The Emperor

Gideon nearly choked. He really shouldn't read her mind, but he was no saint. As she straightened her dress and crossed her legs, he picked up their glasses and went to her. As his shadow fell across her, she looked up.

"You walk very quietly. I didn't even hear you."

"Thank you ... I think,” he said, then handed her the glass of water and sat next to her. They were close, but not touching. It was enough to make him want to yank her off the cushion and plop her on his lap.

As Lori peeked at him from under her lashes, he smiled. Her mind was a jumble of things. She kept wondering why she'd allowed herself to come to his hideaway. She saw herself as logical and realistic. He wanted to prove to her she could be so much more.

"So, tell me what you have in mind, Gideon. I'm not sure what you want me to do. How would you like me?” she blurted out.

Gideon sputtered on his drink. He quirked up an eyebrow. “I'd like you any way I can get you.” As she started to blush and stammer, he took pity on her and explained, “But for now why don't we start slow. You can change over there."

He pointed to another corner of the room.

She frowned. “Nothing's there, just empty space."

He pushed his little black remote, and the corner itself popped away from the wall.

"That's so cool."

He grinned. “It is pretty cool. I have a friend who knows a lot about electronics. He designed it."

"What else does the remote do?"

"Lots of things,” he answered mysteriously; then before she could ask further, he pointed to the room. “There's a dressing room and several outfits to choose from. Pick whatever makes you feel most at ease."

"Uh, I really am out of my element, Gideon,” she said shyly. “I have no idea what I'm doing."

He took her drink out of her hand and laid it on the end table, along with his own. Gideon took her chin in his palm and drew her gaze to his. “You don't have to do a thing. Just sit and look pretty, the rest is up to me.” He looked her over, and murmured, “I would like to see more skin, but you don't have to get naked.” He saw her fear and was quick to reassure her. “I know you aren't comfortable enough with me yet, but I'd like you to go into the dressing room and pick whatever catches your eye. Don't think too hard. Just put it on and come out here. You'll sit on that stool there—” He indicated the tall wooden stool in front of the easel. “—and I'll begin sketching you."

Her relief was tangible. Unbidden came an image of her posed decadently across the purple octagon. Gideon's eyes widened as he realized the image had come from her mind.

Gideon showed her to the small one room dressing area. There was a rack full of silky, shiny outfits, he'd acquired over the years.

She quirked a brow at him. “Past girlfriends?"

He chuckled. “No. These are used for models only. And they're always sent out to be cleaned after each use."

"Pick what feels right to you, Lori. Take your time. I'll be ready whenever you are."

As she nodded and turned to the rack to survey the clothing, his mind saw her stripping out of the dress. Gideon had to force himself to leave her alone. Knowing she'd soon be bare, a mere few feet away wasn't helping his situation any either. As his pants became uncomfortably tight again, he wondered how he was supposed to get through the sketch.

He picked up his drink and swallowed the last of the liquid in one gulp. No doubt about it, he had a very long and uncomfortable evening to look forward to if he didn't get her past her reservations. The thought of driving her home without sampling her body first wasn't the way he wanted it to be. If he had anything to say about it, he'd spend the entire night showing her just how hot she could get. By the time morning came around, she'd know exactly what her body was capable of, and her ex-fiancé's nasty “frigid” remark would be a distant memory.

First, he had to follow through on the sketch. Then the seduction would begin.

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Chapter Four

Drawn immediately to the purple gown, Lori took it off the rack and held it up. It stood out from all the blacks, reds, and whites. It was extremely revealing. Certainly nothing like her old flannels she had at home.

It had full billowy sleeves of see-through lace with a matching lace bodice. There was no back to speak of, leaving her bare to the waist. The translucent bit of purple silk was floor length, and it was beautiful. She thought of the stool. “He apparently loves the color purple."

"Well, Lori, here goes nothing."

r /> She gave herself a pep talk as she unzipped the side of her dress and let it drop to the floor in a puddle of black, leaving her with only a black strapless bra and matching G-string panties. She took them off next. She turned and looked into the cheval mirror standing in one corner of the small dressing area and saw her bare body with all its flaws and imperfections. But Gideon had called her beautiful, and she was determined to believe him. She wanted to prove to Rick that she could be desirable. She wanted to prove it to herself.

She turned back around and slipped into the nightgown. Lastly, she took out her hair clip and let her hair simply cascade down her back. She ran her hands through it once, and she was done.