I tossed the tuxedo jacket aside and pulled against the constraints of my shirt collar. I could still smell the relaxing scent of woodsmoke on my skin, and wondered why the hell I hadn’t just stayed at the cabin. It was dangerous to be here, even if I had no intention of participating. I could feel the same familiar excitement thrumming just under the surface of my skin. I’d been a goddamned fool for coming here tonight…

“You look like you need this more than I do.” Ben came up behind me and put a glass in my hand. “I didn’t really expect you to show tonight. I thought you’d put all this behind you…”

He stood next to me and we watched the undulating bodies on the dancefloor. Sutton had turned the entire rooftop of the Envisager building into a nightclub atmosphere. Unlike the fundraising event which had been geared only toward the wealthy and well connected, tonight’s guests were young, beautiful and looking for pure excitement. But even the prime ones Sutton had hand-picked, had no idea they were simply fish in a barrel…

“I’m not sure why I did come,” I answered darkly, letting the ice bump against the side of my glass. “Other than to make sure the two of you don’t start a scandal even our kind money can’t fix.” I swirled the scotch in circles and looked out under heavy brows at the colored laser lights that crossed the night sky. The music was good, with a deep, rhythmic beat that I could feel in my chest. All the lights of the city were far below us. We stood like kings, at the top of the world.

“So… you couldn’t stay away,” Sutton said, coming up and extending a hand. I gripped it, harder than I needed to, glancing away.

“I’m not in tonight,” I replied, running a hand through my hair irritably. “Amelia heard there was a party tonight, and said she might drop by.” I shot Sutton a hard look. “And I don’t give a shit about points or risk factors. She’s fucking off limits.” I growled. My sister had no idea about the game, and I intended to keep it that way.

“She always has been, always will be,” he answered dryly. “Now loosen up, and try to at least look like you’re enjoying yourself. Since you’re not in the competition anymore… who knows?” He smiled darkly and licked at his lips. “Maybe you’ll meet another nice girl you can take home to meet the family. Now you’re all through with enjoying your life…”

It had been a cheap shot, his reference to Anna. He knew fucking well it had been the pain of losing her, that had turned the whole idea of love into nothing but a game. A game to be played and always won… I had to grit my teeth to do it, but I managed to keep silent.

Sutton slapped Ben on the back and jerked his head in the direction of the dancers. “The blonde in silver,” he said. “Prime pick, and I’ve put down ten thousand that I’ll have her before midnight. Jason’s in… how ‘bout you?”

He shot a look at me, back over his shoulder. “Make sure you take care of the caterer for me, Chase?… before the night is over. I’ll be entirely too be busy…”

They left me standing behind, feeling the all too familiar mix of arousal and disgust. I watched the blonde lift her arms up and gather the hair off the back of her lovely neck. She was the daughter of one of our company’s toughest competitors. Not a virgin, but known for being cautious… selective. Private.

Sutton had his work cut out for him. And I had that old familiar itch…

I downed what was left in my glass and headed for the bar. On the way, I passed the buffet. A huge round table, draped in white, held an edible sculpture of a nude man and woman locked in passionate embrace. It was made entirely of cake and marzipan, airbrushed with colors so delicate, the skin looked warm, the figures seemed just about to move. I glanced at the smaller delicacies that surrounded it, a menagerie of sweet seduction. Round, soft cakes with pink frosted nipples, set in pairs. Cookies in the sweet shape of a woman’s ass. Chocolate in every shade, sculpted into the shape of a man’s cock… I watched as a woman made her selection and licked at the tip as her companion watched, smiling.

“Is there anything you need, sir?”

I turned at the gentle sound of her voice, and had to look down to see her face. She was every inch as sweet and perfect as her confections. Need had been an interesting choice of words…

“I’m Emily, sir. Emily Parrish, the caterer,” she continued, shifting from one pink-heeled foot to the other. “Is everything to your satisfaction?”

“Christopher Chase,” I said smoothly, putting my oversized hand out to envelop her tiny one. I felt the warmth of her fingers and a fleeting sensation, like an undercurrent, just underneath the surface of her skin. Sable brown hair curved around her shoulders, framing a heart-shaped face and a tantalizing amount of bared flesh. Her lips were full and slightly parted, as if she’d forgotten to close them. Clear green eyes, flecked with gold stared up at me and set up a pounding in my blood. I had a sudden, almost overwhelming desire to taste her skin. Deep down, I knew her flavor…

“My satisfaction…, Miss Parrish?” I whispered the question, enjoying the feel of the words on my lips.

“The evening’s only just begun…”