Collaring Cinderella Page 6

  “Oh…” I whispered, touching the front of the dress with my left hand while the right one held up the front. “It’s so stunning…”

  The dress was incredible, but what shocked me more was that I looked amazing in it.

  It wasn’t like it suddenly transformed me into a wily temptress, but suddenly my youth and innocence had a new appeal I’d never seen before. The dress accentuated my finally visible curves, and hugged me in all the right places. My boobs were pressed up so seductively it almost looked too much, but because the dress was such a modest length, it looked perfect. Combined with the hair and makeup, I looked like the best version of myself there was.

  Edna stepped up behind me and fastened a feather mask around my eyes. It was dark blue, stitched with beautiful silver thread that sparkled in the light. I was barely recognizable.

  I looked like a real princess.

  “Like a princess,” Edna whispered as if she’d read my thoughts. “Ella, you look so beautiful.”

  “Thank you,” I said with a thankful smile. “I love it. I really do.”

  She helped me do up the back, and gave me a pair of beautiful crystal heels to go with the dress.

  “I don’t know how to walk in those,” I said when she held them up for me.

  “Oh, that’s easy,” she grinned. “Take small steps, arch those legs and sway your hips!”

  She paraded around the room and I followed suit, which ended with both of us in stitches. I laughed for so long my eyes teared up, but when I stopped, I couldn’t stop them.

  “Oh no, sweetheart!” Edna said, waving her hands in my eyes to stop me from crying. “Don’t cry! You’ll mess up your makeup!”

  “I’m sorry,” I said. “But I’ll miss you so much when I leave, Edna. So much. You’re the only friend I have.”

  She gave me a sympathetic look, but it didn’t look like she understood completely. There were still a sparkle in her eyes, and she looked mischievous. Maybe she wasn’t convinced I was actually going to leave… But I’d bought the bus ticket already, and they weren’t refundable, either.

  “Don’t you worry your pretty head,” she winked at me. “You’re going to be just fine.”

  She took my hand and led me outside, and I was surprised to find her little tricks for walking in heels worked perfectly. We got to the lawn, and Edna pointed to her car parked in the front.

  “What?” I asked her, then giggled. “Is that my ride?”

  “You know how to drive, no?” she asked. “Figured it was about time you tried again.”

  I hadn’t driven since my dad passed away. Martha never let me use our car, but Edna’s adorable VW Beetle was calling my name.

  “Are you sure?” I asked her, and she beamed at me.

  “More than sure,” she nodded. “Now, off you go!”

  I headed towards the car, holding up my dress as I went. Edna called out to me, “Don’t forget to be home at midnight!”

  I giggled and waved her off, getting inside the car. It was a stick shift, but Dad had taught me how to drive one.

  “Wait!”

  Edna ran up to me, and kissed my cheek, grabbing a little pot out of her bag and blowing silver glitter all over my hair. I coughed and laughed as it went all over me.

  “A little fairy dust,” she grinned at me, winking. “For good luck, princess.”

  T HE NIGHT WAS SET TO be one the guests would never forget.

  I’d been told about the parties my father used to host at the mansion—they described them as Great Gatsby parties, so lavish that getting an invitation was like celebrating Christmas in itself. But now, it seemed like it was my turn. I’d left the planning in the hands of the event organizers, and they had truly done a wonderful job. The house sparkled like never before, the gardens lit up in shades of white, silver, and blue. It was beautiful, there was no denying it, the ballroom decked in the same colors, with even the food and drinks being thematic.

  It was undoubtedly Christmas, and with the scent of snow heavier in the air than ever, you could practically taste the wintertime.

  But my mind was on anything but—all I could really think about was a certain Miss Monroe.

  And I couldn’t wait for my girl to show up. She’d been permanently on my mind ever since her sweet little snatch had left my mouth. My body yearned for more of her, to taste her again in ways I’d never let another man enjoy.

