Authors: Dixie Lynn Dwyer
The mansion was magnificent and the decorations and artwork superb, and despite the fancy gowns and tuxedos, there was an aura of welcoming and comfort. This was the Venificus home.
Val introduced her to quite a few weres and lycans. Along the way she sensed the presence of some fairies hiding their identity through use of magic Charity was in constant security mode, and she was able to break those barriers immediately and without their knowledge as she and Val mixed and mingled through the party. Aside from some naughty sexual thoughts, the fairies did not intend harm. Her insides fluttered with an awakening of some kind. There was history and an abundant amount of spirits within the home.
The further she walked into the room the more stares she attracted and the more central a focus she became. She needed to do something to pull their attention away from her so that she appeared less interesting.
Charity placed a spell over her body so that the fairies and other magical creatures would not pick up on who she really was. Ultimately Charity did not exist and had died along with her parents. Revealing herself too soon would send Devlon to the Venificus doorstep. That wolf would stop at nothing to mate her and rule the universe.
Pushing the uneasy thoughts aside, Charity and Val began talking to a group of omegas from the Venificus pack.
* * * *
“It is a pleasure to meet the man behind Caliber Securities. You have kept your identity such a secret there have been wagers going around on whether you are male or female, wolf or some other creature,” Spencer stated but kept looking at Charity with a sparkle in his eye. She sensed immediately his wanton stare and increased the power of the spell she set up around her. Instantly he focused on Val and the business.
“So Charity, your line of work must lead you to meet some interesting creatures,” Delta stated.
“Why yes, it does. I can assure you that my work days are never boring,” she replied then lowered her eyes, knowing that he was to get respect as an omega in the Venificus pack.
He stepped closer and whispered low. “And your evenings? Are they as entertaining?”
She smiled then hugged Val’s arm, pretending to be coy.
Delta chuckled. “Charming young woman, very charming indeed,” he added then took a sip from his wine glass, staring at her over the rim.
* * * *
From across the room, Maximus stood staring at the most stunning woman he had ever seen. She was unfamiliar yet so captivating with her long, wavy golden-blonde hair and voluptuous figure. She stood about five foot four, and the man next to her wasn’t much taller.
In his mind he heard his brother Luther.
“You see her, too. Who is she?”
“Where are you two looking? I’m caught behind this crowd of lycans.”
Dante sounded frustrated, and then he appeared right in front of her. Maximus and Luther released a sigh of anguish that their brother Dante got to approach her first.
They slowly made their way toward her as numerous guests stopped them along the way.
* * * *
“Ahhh…the guests of the hour have arrived.”
Charity looked up into the most stunning green eyes she had ever seen. The man before her was gorgeous. He looked exquisite in his designer tuxedo. Immediately she knew he was a Venificus, and quickly she turned away. But her chest tightened in anticipation and awareness. He was captivating in his black tux that accentuated his solid, muscular chest. His eyes seemed to sparkle as he caught her staring. She turned away and tried to maintain focus on the conversation amongst the men, but her body was completely aware of the Venificus’s close proximity.
A moment later his voice, the sound deep, upbeat, and personable, penetrated the small circle of men that gathered around her and Val. Being the only female did not make her nervous, but somehow this Venificus did.
The introductions began, and Val shook the man’s hand first.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Dante Venificus. This is my assistant Charity,” Val stated as Dante reached out his hand. Charity placed her hand in his for a handshake as her gaze locked with Dante Venificus’s. He was tall, larger than any werewolf she had ever met, yet his hold was gentle. Tiny vibrations scattered though her arms as he smiled as if he felt the same sensations. His smile was debonair and flirtatious, and his eyes roamed over her flesh as if he could see through the material of her dress. Unfamiliar with her own body’s reaction to his blatant perusal, she fought off the urge to pull away.
Her body warmed from where he touched her all the way through to her heart.
He was special. She knew it instantly.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Charity.” Dante smiled then released her hand as the conversation continued around her. Despite the attention being drawn to Spencer, who continued to speak on his soapbox, Charity could feel Dante’s gaze still upon her.
Charity glanced toward Dante. He winked, and her heart pounded inside her chest. This being a first for her, she played modest and shyly turned away. Despite the effort to focus on the conversation she found herself looking back toward Dante and his attire. Dressed in a designer tuxedo, the black material stretched across his massive chest. She was certain the man was built of solid muscle with ridges and definition between each layer. She swallowed hard as her imagination got the best of her. She could tell by the way the starch white collar hugged his skin that his neck was muscular too. The man was a work of art. He raised his glass to take a sip of wine, and she noticed the large diamond cuff links that held the sleeves together.
* * * *
“Charity? Her name is Charity?”
Luther asked, and Dante looked around to see him approaching. But where was Maximus?
“Yes, it is, and I’ve got dibs, bro.”
“Cut the crap, Luther. Just get over here and meet her. She’s…”
“Amazing.”
Luther stated as he approached the small group. Dante introduced him to Charity.
* * * *
Dante caught Charity staring. But then she sensed another man approaching. As she locked gazes with the other man, her heart pounded against her chest. There was another drop dead gorgeous male, and he looked almost identical to Dante. He was an inch or so taller than Dante but shared the same facial features. It was Dante’s brother.
Dante began the introductions as he held her gaze.
“Charity, I would like you to meet my brother Luther. Luther, this is Charity. She is Val’s assistant from Caliber Securities.”
