Chapter 28: Chapter 28

SCARLET

The next evening, I walk out of the bedroom, followed by Gretchen, after another session of being primped and pampered. I feel incredibly confident as I head down the hall in a beautiful emerald green gown, preparing for the gala.

It’s backless with a plunging neckline. The fabric is a smooth silk that hugs my curves before flaring out at my hips with a small train in the back. I feel stunning and sexy with such a gorgeous piece on and with my hair done up, exposing my neck.

When I spot Ethan waiting for me in the foyer, his eyes widen as he looks at me. His heated gaze slowly moves up my body, causing me to shiver. My core feels like molten lava, and I take a deep steadying breath. We don’t have time to waste.

I clear my throat, trying to regain my composure before addressing Ethan. “Good evening.”

“Good evening, my love,” he replies as he closes the distance between us, his arm slipping around my waist before he places a light kiss on my temple. “You look ravishing,” he murmurs in my ear before continuing. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep my hands off you.” He plants another kiss on my bare shoulder as his fingers slide the thin strap away, making room for his kisses to continue along my skin.

A soft moan escapes my lips as I close my eyes. “Well, you better try, Alpha, unless you’re okay with me going into heat in the middle of the exhibit,” I warn quietly as I lean toward his ear.

His gaze rakes over me again before he answers, “I guess I would just have to whisk you away then, wouldn’t I? I can’t say I’d mind. Spending the night making love to you sounds like much more fun anyway.”

My cheeks blush red. I can’t help but to smile at him as I elbow him playfully. “Why, Alpha, you’re so dirty.”

“Only for you, my love.” He presses his lips to mine in a sweet lingering kiss that I melt into. His delicious scent envelops me, and I forget that we have a small audience until Gretchen clears her throat.

“Clearly, I rock at my job,” she jokes.

“You do, but my mate would be stunning no matter what,” Ethan answers, barely even taking his eyes off me. “Thank you for everything, Gretchen. Will we see you tonight?”

“Yeah, I’ll be there around eight.”

“Okay. You’re dismissed,” he remarks as he nods his gratitude at her. Then he turns his attention back to me. “Are you ready to go, angel?”

I nod before he leads me to the elevator with his hand on the small of my back, a pair of guards trailing behind us. We head down to the lobby before being ushered out to a large black limousine.

Ethan and I are alone in the back as the two guards sit up front with the partition closed. Ethan leans over and begins kissing along my jaw and neck. When he reaches the spot where I should be marked, he sucks and nips at it lightly, and I groan with pleasure.

***

When Ethan said he couldn’t keep his hands off me, I didn’t realize how literal his words were. I swear, the man is a god with the way he uses his fingers and mouth. My whole body is limp as he finally pulls away from me, a devilish grin on his face as he moves back to the leather seat.

He passes me a tissue to clean myself up, and once I’m done, I hold out my hand for my panties. “Oh no… I think I’ll keep these for now,” he remarks with a smirk as he sees the surprise on my face.

He watches my reaction as he stuffs the small piece of lace into the inside pocket of his jacket. My jaw instantly drops, and my eyes are wide.

“You can’t be serious!” I exclaim.

His smile just grows wider, and he shakes his head at me.

“Oh, I am. When I manage to get you alone again, I don’t want any extra barriers.”

I clench my thighs together as I squirm in my seat, relieved when I feel the limo pull off to the side and shift to park. “You’re a dirty perv,” I retort with a glare, though I’m unable to hide the smile that is tugging at the corners of my lips.

“Yes. And you know you like it,” he responds back with a wink before one of the guards knocks on the window.

Ethan lets him know we’re ready, and the door is opened for us. Ethan climbs out first before holding his hand out for me to take and helping me exit as well.

We are in front of another gorgeous, modern skyscraper that the Kane brothers own. We take the elevator up, and it opens onto a large open ballroom. Round tables are on one side, all of them covered in fine cloths with gorgeous centerpieces on each of them.

People are milling about everywhere throughout the decadent room as they cluster in groups, some chatting, some enjoying the art, some snacking on hors d’oeuvres. The entire space has dimmed lights while candles flicker on the tables.

Recessed lighting lines the walls, spotlighting the multitude of canvases that adorn the space. In the center is a raised stage with a podium and microphone. Behind it, slightly off to the side, is a wall with a large cloth draped over it. I assume it’s hiding the portrait of myself.

My stomach rolls inside of me as my anxiety once again builds. I’m worried about how it turned out and what will happen. I’m not sure why. Just the idea of it being unveiled seems to set my nerves on edge.

