The Invitation

by Ava McKnight

  6470A Glenway Avenue, #109

  Cincinnati, OH 45211-5222

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  eBook ISBN 1-59426-553-4

  The Invitation © 2005 by Ava McKnight

  All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  Cover art © 2005 by Stacey L. King

  Phaze is an imprint of Mundania Press, LLC.

  www.Phaze.com

  Chapter One

  The invitation was too enticing to pass up. They'd been corresponding via email for nearly a month now and Cass wanted to meet him in person. Besides, it had been a long time since she'd done anything wild and wicked, so when the opportunity presented itself, she jumped at it. He'd sent her the online ad for the Hunter's Moon Ball and now here she was, thinking the crowd looked just as hedonistic in real life as it had in the photos that had made up the ad. He'd said he'd be dressed as the grim reaper, menacing blade and all. She'd sent an LOL in response and joked that he had a morbid side she hadn't noticed before. She'd also told him what she'd be wearing and he'd said he'd find her.

  It all seemed so mysterious and intriguing. And lord knew Cass Armstrong needed a little mystery and intrigue in her life. She was becoming as boring as the men she'd been dating lately.

  As she passed through the shimmering silver streamers at the entrance she could feel someone's intense gaze on her. She caught a glimpse of him as the bodies shifted. Not the grim reaper, but someone else. His eyes followed her. He seemed to have been waiting for her, expecting her to walk through the door at that exact moment.

  Wearing black from head to toe, with hair as shiny as an obsidian stone, and standing on the fringes of the hedonistic crowd, he almost blended into the scenery. But his silver eyes practically glowed in the dimly lit room. They were focused solely on her. He opened his mouth slightly to say something or to draw in a full breath, Cass wasn't sure, and a flash of light caught a sharp fang.

  Ahh…he was dressed as a vampire. Sexy.

  Someone bumped into her and Cass turned to catch the girl's apology. When her attention returned to where the man had stood, he was gone. But she could still feel the heat of his gaze as she made her way through the crowd and headed toward the bar.

  Amidst a sea of scantily clad bodies, she wondered why she felt so…exposed. So naked. Her seductress outfit was risqué, certainly, but it wasn't nearly as revealing as most of the costumes she saw. The neckline of her black satin corset dipped low enough to reveal the rounded tops of her breasts; the laces in the back had been pulled so tight it caused the creamy white orbs to plump up over the scalloped edge of the top. She wore a short black leather skirt that didn't quite cover the lacy tops of her black thigh-high stockings. She'd piled her dark auburn hair on top of her head. Long, fat spiral curls cascaded over her bare shoulders and grazed her temples. Her makeup was dark and exotic. She'd lined her eyes with a deep charcoal color, smudged along her lower lash line; on her lids, she'd dusted a smoky powder that, when she'd inspected herself closely in the mirror, gave her dark blue eyes a smoldering look. Her lips were a deep crimson color.

  She'd created the look she'd wanted. Now, if she could just find the grim reaper—or the tall, dark and hunky 'vampire'—she could get herself into some serious mischief.

  But neither were anywhere to be found. Rather, Cass stood alone in the middle of the crowd, surrounded by hundreds of people, all indulging their fantasies.

  Fetishes, really.

  She was flanked by men in leather shorts and studded collars, women in skintight dresses and lingerie, some carrying whips. The music was loud yet seductive. The band had a bluesy sound and the muted trumpets had a soulful wail. She watched the costumed figures on the dance floor. Couples moved as one in suggestive ways that should be reserved for the privacy of a bedroom.

  How long had it been since she'd danced like that? With a man's hands on her backside, their bodies practically melded together?

  Forever.

  Or so it seemed.

  Not that Cass had packed away all her wanton inclinations, but over the past several years, she'd found herself dating men her parents would approve of—and they were boring Cass to tears.

