet you, Eva,” Corinne said.

  “Gideon has told me so much about you.”

  “It can’t have been too much. You two weren’t gone that long.”

  “We talk nearly every day.” She smiled, and there was nothing fake or malicious in her expression.

  “We’ve been friends a long time.”

  “More than friends,” Magdalene said pointedly.

  Corinne frowned at Magdalene and I realized I wasn’t supposed to know. Was it she or Gideon or both of them that had decided it was best not to tel me? Why cover up something if there was nothing to hide?

  “Yes, that’s true,” she admitted with obvious reluctance. “Although that was some years ago now.” I twisted in my seat to face her. “You stil love him.”

  “You can’t blame me for that. Any woman who spends time with him fal s in love with him. He’s beautiful and untouchable. That’s an irresistible combination.” Her smile softened. “He tel s me you’ve inspired him to start opening up. I’m grateful to you for that.”

  I was about to say, I didn’t do it for you. Then an insidious doubt drifted through my mind, making a vulnerable spot inside me fold in on itself.

  Was I doing it for her without knowing it?

  I twisted the base of my empty champagne flute around and around on the table. “He was going to marry you.”

  “And it was the biggest mistake of my life walking away.” Her hand went to her throat, her slender fingers restlessly stroking, as if toying with a necklace she’d normal y find there. “I was young and in some ways he frightened me. He was so possessive. It wasn’t until after I married that I realized possessiveness is much better than indifference. At least for me.” I looked away, fighting the nausea that rose in my throat.

  “You’re awful y quiet,” she said.

  “What is there to say?” Magdalene tossed out.

  We al loved him. We were al available to him. In the end, he would make a choice between us.

  “You should know, Eva,” Corinne began, looking at me with those clear aquamarine eyes, “he’s told me how special you are to him. It took me some time to gather the courage to come back here and face you two together. I even canceled a flight I had booked a couple weekends ago. I interrupted him at some charity event he was giving a speech at, poor guy, to tel him I was on my way and to ask for his help getting settled.”

  I froze, feeling as brittle as cracked glass. She had to be talking about the advocacy center dinner, the night Gideon and I had sex for the first time. The night we’d christened his limo and he’d immediately withdrawn; then left me abruptly.

  “When he cal ed me back,” she continued, “he told me he’d met someone. That he wanted you and me to meet when I got into town. I ended up chickening out.

  He’s never asked me to meet a woman in his life before.”

  Oh my God. I glanced at Magdalene. Gideon had left me in a rush that night for her. For Corinne.

  “Excuse me.” I pushed back from the table and searched for Gideon. I saw him at the bar and went to him.

  He was just turning away from the bartender with two glasses in his hands when I intercepted him. I took my drink and gulped it down, my teeth aching as the cubes of ice knocked against them.

  “Eva—” There was a soft note of chastisement in his voice.

 
“I’m leaving,” I said flatly, stepping around him to set my empty glass on the bar top. “I don’t consider that running, because I’m tel ing you in advance and giving you the option of coming with me.”

  He exhaled harshly and I could see that he understood my mood. He knew I knew. “I can’t leave.” I turned away.

  He caught my arm. “You know I can’t stay if you go.

  You’re upset over nothing, Eva.”

  “Nothing?” I stared at where his hand gripped me. “I warned you I get upset and jealous. This time, you’ve given me good reason.”

  “Warning me is supposed to excuse you when you get ridiculous about it?” His face was relaxed, his voice low and calm. No one looking from a distance would pick up on the tension between us, but it was there in his eyes. Burning lust and icy fury. He was so good at putting those two together.

  “Who’s ridiculous? What about Daniel, the personal trainer? Or Martin, a member of my stepfamily?” I leaned closer and whispered, “I’ve never fucked either of them, let alone agreed to a marriage! I sure as hel don’t talk to them every damn day!”

  Abruptly, he caught me by the waist and hauled me up tight against him. “You need to be fucked now,” he hissed in my ear, nipping the lobe with his teeth. “I shouldn’t have made us wait.”

  “Maybe you were planning ahead,” I shot back.

  “Saving it up in case an old flame popped back into your life, one you’d prefer to screw instead.” Gideon tossed back his drink; then he secured me to his side with a steely arm around my waist and led me through the crowd to the door. He pul ed his smartphone out of his pocket and ordered the limo brought around. By the time we reached the street, the long, sleek car was there. Gideon pushed me through the door Angus held open and told him, “Drive around the block until I say otherwise.”

  Then he slid in directly behind me, so closely I could feel his breath against my bare back. I scrambled toward the opposite seat, determined to get away from him….