  I stood at the top of the staircase, looking down at the party. Over my face, I wore a Venetian mask I’d picked up on holiday years ago, and a dark suit a designer had cut out especially for me. I felt like the world belonged to me, but it was all for nothing unless I had my princess by my side. My body and my mind pined for her, the wife I’d already chosen. All there was left to do was find Ella and tell her she was fucking mine.

  I walked down the stairs into the mass of people below who greeted me by clapping and whooping over the sound of the music. I smiled, made polite greetings, and my eyes were constantly searching for her, the only person I cared about showing up. But she was nowhere to be seen, and even if my eyes had deceived me, I knew because I couldn’t smell her sweetness in the air.

  I’d gotten addicted to it, her sugary sweet scent filling my nostrils and my mouth every time she was close. God, I needed so much more of it. If it was up to me, I’d fill my days and my fucking life with the smell of her. I wanted her night and day, morning and evening, I wanted her all to myself, and I wasn’t about to give up now.

  Finally, my eyes settled on a familiar figure, and my mouth set in a thin line as I approached her.

  “Martha!” I called out over the music, and she turned around.

  She wore a gaudy tiara in her hair, and the thick layers of foundation she’d applied to make her look younger only settled in her creases, giving her an unappealing look. But it wasn’t that, it was the way she carried herself. Almost self-righteous, like there was nobody else in the world who could compare to her. That coupled with the way I’d seen her treat Ella turned me off the woman completely. I wasn’t even sure I still wanted her working for me, but I’d decided to take it up with Ella once she was officially mine.

  “Hello,” she purred, approaching me and leaning in.

  I took a step back, giving her a long look.

  “So, you decided to come,” I said firmly, and she batted her fake lashes at me.

  “Of course,” she said, waving a hand in the air. “How could I not after your invitation?”

  “My…” I stared at her. God, the woman was just not getting the message. “I invited Ella.”

  “Ella?” she laughed out loud. “Why on earth would you invite her?”

  “A couple of damn good reasons come to mind,” I growled.

  Her sweet pillowy lips.

  The sugar taste of her pussy.

  Her little mewls, the mere thought of which made me hard as a damn rock.

  “So, where is she?” I asked, and Martha shrugged as if she didn’t have a care in the world.

  “At home, probably cleaning up,” she said. “But aren’t you happy I’m here?”

  She batted her lashes at me again and I fought the urge to roll my eyes. What the hell was the woman thinking? I hadn’t invited her, hadn’t even thought about it. It was awkward enough as it was without her hitting on me, but now I was going to have to put my foot down.

  “Martha, you are welcome to stay,” I said coolly. “But that invitation was for your stepdaughter, and we both know it.”

  Her expression changed in a split second, from seductive and flirty to thunderous.

  “Well, I’m here now,” she told me, sounding offended. “Why don’t you just make the best of it?”

  She made her way towards me, raising her arms and trying to wrap them around my neck. I took firm hold of them and pried them away, giving her an annoyed look.

  “Martha,” I said firmly. “Never. In a million years. Is this going to happen.”

  “Well,” she said bitterly. “Ella doesn’t even c
are about you!”

  “What on earth are you on about?” I asked her, feeling more annoyed than ever.

  “She told me,” Martha said self-righteously. “Said she had a boy in town, and she wasn’t interested.”

  Ella’s relationship with her stepmother didn’t strike me as particularly close, so I just rolled my eyes.

  “Desperation is not a good look on you,” I said to her.

  I turned around and walked away from her, leaving her standing there like a lost lamb. But I didn’t give a crap, I’d had enough of her nonsense, and I had more important things on my mind—like making sure Ella made it to the ball. She was the only reason I’d agreed to have the damn thing in the first place, and I was desperate for her to show up. I had to tell her how I felt, I couldn’t keep my mouth shut any longer.

  I stalked around the room, looking for her. I was still set on finding her when a new wave of guests filled the room, the front door opening and showing me just a flash of tan fabric covered in beautiful crystals.

  I could smell her.

