ROMANCE: Mated to the Bear (Stepbrother Paranormal Shifter) (Threesome Taboo Romance) (46 page)

Chapter 4

Alan never lacked the presence to dress and carry himself with poise, charm and class. And though the implied theme of the Masquerade Ball was open season for all swingers and sex fiends, Alan didn’t want to take this occasion any lighter than he would other instances. If only to accommodate his best friend’s sick and twisted fantasy, Alan would show up, have a few cocktails and duck out as the evening escalated. After all, if Maxwell was busy hosting and basking in female adulation, then how would he ever know that Alan slipped out early?

The Masquerade Ball would be an interesting foray before welcoming his stepsister into his home the next afternoon. So, there was no need to get too entangled or distracted by debauchery. Alan’s nerves grew more so for his young stepsister, Tiffany coming to stay at his house than meeting a bunch of horny, masked strangers.

It seemed like not too long ago that Alan saw Tiffany before he’d moved away from home. Tiffany was such a cute young girl, well-behaved and completely smitten with him as soon as he met her for the first time. Alan and his mother used to laugh at how cute Tiffany would act around him. She would do just about anything for Alan and would bend over backward to accommodate him—everything from making his bed to cleaning his dirty plates after dinner. He’d rustle her blond curls, hug her and kiss the top of her head before moving on.

Now, Tiffany was moving on to the next stage in her life; transitioning from young adolescent to adult. Tiffany would get to experience college, unlike Alan. So, he was happy to be the springboard before her departure to higher education. It even crossed his mind to bring her for a ride along as he worked out deals, surveyed properties and conducted other business. Alan just knew that Tiffany would learn a little something before choosing her career path. Sadly, the big stepbrother didn’t have the foggiest idea what her major study or passion. But, hopefully, he’d have a better idea before summer’s end.

A couple of months lay ahead and Alan hoped this was the much-needed change he required in his routine. A sort of respite that would ease his tension, possibly reinvigorate his entrepreneurial passions, and blast him into the next phase of his life. Alan had always thought that as soon as he’d reach a billion dollars that he’d have it all figured out and could relax. But, the young billionaire could never shake that feeling of waking up and having lost it all.

Should I introduce her to Maxwell?
He thought. A brief rush of panic crossed his mind and he quickly dismissed the notion.
No way!

Maxwell Hart was a tour de force and a womanizer on a good day. On his worst days, Max was boorish to everyone he knew and a sex-addled fiend with only the wickedest intentions for females. The last thing Alan wanted was for Tiffany to meet such a crude individual. Or worse yet, Maxwell could charm her into believing he was anything short of wrong for her. No, Alan wouldn’t even suggest to Maxwell that his stepsister was coming to town. Much less, bring up his friend and business partner.

So much for Tiffany getting exposed to all facets of Alan’s business. He’d have to carefully tiptoe around Maxwell about his stepsister and scout any chance meetings when Tiffany would come along for work days. It’d take some juggling, but Alan was positive that it was a must if he wanted to keep his stepsister safe and unaffected by the likes of his friend, Maxwell Hart.

Alan stood in front of the full-size mirror and took a quick inventory of his formal wear—a black cutaway coat, white dress shirt with a bolo tie, paisley vest, pin-striped pants and finished off with polished black dress shoes. He special ordered the suit earlier in the week and dressed well in the slim-fit sizing. As a whole, the stylish clothing impressed Alan since it showed off his muscular upper body, accentuated his thin midsection and showed off his greatest asset—his butt. A sight that many women quietly fawned over as he would pass.

As Alan brushed his hands to flatten out the suit, he walked over to his kitchen counter to open the gift box that Maxwell sent to him just a day ago. A white box wrapped in purple and green lace arrived with a large invitation card by courier. Inside the box was the fitted black bandana that all the men would receive for the evening. The men’s mask was similar to the Zorro mask in that it covered the top of the head and over the eyes with hemmed eyeholes. Then a long tie draped over the back of the mask to secure it in place.

During a flight on his personal jet out west, Maxwell shared with Alan his reasoning behind the mask choice.

“So, guess what I got for the guys?” Maxwell blurted out.

Alan tried sleeping in the brief flight since he hadn’t had much sleep that week. Despite no interest in what Maxwell chose for masks, he indulged him nonetheless.

“What’s that?” Alan reclined in his seat as he stared out the window.

