by Aaron, Celia
“Think it’ll be you?” she whispered and took a sip of her wine.
I maintained my nonchalant air as I carefully buttered my bread. “I heard he’d already chosen.”
She shook her head, her large diamond earring wobbling. “That’s just a rumor. I think—I think this is it.”
“We’ll see.”
Talk continued around us as the first course was cleared away, and the servers brought out the entrées. Bob spilled his wine halfway through the main course and proceeded to blame the staff for his ruined shirt and suit. His round belly took the brunt of the damage, a wine stain spreading across the taut fabric like blood. Despite his setback, he made quick work of his fillet, likely never even tasting the savory notes of rosemary and garlic infused into the meat.
Once we reached the end of the entrées, Cal stood. The table chatter ceased immediately.
“Bring the dessert.”
A wave of servers entered, carrying petite chocolate cakes atop thin bars of gold. My stomach lurched. I recognized the golden ‘plates’. They were invitations to the Acquisition Ball. I’d seen a similar one ten years prior, but I didn’t attend the ball or any of the trials. This year, with Cal in charge, would be different. He apparently wanted to kick off the trials with a bang.
A server set one of the cakes in front of me, the chocolate concoction in the form of a small mound with a dimple in the center.
Cal clapped his hands, the sound like a shot. “As you all know, the Acquisition Ball will be held here next Friday. The rest of the invitations are, even as we sit here, going out across the South—and the country, for that matter—to attendees. It’s going to be an amazing year.” He grinned and stroked his hand down his tie. “You will all remember this Acquisition as the most momentous one of your lifetimes. I guarantee it.”
A smattering of polite applause rippled around the room.
“Stop, stop. You flatter me.” His grin grew even wider, his too-white teeth splitting his face into halves. “But there’s one more thing I need to do before we get started. I have to pick the competitors.”
The room was so silent that it seemed most of its occupants were holding their breaths.
“Before you, sits a decadent dessert.” Cal waved down the table.
I eyed the innocuous cake. Was something rotten inside?
“It’s tasty. I may have sampled one before dinner.” He rubbed his stomach for emphasis. “As you all know, I love surprises. So, my three chosen Acquirers will have a little something different inside their cakes. You’ll know it when you see it, ladies and gents.”
He raised his glass. “Pick up your spoons and dig in.”
The guests hesitated, some of them clenching their eyes shut to avoid finding out. I took my spoon and perched it over the smooth cake, trying to discern if it would blow up in my face or simply ooze into a chocolaty mess.
“Thank God.” Cordelia had cut into her cake. Dark chocolate cascaded from it, and she split it all the way open just to be sure. It was just a dessert, nothing more. She dropped her spoon as if it had burned her. Quiet sighs of relief rose from the table.
“Oh.” Bob spit into his napkin. “This tastes horrible.”
His golden plate was covered with crimson and the distinct scent of copper rose from the cake’s warm interior.
“It’s blood.”
He shrugged and wiped the red from his lips. Disgusting.
A whoop sounded from the end of the table near Cal. It was Red Witherington. “Fuck yeah!” He laughed.
Cal grinned at him and then glanced around the table. When his eyes landed on me and stayed, the hairs at the back of my neck stood on end.
“One more.” He didn’t look away. Others caught on and began to stare, waiting for the reveal.
There was no way out, no way to stop the inevitable. I eased the spoon into the cake. It slid easily. No filling escaped as the edge of the spoon tapped against the gold beneath. I twisted the spoon slightly. A stream of blood flowed around the silver and pooled on the gold.
It sank into the grooves of the invitation and put the letters in sharp relief. There was no mistaking the words that had been cut into the golden surface, now darkened with crimson. Sinclair Vinemont, Acquirer.
Chapter 8
I stared at the ceiling. I’d been doing it for the past few nights—ever since Cal’s dinner. The rules played over and over in my mind as I traced the corners of the room with my gaze. Three Acquirers, one victor. Winning would cement the Vinemonts at the top of society. Wealth, privilege, and the freedom to live our lives in any way we chose.
Losing. I closed my eyes. I wouldn’t think about losing. Tossing the sheet off, I stood and strode to the shower. Mr. Rousseau’s sentencing was set to start in two hours.
I left the bathroom light off, soaking up the darkness as the warm liquid cascaded down my body. In the inky black of the bathroom, I couldn’t tell if it was water or something worse.
Red hair, green eyes, fair skin—Stella floated along the river of blood that ran through my mind. I’d wanted her for myself. I’d wanted to claim her on my own terms, to master her and break her my way. The fire that burned inside her lured me closer because I wanted so badly to feel the burn. But the game was no longer my own. I’d wanted her before. Now, I needed her.
Would the fire that burned inside her be enough to see her through the trials?
I soaped up and rinsed off, ready to put my plans into motion. After I shaved and dressed, I headed into town. Specifically, to Judge Montagnet’s chambers. He waited inside, his law clerk nude and on all fours on the floor. A thin trickle of blood ran down the young man’s thigh, and I ignored his tears as I sank down onto the judge’s sofa. He puffed on a cigar and blew the smoke into the sniffling clerk’s face.
