place and long silken wall hangings, priceless tapestries and other objets d’art turned the former place of worship into a distinctive hall for gatherings and amusement.
The orchestra began to play, and a few couples danced in the large area set aside for it. More joined in, and they performed dances from another era she’d never seen outside Jane Austen films. The dancers performed perfectly in formations that were too complex for her to follow.
The scene fascinated and enchanted her.
“So what do you think?” Dante murmured in her ear.
“It’s beautiful. Thank you for inviting me here tonight. This is something I never thought to see.”
“It is kind of interesting, I suppose, in a vintage sort of way.”
“Oh, come on. This may be old hat to you, but this is like something out of a dream for me.
Every girl grows up dreaming about going to a ball like Cinderella.” She fingered his bow tie with a challenging smile. “This is my chance, and your ennui isn’t going to ruin it for me.” Dante laughed, and she felt it down to her bones. He was so sexy when he smiled. Her heart did a little flutter before she could stop it.
“All right, Cinderella. Tonight’s your night. I’ll try not to ruin it for you.” He took the half-finished glass of wine out of her hands and placed it on the tray of a passing waiter, then grasped her hand. “Would you do me the honor of sharing this dance with me, princess?” Oh, she wanted to, but the set that was just ending was some old dance pattern she didn’t know.
She looked with longing to the dance floor and didn’t notice Dante swooping in to whisper in her ear until his hot breath blew past her sensitive whorls.
“The next dance is a waltz. You know the steps to that, I’m sure. Don’t worry. I’m an excellent lead, or so I’ve been told.”
“I bet.”
He tugged on her hand and led her toward the floor, reeling her in to stand opposite him at just the perfect distance. She looked into his eyes, mesmerized by the way he looked at her. The music started and the strains of her favorite waltz—the Blue Danube—wafted to the heights of the vaulted ceiling.
Then Dante began to move. He was a wonderful dancer. Built like a warrior, he nevertheless danced like a prince, guiding her around the room among the swirling dancers, her skirt billowing behind her. Megan noted the attention they drew as they whirled across the dance floor but paid it no mind. This moment was too perfect to ruin with worries about what other people thought.
Dante drew her closer in his arms as the waltz progressed, closing the distance between them in a way that would have been considered scandalous a century past. She finally understood why.
The feel of his thick muscles rubbing against her body whenever they touched sent her pulse spiraling nearly out of control. Her steps matched his perfectly. Her panting breath came in time with his. They were one for that short space in time, a matched set, moving together with one purpose.
And then the music ended.
Megan was left staring into Dante’s eyes, her thoughts whirling, her senses in an uproar. Dante returned her attention until his elbow was jostled by a couple positioning themselves on the floor for the next dance.
He bowed to her in a courtly way, taking her hand and leading her from the floor. When they reached a spot along the wall where a champagne fountain flowed, he paused to collect two glasses of the sparkling wine, handing her one.
“Thank you for the dance, princess. You are without doubt the most graceful partner I have ever claimed.”
Megan felt a flush rising to her cheeks even though she suspected his words were more teasing than truth. She declined to answer, sipping her champagne and looking around at the other people in the room. The abundance of diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds was astounding, not to mention the ladies’ beautiful gowns and the men’s hand tailored suits. This was
The orchestra began to play, and a few couples danced in the large area set aside for it. More joined in, and they performed dances from another era she’d never seen outside Jane Austen films. The dancers performed perfectly in formations that were too complex for her to follow.
The scene fascinated and enchanted her.
“So what do you think?” Dante murmured in her ear.
“It’s beautiful. Thank you for inviting me here tonight. This is something I never thought to see.”
“It is kind of interesting, I suppose, in a vintage sort of way.”
“Oh, come on. This may be old hat to you, but this is like something out of a dream for me.
Every girl grows up dreaming about going to a ball like Cinderella.” She fingered his bow tie with a challenging smile. “This is my chance, and your ennui isn’t going to ruin it for me.” Dante laughed, and she felt it down to her bones. He was so sexy when he smiled. Her heart did a little flutter before she could stop it.
“All right, Cinderella. Tonight’s your night. I’ll try not to ruin it for you.” He took the half-finished glass of wine out of her hands and placed it on the tray of a passing waiter, then grasped her hand. “Would you do me the honor of sharing this dance with me, princess?” Oh, she wanted to, but the set that was just ending was some old dance pattern she didn’t know.
She looked with longing to the dance floor and didn’t notice Dante swooping in to whisper in her ear until his hot breath blew past her sensitive whorls.
“The next dance is a waltz. You know the steps to that, I’m sure. Don’t worry. I’m an excellent lead, or so I’ve been told.”
“I bet.”
He tugged on her hand and led her toward the floor, reeling her in to stand opposite him at just the perfect distance. She looked into his eyes, mesmerized by the way he looked at her. The music started and the strains of her favorite waltz—the Blue Danube—wafted to the heights of the vaulted ceiling.
Then Dante began to move. He was a wonderful dancer. Built like a warrior, he nevertheless danced like a prince, guiding her around the room among the swirling dancers, her skirt billowing behind her. Megan noted the attention they drew as they whirled across the dance floor but paid it no mind. This moment was too perfect to ruin with worries about what other people thought.
Dante drew her closer in his arms as the waltz progressed, closing the distance between them in a way that would have been considered scandalous a century past. She finally understood why.
The feel of his thick muscles rubbing against her body whenever they touched sent her pulse spiraling nearly out of control. Her steps matched his perfectly. Her panting breath came in time with his. They were one for that short space in time, a matched set, moving together with one purpose.
And then the music ended.
Megan was left staring into Dante’s eyes, her thoughts whirling, her senses in an uproar. Dante returned her attention until his elbow was jostled by a couple positioning themselves on the floor for the next dance.
He bowed to her in a courtly way, taking her hand and leading her from the floor. When they reached a spot along the wall where a champagne fountain flowed, he paused to collect two glasses of the sparkling wine, handing her one.
“Thank you for the dance, princess. You are without doubt the most graceful partner I have ever claimed.”
Megan felt a flush rising to her cheeks even though she suspected his words were more teasing than truth. She declined to answer, sipping her champagne and looking around at the other people in the room. The abundance of diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds was astounding, not to mention the ladies’ beautiful gowns and the men’s hand tailored suits. This was
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