  Pushing aside thoughts of her dismal love life, Cass reveled in the curious sensuality that had settled over her since she'd entered the club. The sensation was created partly by the sexually charged environment and partly by the fact that she knew a mysterious stranger watched her. Not the grim reaper…Cass knew it was the dark, sexy vampire whose eyes followed her. She sensed his presence and could feel his gaze on her as if it were a warm, seductive caress. She couldn't help but scan the crowd for him, wondering which shadow he'd blended into.

  Neon lights flickered and shiny disco balls cast shimmering, glittery rays over the crowd, but left the perimeter of the party in inky blackness. For a moment, Cass simply soaked in the seductive atmosphere, remembering how great it was to hear the resonate sound of a bass pulse deep inside her, to watch scantily clad bodies gyrate to a sultry beat. She could almost see herself on the dance floor, moving in a slow, sensuous rhythm with the vampire. Their bodies touching, his hand creeping slowly down her backside…

  Cass grinned, in spite of herself, and let out a low sigh of longing. She wouldn't redirect his hand, that was for damn sure. She'd let it wander wherever the hell he wanted it to. And she'd enjoy every moment of his touch, she was certain.

  Admittedly, Cass had come to this hedonistic hurrah with one specific purpose in mind—to fulfill a primal instinct that had been denied for far too long.

  She'd spent too many nights at the country club with "polite" society. Cass wanted a good time—she wanted to feel the exhilaration that came with instant physical attraction. The first touch, the first kiss. The electrifying pulse that beat between two people, each sexually charged by the other. The intense, physical pull that resulted in the most erotically delicious, tingly sensations…

  She wanted it. She needed it.

  Cass had come looking for a man—a one-night stand, truth be told.

  A tinge of guilt besieged her at the thought, but she let it pass. One-night stands weren't her thing, but sometimes, a girl had to do what a girl had to do. And who knew? Maybe a Halloween fling would turn into something more substantial.

  Or maybe not.

  Cass wasn't getting her hopes up for a stellar romance. She was woman enough to admit that she was mostly hoping to find a hot male with whom to have even hotter sex.

  It was really as simple as that.

  The line at the bar was a long one. When it was her turn, Cass ordered a martini because it was the most potent cocktail she could think of. A couple of them and maybe she'd shed the inhibitions she'd somehow developed over the years. She worked her way through the throng of people, smiled back at the men who smiled at her. She felt that familiar pump of excitement as she contemplated the possibilities, yet she still sought something elusive, something just beyond her grasp. Perhaps her vampire could offer that elusive something… Certainly a man so brazenly sexy could sate her growing hunger.

  With a sigh of resignation—because he was nowhere to be found—Cass wandered along the outskirts of the party, purposely not admitting to herself that she was searching for the gorgeous man she'd seen earlier.

  She sipped her cockta
il, declined several offers to dance. She had purchased a VIP ticket in advance and eventually made her way into that lounge. She passed through the thick red velvet curtains and was immediately tackled. She fell back onto a sofa, a large body partially covering her. Her martini spilled onto the floor.

  Cass cried out, more so in shock than in pain, although she did feel a sharp pinprick in her right shoulder.

  "Ah, Jesus," the man on top of her said, commanding her attention. "Christ, I'm sorry. You're not the person I was expecting." He grinned at her and she found herself grinning back. He was blonde and not the least bit displeasing to the eye. Dressed as a pirate, he looked formidable; though not quite as dangerously sexy as her vampire. He stared at her a moment, then said, "Damn, you're pretty."

  "Um, thanks," Cass said, her grin widening.

  "You're not here alone, are you?" the pirate asked. Not giving her a chance to answer, he let out a low, seductive laugh and said, "No, of course you're not alone. You're too damn hot to be here alone."

  Cass studied him for a moment. She tried to think of him as a plausible alternative to the man she'd been thinking about since the moment she'd arrived, but he didn't quite possess the magnetism of her tall, dark and hunky vamp. Thinking of the mysterious stranger she'd only gotten a quick glimpse of, Cass felt a peculiar stirring deep inside her. The vamp definitely held her spellbound—whether he was in the near vicinity or not.