I link my arm through the crook of Ethan’s elbow as he guides me into the room and toward his siblings. They are all standing in front of a wall divider that has a painting on either side of it.

The one they are observing is of a woman in the throes of passion as her lover presses her backside against a window overlooking the city. “This picture makes me hot,” Isa states plainly, her brothers instantly groaning at her.

“Goddess, Isa! We don’t want to know what makes you hot!” Tyler exclaims, and I let out a small chuckle.

“Oh, come on! I know I’m not the only one!” she insists back.

“I’m pretty sure that’s what Lucien was going for,” I remark as Ethan and I approach.

“Lucien, huh? You on a first-name basis with him now?” Xander asks with a cocked eyebrow. A low growl rumbles out of Ethan.

I shrug nonchalantly. “That’s what he told me to call him,” I answer innocently.

“You look stunning, Scarlet,” Isa pipes up, successfully changing the subject.

“Thank you. So do you,” I return.

“So, do you guys want to look at the rest of the work?” Alex questions.

“I’d love to.”

“Lead the way,” Ethan states with a gesture of his hand to say ladies first. We wander along the edge of the room, taking in one painting at a time. The chatter continues as everyone takes turns remarking on the pieces.

“Wow. I love this one. Look at the brush strokes,” Isa says about one.

“This one is more my style,” Alex remarks in front of another.

“Alpha Lucien clearly likes women…,” Xander adds after looking at what must have been the tenth painting we passed.

And he is right. Every single piece portrays a woman as its main focus, though they are of varying ages, races, and stages of undress.

Some of the paintings are clearly meant to be provocative, while others bring out the other sides of a woman: maternal, driven, sad, happy. Each one is exquisitely done and provokes all kinds of feelings and emotions. Lucien is clearly very talented.

As we finish looking at the displayed pieces, a familiar voice rings out from behind us.

“Alpha Ethan! Miss Scarlet!” Lucien greets as he comes up to us. “I do hope you’ve enjoyed the exhibit!”

“Oh yes. It’s been wonderful,” I reply with a smile as a waiter comes by with a tray of champagne and offers us all a flute of the bubbly liquid. Lucien quickly snatches up a couple and hands one to me with a beaming smile.

Ethan matches his with a tight grin of his own, clearly not liking Lucien’s presence. He picks up a drink as well and takes a gulp before turning back as Lucien continues, “I can’t wait to unveil my featured piece. I do hope you all like it. I have had such a creative surge since meeting my lovely muse,” he coos as he places a hand on my lower back.

Ethan glares daggers at Lucien as his chest rumbles, clearly trying to hold back his wolf.

I smile politely at him and shift my body, causing his hand to drop back to his side. “Yes, well, we should probably go take our seats. Dinner will be served soon, and then the auction will begin,” Ethan remarks gruffly.

“Ah yes!” Lucien replies with an excited clap. “I better finish my rounds! Alphas, Ladies, sir,” he adds as he bows his head to the rest of us to bid ado.

“I hate that guy,” Ethan growls once Lucien is out of earshot and distracted by someone else.

“Oh, come on. He’s not nearly as bad as his daughter,” I remark as I squeeze his shoulder, trying to calm him down. I lean over and kiss him on the cheek before we take our seats at the table front and center before the stage.

Dinner is delicious. As people finish, they begin to mill about while numbered paddles are handed out to those wanting to participate. Ethan and I stand in the center of the open floor in front of the stage after being introduced to a couple of other alphas.

They start on one end of the wall as the canvases are brought up one by one and bid on. I’m shocked by how much some of them are going for. The room is full of wealthy alphas from all over the world, but I had no idea to what extent. Paintings were going for tens of thousands of dollars.

Finally, it’s down to the last piece as Lucien returns to the mic.

“I would like to thank all of you for coming out to join us tonight. This event would not have been the success it was if it wasn’t for all of you. I do have one more piece that I’m very excited about. As soon as I arrived here in Crescent City, I found my muse. She is a rare beauty, and I just had to paint her, immortalize her. And I must give my sincerest gratitude to my subject, the stunning Scarlet Denton,” he toasts as he holds out his champagne flute to me.

I blush at all the attention as all eyes land on me. Whispers and chatter break out for a moment before Lucien continues, “And now for the pièce de résistance.”

My heartbeat accelerates, and my breath hitches as Lucien reaches up and yanks the cover off the painting with gusto. Gasps fill the room, and Ethan snarls as I stand frozen.

For a moment, the rest of the room seems to disappear as I stand in shock. My breath is stuck in my throat as I stare up at the stage. My wide eyes are locked on a massive canvas displaying a painting of me, completely nude.