“Got my morning started off right.” Montagnet smiled. “Get dressed and get out.” He kicked the clerk, who hurriedly dressed and escaped into the adjoining office.
“I heard about Cal’s selections.” He took a hard drag on the cigar, the tip flaming orange.
I nodded and smoothed my hands along my thighs. “Yes.”
“You picked who you’re going to acquire?”
“Yes.” I pulled a sheaf of paper from my pocket and handed it to him.
He glanced it over and smiled. “Smart boy.” He rose and shuffled to his desk. Drawing out a fountain pen, he signed the document with a flourish, then folded it up. He used his lighter to heat a small nub of wax, pressed it to the paper, and then affixed his seal to it. “All done here.” He handed it back.
I blew on the seal. He watched me and licked his lips.
Once satisfied it was cooled, I placed it in my pocket next to its counterparts.
He sank back down and rubbed his knees. “Damn, these floors grow harder the older I get.”
I nodded in empty agreement despite my revulsion.
He zipped his robe all the way up, his appearance of fairness complete. “I guess we’d better hop to it. Time for the sentencing to start.” After lurching to his feet, he lumbered to the door leading to the courtroom. He peeked over his shoulder, his eyebrows high. “So, Counsellor, you think you’ll get her?”
I stood and followed him through the door, my mask firmly in place. “I know I will.”
Click Here to Read Counsellor Now
Also by Celia Aaron
Dark Romance
Acquisition: The Complete Series
Darkness lurks in the heart of the Louisiana elite, and only one will be able to rule them as Sovereign. Sinclair Vinemont will compete for the title, and has acquired Stella Rousseau for that very purpose. Breaking her is part of the game. Loving her is the most dangerous play of all.
*includes Sinclair, Counsellor, Magnate, and Sovereign
Blackwood
I dig. It’s what I do. I’ll literally use a shovel to answer a question. Some answers, though, have been buried too deep for too long. But I’ll find those, too. And I know where to dig—the Blac
kwood Estate on the edge of the Mississippi Delta. Garrett Blackwood is the only thing standing between me and the truth. A broken man—one with desires that dance in the darkest part of my soul—he’s either my savior or my enemy. I’ll dig until I find all his secrets. Then I’ll run so he never finds mine. The only problem? He likes it when I run.
Dark Protector
From the moment I saw her through the window of her flower shop, something other than darkness took root inside me. Charlie shone like a beacon in a world that had long since lost any light. But she was never meant for me, a man that killed without remorse and collected bounties drenched in blood.
I thought staying away would keep her safe, would shield her from me. I was wrong. Danger followed in my wake like death at a slaughter house. I protected her from the threats that circled like black buzzards, kept her safe with kill after kill.
But everything comes with a price, especially second chances for a man like me.
Killing for her was easy. It was living for her that turned out to be the hard part.
Nate
I rescued Sabrina from a mafia bloodbath when she was 13. As the new head of the Philly syndicate, I sent her to the best schools to keep her as far away from the life--and me--as possible. It worked perfectly. Until she turned 18. Until she came home. Until I realized that the timid girl was gone and in her place lived a smart mouth and a body that demanded my attention. I promised myself I'd resist her, for her own good.
I lied.
The Bad Guy
My name is Sebastian Lindstrom, and I’m the villain of this story.
I’ve decided to lay myself bare. To tell the truth for once in my hollow life, no matter how dark it gets. And I can assure you, it will get so dark that you’ll find yourself feeling around the blackened corners of my mind, seeking a door handle that isn’t there.
Don’t mistake this for a confession. I neither seek forgiveness nor would I accept it. My sins are my own. They keep me company. Instead, this is the true tale of how I found her, how I stole her, and how I lost her.
She was a damsel, one who already had her white knight. But every fairy tale has a villain, someone waiting in the wings to rip it all down. A scoundrel who will set the world on fire if that means he gets what he wants. That’s me.
I’m the bad guy.
* * *
Contemporary Romance
You’ve Got Fail
She's driving me crazy. Or am I the one driving myself crazy? I can't tell anymore. Ever since Scarlet Rocket showed up in the flesh, she's turned my structured world upside down. My neatly ordered life, my hand-painted Aliens versus Vampires figurines, my expertly curated comics collection--none of these things provide any shelter from her sexy, sassy onslaught. It's a disaster of my own making. She didn't exist until I created her. Now, I can't get her out of my mind, and all I want to do is get her into my bed. Never mind that she's a thief, a liar, a con-woman. Every step she takes leaves chaos in her wake. And damn if I don't want more of it.
Kicked
Trent Carrington.
Trent Mr. Perfect-Has-Everyone-Fooled Carrington.
He’s the star quarterback, university scholar, and happens to be the sexiest man I’ve ever seen. He shines at any angle, and especially under the Saturday night stadium lights where I watch him from the sidelines. But I know the real him, the one who broke my heart and pretended I didn’t exist for the past two years.
