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    Midnight at the Masquerade
    M.M. Brennan
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Copyright 2013 M.M. Brennan
     
    All rights reserved.
     
    Midnight at the Mascarade
    (An Erotic Romance)
    Book design by M.M. Brennan
    Cover Image Copyright 2013, Aidan Morgan, used under a Creative Commons Attribtion License:
    http:creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    “Come on, Sweets, a night of reckless passion is the least you deserve.”
     
    “Randi, please,” Krista Cole whispered sharply, but she couldn’t keep the smile from her lips. Randi Capone smiled too, looking very much like a young Robert Redford with his longish blond hair and piercing blue eyes. His elaborate costume- an eighteenth century European inspired ensemble of tan breeches, cream ruffled dress shirt, and dark coat- draped his lean frame with the quality of something tailor-made. He was too sexy for his own good, and the good of any single male masquerading as a love struck fool at his party tonight. And there were plenty.
     
    Indeed, this was the party of the year. He’d made sure of that. His blueblood socialite mother had thought Randi to be a perfect host, and he was. He was an expert at throwing elegant parties, and his twenty-seventh birthday looked to be no different: a traditional masquerade where all attendants were required to wear historical baroque costumes fitting to the original French masquerades. Krista scanned the room full of beautiful people hidden behind glittering masks and expensive gowns.
     
    “I’m just saying, Krista, you need to let yourself go for once. Be spontaneous.” He smiled wickedly, his perfect white teeth gleaming in the dull light of a dozen bronze sconces. “Let your hair down.” 
     
    With nimble musician fingers he undid her hair clasp, allowing the unruly dark locks to spill about her breast.
     
    “Randi! Do you have any idea how long I spent fixing that?”
     
    “Far too long if you’re that upset about it. Besides,” he said, tussling the dark curls, “it looks better down.”
     
    “It’s not fitting with the time period,” Krista argued, playfully batting his hands away.
     
    “It’s my birthday, and I say it looks better down.” He pouted, his too full lips pulled down at the corners. She’d seen the look a thousand times and it was less than swaying. “Please?”
     
    Krista laughed softly, leaned forward and kissed the tip of his slightly upturned nose. “Fine. I’ll leave it down.” She pulled a small velvet box from the gold and cream reticule tied to her wrist. “Happy birthday.”
     
    “What’s this?” Randi asked, his eyes glinting with boyish excitement. “You already gave me a gift. Which I adore, I might add.”
     
    “I know, but I couldn’t resist.” She pressed the box into his outstretched hand. He took it eagerly, pulled at the cream ribbon and the bow fell away.
     
    “No, no. You’ll wanna save this one for later,” she said, wrapping her fingers lightly around his.
     
    “Oh, Krista!” he squealed with genuine delight, his eyes sparkling like bright twin stars. “It’s the trio erotica pack we were giddy over in the sex shop, isn’t it?”
     
    She winked and he laughed, something rich and musical. Her best friend was easily amused, and the box of assorted condoms was sure to keep him and some lucky young man busy for quite a while. Good, at least one of them would enjoy the evening.
     
    “You’re so naughty. You shouldn’t have.”
     
    “You’re right. I probably shouldn’t have,” Krista chuckled softly. “Do me a favor. Don’t leave a trail of broke hearts in your wake. There’s only nine in there.”
     
    “Oh, I promise,” he said. He shoved the box into his coat pocket and let his eyes wander over the revelers gathered for his birthday. “I wonder who the lucky boy will be?”
     
    “I’m sure you can have your pick,” Krista