Luther took Charity’s hand, bowed his head, and kissed the top of it.
He looked up at her as his lips pressed against her skin.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Charity.”
“Likewise, sir,” she stated. Her voice shook, and she couldn’t help but hold his gaze. His eyes were just as green as his brother’s, and he was just as handsome. Her breasts tingled and her nipples immediately hardened. She nonchalantly attempted to rub the inside of her upper arm against it to relieve some of the ache. The ache was instant and strong enough to make her attempt to subside it without being obvious.
There was so much charisma around the two brothers. She understood why they were adored. Pulling her hand away and rubbing the ache in her breasts away along with it, she looked around the room. Some of the women around the room were staring at her with daggers in their eyes. It appeared that Luther and Dante’s attention toward Charity did not go unnoticed.
She quickly looked away from them and tried to focus on what some other man was talking about.
Val smirked at her. “Sir, perhaps it would be wise to meet some of the other guests. I believe that Delta and Ferlow are gazing this way,” Charity whispered, and Val looked toward the men Charity was referring to. They were standing around a crowd of other men not even looking in this direction.
Charity hated to do it, but Val wasn’t getting her hint that she needed to get away from the Venificus men. Thank goodness the third brother did not appear as well. For some strange reason, she was drawn to the Venificus men in a way that made her body tingle.
Val was enjoying the conversation too much, and Charity exhaled in annoyance.
She tensed the moment she felt the hand on her lower back. She caught her breath as the warmth of his hand penetrated her skin. Every erogenous zone on her body was aware of the two Venificus men beside her.
“Perhaps you would like a tour of our home?” Dante asked as Luther smiled.
Charity looked toward Val, who was still deep in conversation.
He was playing his role too well for her liking at the moment.
Desperate to come up with an excuse, she failed miserably.
“I should stay with Val. In case he needs something,” she quickly stated, but Dante had looped his arm through one of hers and was leading her away for the tour.
Val hadn’t even seemed to notice as Charity glanced back toward his direction. When she looked forward again, her gaze smacked into a giant. Intimidation flowed from his presence. It was like the parting of the Red Sea. The crowd of people swiftly moved out of his way, and the determined look on his face told all he was on a mission. His dark green eyes looked mysterious and almost daunting as he approached with determination in his stride.
The man was dressed all in black and reminded her of Dante. Then she realized he was the other brother.
He caught sight of her staring and paused a moment. She could sense his power and quickly looked away, reminding herself she was supposed to act like an assistant, not the princess. Her eyes seemed to have a mind of their own despite the warnings. He was handsome, a warrior through and through, but she also sensed the sadness within him.
His expression grew stern at the fact that she stared at him. Was he so vain of a man that he preferred people bow to him? Luther interrupted as Dante pulled her closer to him. The tight proximity to the other brother brought on a wave of heat and attraction. She was frazzled.
“I’ll catch up with you two,” Luther stated as he followed his brother toward a group of men.
Dante pulled her along with him, and as Charity glanced back in the warrior’s direction, she saw he was face to face with Val.
* * * *
“I’m sorry, Dante, perhaps we could look around later. I should really stay with my boss,” she glanced back toward the direction of Val, but another group of men now blocked her view.
The warm, large hand held her dainty one a bit firmer.
“I have you all to myself, and your boss, from what I hear, can fend for himself.” He leaned down a little closer and whispered, “I promise not to bite.”
She absentmindedly placed her hand over her quivering stomach. Why was the spell weak around the Venificus men?
He chuckled at her show of fear.
Dante guided her through numerous hallways. Along the way they passed numerous couples and guests attending the party. His firm hold on her and the feel of his muscular hip tapping against her side with every step they took hade her feeling a bit unsettled. He pointed out a few paintings he seemed smitten with, and she was nearly lost in the comfort of his company. That in itself was odd for her. She was not a social butterfly.
“I love this one here. You see how the artist captured the intensity of the wolf’s eyes as he noticed his prey,” he whispered next to her as they stared at the painting.
Dante’s warm breath against her hair sent chills of awareness through her body.
She tried to clear her mind of being aroused and attracted to the wolf.
“I think the artist was trying to focus on the prey more than the wolf.”
“Really? Where do you see that?” he asked, placing his hand on her hip as he pressed his body closer against her back and looked at the painting over her head.
She caught her breath at the feel of him so close. The fabric of his tuxedo pressed against her bare skin on her back.
“Look at the creature’s eyes. It’s completely aware of the wolf’s intentions. I would like to think that the creature escaped.”
Dante chuckled, and the warmth of his breath collided with her hair.
“I am certain the wolf caught the creature.”
He sounded so sure and confident it half excited her and half annoyed her. Why did he sound as if they were no longer discussing the painting?
Feeling his hand move along her hip to her belly made her move out of his grasp and continue down the hallway. That was close.
They came across a great room with numerous paintings and portraits of generations before them. There were portraits of other parties and friends as well as photographs.
Charity felt the pulling on her heart tattoo. A strong sensation led her in the direction of a particular display of photographs.
“So tell me, Charity, how close are you to your boss?” Dante’s hand curved around her waist as she attempted to focus on the large picture in front of her.
The warmth of his touch was not intimidating or frightening in any way.
He gently pushed her hair away from her right shoulder and neck. The light touch of his fingers sent warmth through her body. Instantly her breasts tingled and her insides tightened. She swallowed hard then fought the attraction again. He overwhelmed her as she forced a little magic in between them.