Read Online Magnate (Acquisition Series Book 2) by Celia Aaron - Free Book Online Page A

moments. I was surprised such a small gesture could impart so much solace. But by the time she straightened, I felt her warmth flowing through me like a mild transfusion.
    She smiled big enough to almost convince me it was genuine. “Wait ‘til you see the gown I picked for you.”
    “If it’s got feathers—” I grimaced. “—I’ll pass.”
    She laughed and shook her head, her dark hair shining. “No feathers. Not this time. Come on.”
    I followed her into my bedroom and stopped when I spied the dress she’d laid out on my bed. It was black with a plunging neckline. The hem would fall to my ankle, but the high slit would leave little to the imagination.
    I frowned and crossed my arms over my chest. “I don’t think I can pull that off, Renee.”
    Renee threw her hands on her hips. “Modesty is confidence’s ugly sister.”
    I laughed. For a woman who’d I never seen in anything other than prim black and white, Renee surprised me.
    She pushed me forward. “Put it on. I know it’ll be perfect.”
    “Fine. For you. I’ll try it for you.” I shrugged out of my robe and trudged to my dresser for some underwear.
    Renee cleared her throat. I turned to look at her over my shoulder. “What?”
    She pointed to a thin piece of black material that I hadn’t noticed next to the dress.
    “Is that a g-string?”
    She smoothed her skirt. “Well, that dress clings, and you can’t have panty lines. Or you can go no panties if you like that better.”
    I definitely did not like that better. I gave up my quest for comfortable cotton panties and pulled on the barely-there thong. My ass was totally exposed, but at least my pussy had some semblance of fabric over it.
    “I’m guessing no bra, either?”
    She shook her head and eyed her feet. “The back is open, so no.”
    “Fine.” I lifted the dress and dropped it over my head. Renee was right, it clung as it slid down my body and settled. The front dipped low between my breasts in a draping cowl that thinned into spaghetti straps and tied at the top of my shoulders. The straps multiplied into three thin strips that flowed down my back and joined the sides at elbow level, leaving the rest of the back open almost down to my ass. The slit was so high that I was glad I chose to wear the panties.
    “You are perfect.”
    “I take it this isn’t a jeans and t-shirt event?” I snorted and walked to the full length mirror to get a better look. Renee had created a fashion plate in record time .
    “Never. You need to impress the Sovereign. Play to your strengths.”
    “To help Vinemont?” I narrowed my eyes at her in the mirror. “I have to dress like a street walker to help my captor?”
    “Yes.” Renee pushed my hair over my shoulder and perused my tattoo. “Though I never had a dress this nice when I was a working girl.”
    That raised my eyebrows.
    Renee shrugged and blushed. “I told you about my past, and I’m not proud of it. But I’m just saying that yes, you are being taken somewhere to be shown off as an Acquisition, but enjoy the little pleasures. That’s all. One day you won’t even have those. So—”
    “Did you just tell me to carpe diem ?” I turned and smiled at her, willing away her embarrassment.
    “I did.” She smiled back, the clouds of memory giving way to the present. “Now let’s see about your shoes and, the best part, your jewels.”
    She went into the closet and brought out a pair of velvet stilettos with red soles.
    “I don’t know if I can manage those. Got anything with a shorter heel?”
    “Nope. These are the ones.” She set them down in front of me and I stepped into them. They were almost impossible, but not quite. As long as I was on an even surface and not doing any running, I might survive.
    “And these.” She practically pranced to a box on my dresser and flipped the lid before pulling out a dazzling necklace. An array of emeralds in an art deco layout. The jewels dangled from silver chains, with the center