  The second she came into the ballroom, as big as it was, her fucking scent filled my nostrils, making me desperate to have another taste. I sought her out, pushing my way through the crowd, desperate to find my girl. Every once in a while, I’d catch a glimpse. Blonde hair in rich waves, a hint of beautiful pale skin. The dress… the clack of heels on the marble floor. I followed her like she was my lifeline, cutting my way through the room to get to her.

  I followed the flash of crystals outside, onto the balcony above the hedge maze outside. The moon hung in the sky, swollen with the late time of night and shining brightly on the beautifully lit gardens below it. It was like a scene from a fairytale, and the gardens sparkled in the moonlight like they never had before.

  And that was when I finally saw her.

  A princess, leaning on the balcony, looking at the magical scene below her with wonder. She wore a mask that hid her face, but I would recognize her in a sea of people—not just by her scent, but the effect her presence had on me, making me crave her more badly than ever. I approached her slowly, my intent so clearly visible the other couple on the balcony fled back inside. They knew I wanted her alone, and they knew better than to stick around.

  “Ella,” I spoke out, my voice rough and needy as she turned around to face me.

  It was undoubtedly her. I saw it in the tremble of her fingers as she gripped the balcony railing, in the way she licked her lips nervously as I approached her.

  “No point in hiding now, princess,” I told her roughly. “I’m here to collect you.”

  I reached for her hand and she let me have it. I left a fleeting kiss on the top of it, and she pulled back with restraint I sure as fuck wasn’t exhibiting myself.

  “I’m so glad you came,” I told her. “I’ve been looking for you for hours…”

  “I wasn’t sure I’d be able to make it,” she whispered, smoothing down a crease in her dress.

  My eyes were drawn to the sensuous curve of her waist, and I fought every instinct in my body so I wouldn’t grab her and pull her against me where she belonged.

  “Come to me,” I said, and slowly, she took a step closer.

  I took her hand in mine once again and made her twirl in front of me, admiring her incredible dress. She looked like a million bucks, and I’d never wanted her more.

  “How did you know it was me?” she whispered, and I grinned at her.

  Should I tell her the truth? I thought to myself. The fact that I could smell her from a mile away like a fucking predator, that her scent was so powerful I could almost taste it on my tongue.

  “I couldn’t get you out of my head,” I admitted. “And the second you walked in, I knew. Now, will you let me show you around?”

  She nodded shyly, and I led her back inside. Part of me wanted to tell her everything. That this was my home, but one she would soon share, and she was welcome to do anything and everything she wanted to with it. Fuck, I wanted to give her everything on a damn silver platter just to make sure she’d be mine. But I could tell she felt it too, the crazy attraction between us, sparks flying so intensely they almost burned my skin. I was addicted, but so was little Ella. It was in every step she took, in every look she thought I’d missed.

  I grinned to myself, pleased with the way things were going. By the end of the night, I was going to make my little princess mine completely.

  I pulled her against me to whisper in her ear, “I know you came because of me,” I said, and I felt the goosebumps on the back of her arm. “Well, worry not, princess, you’ll be mine by the end of the night.”

  The sweet little hitch of her breath was barely audible, but it was enough to make my dick twitch. I wanted to take her so badly.

  I took her hand in mine and led her to the dancefloor, and the crowd parted for us, gasps ringing out in the room as Ella looked up at me through her mask.

  “A dance, my princess?” I grinned at her, and she smiled back as I pulled her in.

  I thought I was a good dancer, but Ella, she was incredible. Gracious, shy, but with so much power in the way she moved, it made her seem like a woman, not an innocent little girl.

  I pulled her against me as we danced with the crowd watching, and when she was only a whisper away, I touched my lips to her ear.

  “Tonight, my sweet little princess,” I told her darkly. “You’re going to leave with a baby in your belly.”

  I COULDN’T STOP STARING INTO Rafe’s eyes as he spun me around the dancefloor.