  "Let me get you a new drink," the pirate said. But he still didn't move. He was sort of half-splayed across her and the weight of him against her side, his thick leg pressed between her two parted ones, was somehow erotic. If only he were the man dressed in black…

  The pirate's dark green eyes remained on Cass's face. A hopeful expression crossed his handsome features. "Are you here alone?" he asked again.

  "No, she's not."

  Cass glanced over the blonde pirate's shoulder and nearly gasped out loud. There he stood…the dark-as-sin man, as though she'd conjured him with her yearning.

  He reached for the back of the pirate's puffy shirt, grabbed a fistful of it and hauled the guy effortlessly off of her. Cass's mouth gaped. The pirate had to be well over six feet tall and maybe close to two hundred pounds—he was built like a football player and she'd felt his substantial weight on her. He stared down the dark stranger for a long moment before slinking off.

  Cass continued to stare, bewildered. She eased her legs together and sat upright—though she did notice the flash of awareness in the vamp's eyes as he watched her intently. No doubt he'd gotten a fabulous glimpse of her black lace thong panties.

  Christ, her mother would have had a coronary if she'd been here. Prim and proper Cassandra showing her panties to a man she didn't even know!

  Admittedly, the thought sent a wicked thrill shimmying up her spine.

  Cass hoped he had enjoyed the view.

  She brought her martini glass to her lips, in an attempt to appear cool and nonchalant. Then she remembered she'd spilled the whole damned thing.

  "Shit," she mumbled as she set the glass on the coffee table in front of her.

  "Sit tight. Don't move," the hunky stranger said in a deep voice. "I'll bring you another one."

  She watched him as he sauntered off, a frown on her face. Bit on the demanding and macho side, she thought. But then the view of him as he crossed to the bar in the far corner made her lips curl upward. She tilted her head to the side and admired his retreating backside.

  For a brief spell, Cass was short of breath. The man gave all new meaning to the word hot. Dressed in black leather pants and a black button-down shirt, he was definitely a sight to behold. Especially with his pants hugging his tight ass so perfectly…

  A sigh of longing escaped her parted lips. He had powerful thighs, too, she noted, as she continued to watch him. Tapered waist. Broad shoulders.

  She pulled in an unsteady breath.

  His obsidian hair dusted the collar of his shirt. The silky strands beckoned her, making her want to twine her fingers in them. He had a handsome face, with chiseled cheekbones and a square jaw line. His eyes were captivating, a silvery hue she'd never seen before.

  Cass no longer cared if she found the grim reaper. The vampire had her full attention.

  As she waited for him to return, Cass absently rubbed her right shoulder. It stung a little, but mostly the skin just tingled beneath her fingertips.

  Her designated savior arrived minutes later with her cocktail and handed it to her. She took a long sip, nearly draining the glass. She needed something to take the edge off. Her heart beat erratically and a dull ache had taken up residency between her legs. Erotic thoughts flitted through her mind when he sat on the edge of the sturdy coffee table. His leather-clad leg brushed hers—the thick material of his pants and the thin thigh-high stocking she wore offered no barrier from the heat he emitted. For a moment, Cass forgot her own name.

  "Are you okay?" he asked in a low, intimate tone. As if he knew her. As if they were already lovers.

  The thought heated Cass's insides. Suddenly, she could think of nothing more erotic than to have him push her skirt up to her waist, grab her by the hips and drive his hard cock into her.

  She nearly choked on the olive she'd just popped into her mouth. She coughed, then drew in another sip to soothe her throat. He tilted his head and stared intently at her. Amusement tinged his eyes.

  "I'm fine," she said, coughing again. "Just fine."

  It took a moment for her to recover and he had the good grace to let her catch her breath before he said, "I'm Marcus." His eyes lingered on her mouth for a moment before lifting to meet her gaze.

  "Cass." She held her hand out to him, wanting desperately to feel his skin against hers.

  A dark eyebrow lifted as he regarded her offering. He didn't place his hand in hers, much to her regret. Rather, he simply said, "You shouldn't have come here alone."

