Kiss of Crimson Samantha Coville (best short books to read .TXT) 📖

figure that could make a saint kneel and beg for penitence for all his dirty thoughts.

And as the orchestra started back up again, I slid myself adroitly between the pair, eliciting a huff of indignation from the ginger, while Madame Leona’s daughter merely gave me a raised eyebrow that was oddly reminiscent of her mother.

And if her partner wanted to contest his position, it was already too late because we were halfway across the dance floor.

“You are the loveliest woman here,” I said, slipping quite easily into the charming rascal that had come in useful many times during my service under Benedict Jardin. “Did you really think the rest of us men would have been content to watch that redhead monopolize you for the rest of the night?”

She gave me a pretty smile, but there was an edge to it, as if she could see the cracks in my facade.

It was oddly disconcerting.

After all, she was only human. A young human girl, at that. If there were any humans capable of seeing the truth behind the mask, they needed decades of wisdom running through their head.

But this girl?

“You are far too kind, sir,” she said in a soft, lilting voice that made my ears hunger for more. “There are plenty of other women who far outshine me.”

With some other women, I would’ve chalked up her words to false modesty, but with her, no, this beautiful thing genuinely believed she was a weed in a field of roses.

I introduced myself as Arden de Charpentier, that I was here as a business investor.

The corners of her scarlet lips kicked up becomingly.

Jesus, this girl was dangerous. With a single smile, she possessed the ability to wriggle through the cracks of my mask…

Suddenly, the task of charming Madame Leona’s daughter seemed far more difficult than I initially anticipated.

“I’m Eloise.” Stars veritably danced in her large eyes. “Eloise Hart. My mother is the host.”

“What an absolutely charming name.” And I absolutely meant it. How odd for me. “Eloise.”

The name tasted like something sweet, but tart at the same time, like lemon cake, and I savored the syllables on my tongue.

“It is an absolute pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Eloise Hart,” I said. “May tonight be only the first in our continued… relationship.”

“I don’t think I know you enough to have a relationship, continued or otherwise,” she replied with a laugh. “I’ve only known you for all of two minutes, Sir de Charpentier.”

I got the feeling that she only laughed to lessen the blow of her words, which were, to be honest, rather harsh.

Then again, I had started it by implying that there was anything happening between us.

Of course, there would be, but she didn’t know that.

“Perhaps we can fix that, Miss Hart.” My hand tightened on her back, drawing her ever so slightly closer. “You have absolutely captivated me. Don’t tell me I’m the only one who feels like this.”

I injected just enough desperation into my voice, let my brows contort enough for her to see just how much she affected me.

The terrifying thing was, I didn’t have to try too hard.

This Eloise Hart… regardless of her position in this never ending battle between Jardin and his competitors… I really did want to see her again. There was something captivating about her innocent gaze, her honest laughter. She hadn’t been ruined by the world I knew, and it showed in every facet of her being.

We continued to spin dizzyingly. “You say you are an investor? Tell me more.”

I puffed my chest. “Yes, I invest on the behalf of a very wealthy client. He spends quite a good deal of money on your mother’s particular products.”

“So you merely represent a vampire of good social standing, then? You’re not a well off client, yourself?”

I was taken aback. That was the last thing I expected to come from the tiny damsel in my arms.

“I suppose not, Miss Hart.”

She bit the corner of her lip as her gaze flitted to the side where a certain red-haired man was watching us with piercing gray eyes, wearing the equivalent of a fashion massacre.

Good God.

She’d choose that over me?

She clearly had expectations for the standing of the men she wanted to entertain.

The song came to a gentle stop, and reluctantly, I let go of her.

I knew when I’d lost a battle.

“Perhaps your heart has been taken by another.” I sounded penitent, regrettable, even. Perfect. Good thing I never got into acting, I’d be taking home those acting awards every damn year. “What a shame. If only I had met you sooner, Miss Hart.”

She tilted her head to one side, even laughed a little. “Do you really think that would’ve been enough, Mister de Charpentier?”

Her tone was enough to let me know that it was best I take a step back, which I did.

With a quick nod of her head and hastily thanking me for the dance, she hastened back to her gingerhead, never sparing me a second glance.

But I didn’t take it too hard.

After all, she might have won the battle… but I would win the war. Jardin expected nothing less of me.

Five

Eloise

I hadn’t put the gown away, I couldn’t. I had hung it up on one of the bookshelves so that I could glance back at it occasionally while I went about my morning. There was a large influx of letters that came in only hours after the ball ended, all hand delivered by the servants of various vampires that I had even only briefly met. Many were requests to meet me for social calls which instantly had me giddy with excitement. My days weren’t going to be boring or monotonous any longer.

The sound of my mother’s heels on the flooring outside my door reverberated in the otherwise quiet rooms. The servants had stayed away all morning. I think they could sense that a storm was brewing. She hadn’t come to see me after the ball as I expected. Instead, she locked herself away