I’m the third-string kicker, the only woman on the team and nothing better than a mascot. Until I’m not. Until I get my chance to earn a full scholarship and join the team as first-string. The only way I'll make the cut is to accept help from the one man I swore never to trust again. The problem is, with each stolen glance and lingering touch, I begin to realize that trusting Trent isn’t the problem. It’s that I can’t trust myself when I’m around him.
Tempting Eden
A modern re-telling of Jane Eyre that will leave you breathless...
Jack England
Eden Rochester is a force. A whirlwind of intensity and thinly-veiled passion. Over the past few years, I’ve worked hard to avoid my passions, to lock them up so they can’t harm me—or anyone else—again. But Eden Rochester ignites every emotion I have. Every glance from her sharp eyes and each teasing word from her indulgent lips adds more fuel to the fire. Resisting her? Impossible. From the moment I held her in my arms, I had to have her. But tempting her into opening up could cost me my job and much, much more.
Eden Rochester
When Jack England crosses my path and knocks me off my high horse, something begins to shift. Imperceptible at first, the change grows each time he looks into my eyes or brushes against my skin. He’s my assistant, but everything about him calls to me, tempts me. And once I give in, he shows me who he really is—dominant, passionate, and with a dark past. After long days of work and several hot nights, I realize the two of us are bound together. But my secrets won’t stay buried, and they cut like a knife.
Bad Bitch
Bad Bitch Series, Book 1
They call me the Bad Bitch. A lesser woman might get her panties in a twist over it, but me? I'm the one who does the twisting. Whether it's in the courtroom or in the bedroom, I've never let anyone - much less a man - get the upper hand.
Except for that jerk attorney Lincoln Granade. He's dark, mysterious, smoking hot and sexy as hell. He's nothing but a bad, bad boy playing the part of an up and coming premiere attorney. I'm not worried about losing in a head to head battle with this guy. But he gets me all hot and bothered in a way no man has ever done before. I don't like a person being under my skin this much. It makes me want to let go of all control, makes me want to give in. This dangerous man makes me want to submit to him completely, again, and again, and again...
Hardass
Bad Bitch Series, Book 2
I cave in to no one. My hardass exterior is what makes me one of the hottest defense lawyers around. It's why I'm the perfect guy to defend the notorious Bayou Butcher serial killer - and why I'll come out on top.
Except this new associate I've hired is unnaturally skilled at putting chinks in my well-constructed armor. Her brazen talk and fiery attitude make me want to take control of her and silence her - in ways that will keep both of us busy till dawn. She drives me absolutely 100% crazy, but I need her for this case. I need her in my bed. I need her to let loose the man within me who fights with rage and loves with scorching desire...
Total Dick
Bad Bitch Series, Book 3
I’m your classic skirt chaser. A womanizer. A total d*ck. My reputation is dirtier than a New Orleans street after a Mardi Gras parade. I take unwinnable cases and win them. Where people see defeat, I see a big fat paycheck. And when most men see rejection, it’s because the sexiest woman at the bar has already promised to go home with me.
But Scarlett Carmichael is the one person I can’t seem to conquer. This too-cool former debutante has it all—class, attitude, and a body that begs to be worshiped. I’ve never worked with a person like her before—hell, I’ve never played nice with anyone before in my life, and I’m not about to start with her. This woman wasn’t meant to be played nicely with. It’s going to be dirty. It’s going to be hot. She’s about to spend a lot of time with the biggest d*ck in town. And she’s going to love every minute of it…
* * *
Fantasy Romance
Incubus
An incubus who feeds off the sexual desires of others, Roth de Lis has never been denied the pleasure of a woman's body...until now. Lilah, once a warrior maiden in the service of a goddess, languishes on earth after being cast out from the slopes of Mount Olympus.
Lilah will do anything to return home, including betraying Roth. As she spins her web of lies, Roth begins a slow, wicked seduction that eventually threatens to consume them both. But when Lilah's deceit comes to light, will their torrid love affair be able to overcome a pact with the darkest of gods?
The Reaper’s Mate
This job. Boring is too colorful a word for it. I’ve been escorting humans to the afterlife for millennia. I’m over it. But when you’re the son of the two greatest reapers of all time, reaping is in your blood. My latest appointment is with one Annabelle Lyric, a twenty-eight year old New Orleans party planner. Snoozefest. But there is one bonus to this assignment: it’s Halloween night. In New Orleans. And she’s attending a posh party whilst unaware of her impending demise. I’ve been tasked with taking Annabelle’s soul right after the masked ball. The good news? I’ll fit right in with all the costumed partygoers. The bad news? That hits me when I realize Annabelle is much more than my next victim, she’s my fated mate.
* * *
Short Sexy Reads
The Hard & Dirty Holidays
A steamy series of holiday-inspired novellas that are sure to warm your heart and your bed.
A Stepbrother for Christmas
Bad Boy Valentine
Bad Boy Valentine Wedding
F*ck of the Irish
Christmas Candy
A Cowboy for Christmas
The Forced Series
These are just as filthy as they sound. Scorching stories of dubious consent, all with a satisfying twist.
Forced by the Kingpin
Forced by the Professor
Forced by the Hitmen
Forced by the Stepbrother
Forced by the Quarterback
The Sexy Dreadfuls