  Cass withdrew her hand, polished off her martini. "I can take care of myself," she said.

  He took the empty glass from her and set it beside him. He gave her a compelling look. "You need to be more careful, more cautious."

  "Of what? Vampires?" She grinned at her own humor.

  His gaze was steady and intense, holding hers captive. "This isn't the place for a woman like…you."

  Cass hiccupped, then pressed two fingers to her glossy lips. "'Scuse me." Her brows knitted together. "What do you mean a woman like me? Am I not dressed appropriately?" She giggled at that thought, something she never did. Cass was not the giggling type. She glanced down at her skimpy outfit. Hell, she was as scantily clad as the rest of them. Okay, maybe not…but she was pretty damned scantily clad.

  "Let me drive you home," he offered.

  Cass frowned. He wasn't even hitting on her. He was treating her as though she were a teenager out past curfew, hanging out with the wrong crowd. He looked way too intense. His muscles were rigid, his jaw was set. He was serious about getting her out of the club, but Cass sensed it wasn't for the purpose of getting her alone.

  He wasn't looking to ravage her. Which was a damn shame.

  She contemplated her predicament. The tingling in her shoulder had spread outward. Her arm felt strangely numb, so too did her right shoulder blade. Maybe she was drunk. That would be a nice change of pace. Cass hadn't gotten good and loaded in too long to remember. Her mother had assured her it wasn't becoming and, oddly, Cass had taken those words to heart after she'd received her first master's degree five years ago. At twenty-nine, Cass had a double master's and was a well-respected CPA—who never overindulged.

  "At the very least," Marcus continued, "let me call you a cab."

  Okay, so he really wasn't looking to hook up with her.

  "I don't think so," Cass said, more disappointed than she should have been. She got to her feet, swayed a bit, then steadied herself. "Thanks for the drink."

  I have a mission, she thought as she straightened the hem of her short skirt. I must not let the ultra-cute vampire
keep me from it…

  Chapter Two

  Cass needed to find the grim reaper. He was the one she'd come here for originally. He was the one she'd had such stimulating conversation with over the past month. He was the one she ought to be hooking up with.

  The vampire wasn't offering up hot sex. He thought she didn't belong here with the hedonists.

  Well. She'd just have to find her fun elsewhere. Damn it.

  She wandered into an antechamber, passing a sign that read "VIP Entertainment." The room was dark, save for the hypnotically flashing neon lights. Plumes of smoke billowed out of a machine at the opposite side of the room, creating an eerie effect. It took a few moments for her eyes to adjust to the dim lighting; her vision had become blurred. She found a plush chair and sank into it, her legs no longer wanting to support her. They felt tingly, like the rest of her body.

  Cass tried to focus on the sights around her. Several couples gyrated on the dance floor. Two men dressed as grotesque demons slammed shots of liquor, chasing them with bites from sliced limes. She shifted her gaze. In the far corner, she saw two women dancing together. Gorgeous blondes, with curvy bodies and large breasts. They had long, manicured fingernails and wet, glossy lips. Both women were dressed in red lace bras and tight black miniskirts. Their long, voluptuous bodies were practically entwined.

  For a moment, Cass was mesmerized by their beauty and the way they moved together. As if they knew each other intimately. They touched each other openly, gazed into each other's eyes. Cass felt drawn into their world. A part of her wanted to cross the room, to join them in their uninhibited, decadent behavior.

  But then a tall, muscular man stepped behind one of the women and all Cass could do was watch the threesome in awe, a scintillating thrill working its way through her body and culminating in a sharp stab of desire at the heart of her.

  The man's hands clasped the woman's hips as his pelvis melded to her shapely ass. His mouth grazed her long neck, his tongue tracing a line upward from the nape to just below her earlobe. Her head fell back against his shoulder. The woman in front of her lifted a hand to her partner's breast. Slowly, she pulled back the lacy cup of the bra, exposing a full, perfectly rounded breast. Long fingers drew a full circle around one areola before a long fingernail grazed the nipple, bringing it to a hard point.