  He was darkly enchanting, charming me with his wicked smile and the promises he kept whispering in my ear. I was wet, I could feel it between my legs. I was thankful Rafe didn’t know, but the way he licked his lips and looked at me, I really wasn’t sure he was as clueless as I thought.

  His words in my ear were dirty…

  I’m going to eat you…

  I’m going to taste every inch of you…

  I’m going to fuck your sweet pussy so hard…

  …and they kept making me blush as he twirled me around the dancefloor. Dancing with him was incredible, almost like having sex—or at least the way I imagined it. And with everyone’s eyes on us, I felt special and beautiful. I really felt like a princess, and just for a few minutes, I let myself forget all about Martha and my mess of a life. I played the role of Rafe’s princess and let him sweep me off my feet.

  We were still dancing when he suddenly pulled me away from the dancefloor, the guests clapping as we left the ballroom. We ran down the length of a long marble hallway, and I giggled as he pulled me behind a column, pressing his body close to mine.

  “I couldn’t take it anymore,” he told me roughly. “I needed to get my hands on you, sweet little princess.”

  “I…” I whispered. “Rafe, I’ve never done this before.”

  “I know,” he growled. “It’s because you’ve been fucking waiting for me, haven’t you, Ella?”

  I didn’t want to tell him he was right, didn’t want to admit I really had been waiting for something like this to happen—for someone magical to take over and make my life beautiful like it was supposed to be. And with Rafe around, my future sparkled with possibility and hope. Here, there was no room for despair, no time for feeling sorry for myself.

  “I want to kiss you,” he muttered against my neck, his breath hot against my skin.

  “Oh, Rafe,” I mewled. “Kiss me… Please, just kiss me.”

  His mouth found mine and we connected feverishly, needily. He kissed me like he needed me more than the air we breathed, and he gave me his everything just like I did with him. I let him have every last piece of me, even the broken bits I’d been hiding from the world, the ones my father’s death and Martha’s cruelty had left behind. And Rafael took it all, kissing me like he wanted everything that made me… me.

  “You beautiful girl,” he whispered against my lips. “I have to have you, Ella. Will you come with me?”

  He held my hand and I found myself
nodding, even though I knew what was going to happen. I wanted it. Wanted him. Had to let him have anything he wanted.

  He took me outside into the night, and I ran with him, laughing wild and free. We disappeared into the gardens, away from the prying eyes of the guests, through the maze at the back of the house. It was all thick shrubs, so tall there was no chance I could see over the top of them. We played hide and seek in the bushes, and once Rafe found me, he lifted me up in his arms and slowly lowered me into his embrace, leaving fleeting kisses everywhere he touched.

  My feet dangled in the air as he reached for my mask, holding me up with only one arm. He undid the ties behind my head and the mask fell away, leaving me gasping. His own mask followed suit, and now it was just us, not masked at all. Just our faces, our lips touching, our breath fogging the cold air, the rawest we could have been with one another, and it was beautiful.

  I felt something cold on my face, and we tore our gazes from one another and looked up into the midnight blue sky.

  It was snowing.

  The first snow of the month falling gently, thick white snowflakes settling on our skin.

  Rafe laughed out loud and I stuck my tongue out, catching some snow on it and tasting it.

  He didn’t let my feet touch the ground, holding me in his arms instead and slowly undoing the corset at the back of my dress. I gasped as he lowered the dress down my back, exposing inch after inch of my pale skin to the cool night air and the snow that was coming down fast now.

  “I want you naked,” he said darkly, and I whimpered at the thought.

  I couldn’t do much more though, because he’d already let me down and was tugging on my dress, getting me out of the beautiful fabric until I stood in front of him in nothing but a tiny cotton thong, my arms shivering in front of my body in a silly attempt to hide my breasts.

  “Put your hands down, Ella,” he growled, and I begged with my eyes for him to be gentle with me, but even as I did so, my arms came down slowly.

  I wanted him to see me, the way I was for him, and I wanted him to want me even more than he had back in the ballroom.