Illicit Mate (Abducted 4)

Kate’s eyes widened. “Me too.”

Crystal pointed a finger with a long, well-manicured red fingernail at Aria. “And you?”

Aria nodded.

“Same here.” Crystal sipped her drink.

“Omigod.” Kate giggled. “What a coincidence.”

“Not a coincidence, sweetie. They probably want to get a photo of all of us. You know, for marketing, yada yada yada.” Crystal rested her chin on her hands. “And we’ll probably have to sit through some long, boring pitch to buy a timeshare.”

“I don’t think so,” Aria chimed in. “We’re not exactly the demographic they’re looking for and—”

“Ladies, my name is Baryn. It’s time for the orientation.”

Jenna glanced up to see a stunningly handsome man with vivid blue eyes and dazzling white teeth smiling at them. Heat surged through her.

He was tall and broad-shouldered, his arms bulging with muscles under his tailored suit jacket.

“Would you all come with me, please?” He drew back Kate’s chair and offered his hand.

Kate sent him a glowing smile as she took it and stood up. Her green eyes glowed as she gazed at him. She seemed totally captivated by the man. But who could blame her?

“Lead on,” Kate said.

Crystal leaned toward Aria and murmured, “I would absolutely come with him. Anywhere. Anytime.”

Aria giggled. Jenna and the others stood and Baryn led them across the ballroom, his hand resting on the small of Kate’s back.

When they stepped into the atrium, another man joined them. He was every bit as muscular and handsome as Baryn.

“This is my associate, Terrien,” Baryn said.

Terrien’s suit stretched across his broad shoulders and narrowed to his waist. His dark brown hair was combed back off his face in thick waves, shimmering with bronze highlights in the soft light.

Crystal gazed at him with blatant interest, her eyes glittering.

“Good evening, ladies,” Terrien said with a beaming smile that seemed to be directed mostly at Crystal. “This way.” He gestured toward a corridor on the left.

“Aren’t the elevators the other way?” Jenna asked.

“The normal ones, yes,” Terrien answered, “but we’re taking the VIP elevator.”

“Mmm, VIP. That’s my kind of action,” Crystal purred to Aria and Jenna.

Kate walked beside Baryn, Eva walked a couple feet behind them, and Jenna, Crystal and Aria followed. Terrien fell in behind as Baryn led them down a narrow corridor, then opened a door labeled “Authorized Personnel Only”. At the end of another narrow corridor, they came to an elevator. Terrien pushed a key into a lock on the control panel and the doors opened. They crowded into the small space and the doors closed.

“This doesn’t look very VIP to me,” Crystal grumbled.

The elevator seemed to speed up. It jostled a little from side to side. Aria swayed sideways and grabbed onto Crystal’s arm. Crystal placed her hand over Aria’s.

“You okay, honey? You look a little green.”

In fact, her face had gone completely pale.

Eva clasped Aria’s other hand. “You don’t look well.”

“I’m sure she’ll be fine in a minute,” Baryn said.