“A Zorro mask!” Max heartily chuckled. “You wanna know why I picked them instead of a porcelain mask like the ladies?”

Alan quietly sighed and looked across the plane to Maxwell. “Why’s that?”

“So, when I’m sweating my ass off bangin’ the shit out some bitches, it’ll soak up my sweat!” He burst out laughing again and leaned forward as he applauded himself. “And, the only reason I want the women to wear porcelain masks is so that I don’t have to worry about how fugly they are.”

Maxwell continued entertaining himself and Alan drifted off to sleep.

“I mean, I’d choose paper bags if I could, but for some reason chicks don’t like to think that I’m just using them as come dumpsters. And, also, dude…dude?”

“Yep?” Alan answered.

“Women love dressing up. They love that Halloween-type shit. Why not just give them what they want and I’d get what I wanted too?” Maxwell could sense that his friend was disinterested at the moment, so he averted his attention to other things.

Alan chuckled to himself as he recalled the plane ride and Maxwell’s explanation behind the party. Reaching into the gift box, Alan grabbed the mask and stuffed it into his pocket. A small note fell out as he did with a general reminder to everyone that no one is to remove their masks. A stern warning followed the caution that anyone found without the mask would be escorted out by security.

“Wow,” Alan said aloud. “Damn, he really doesn’t want to see how ugly they are. Hmmm.”

Alan headed out of his house in his Audi and with the intent to return as soon as the festivities were underway. He determined that the first naked person would be his cue and he could quietly slip out. Then, Alan could go home, get some rest and finish any work for the day before Tiffany’s arrival.

Despite his early arrival at the Hart Mansion, Alan was far from being the first person. Cars lined the street up to the property with the gateway open exposing even more cars parked on the grass and in the driveway. Quite a few cars idled in a short line to the valet station at the front entrance of the mansion. A red carpet extended from the valet booth to the large front double doors. A few couples lingered on the porch steps next to the enormous pillars that formed the entrance. The men looked like
Zorro
movie extras and the women looked elegant yet picturesque.

After sitting for five minutes, the valet attendant tapped on his window startling Alan from his fascination with the gathering couples.
Are these people really going to be doing this?!
Alan thought to himself. He shrugged to himself and carefully stepped out of his car while he donned his mask. As he straightened his suit once more, Alan reached into his jacket pocket and slipped the aging valet attendant a tip.

“Thank you, sir,” the old man responded.

Alan had yet to break his gaze from the couples, even as they headed into the party and the door shut behind them.

“Oh…no, ah…thank
you
,” Alan responded.

He realized his mouth dropped open and his pulse began to race. The nervousness Alan felt for his stepsister’s impending arrival was replaced by fear of what lay in the walls of the Hart Family Mansion. The young billionaire tried concocting a reason to not go in at all, but he was scared his best friend and business partner may disown him if he didn’t show. More than a few occasions throughout the week, Maxwell made sure to express how excited he was for the event and how much he looked forward to Alan coming.
Both arriving and otherwise
, he’d say followed by a wink.

Though his gut was telling him to run, Alan mustered the strength to head into the Masquerade Ball. And, as the security guards at the front doors for Alan, he deeply breathed in and rushed through the threshold.

Rather than a scene of debauchery and depravity, Alan was greeted by the butler who was also wearing the black mask.

“Hello, sir, and how are you tonight?” he bowed.

“Great…great…” Alan surveyed the large ballroom-sized entrance.

There were dozens of guests covering the entire area. Around the large marble fountain, up the stairs, and into the event ballroom. To his surprise, Alan didn’t see a single nude person. The closest this scene came to an orgy was the cleavage exposed on some women.

As he brushed by the butler and into the group of attendees, Alan became acutely aware that many people were eyeing him up. It was hard to miss a room full of masks directed at him and little eyes peering through white porcelain masks. The women’s mask had cutaway just below the mouth, exposing the mouth and chin. Every woman accentuated their lips with vibrant-colored lipsticks and liner. The mystery of not knowing their identity, but seeing enough to tease Alan’s imagination was enough drive him wild. His suit instantly felt like a sauna among all the warm bodies and for the moment. Outside of the implied sexuality, Alan forgot what the event was all about.

Then a nude woman wearing a mask adorned with purple and green feathers approached him. She walked with poise, accentuating her ample bosom and round pear-shaped bottom. Alan stared at the woman and could hardly make out what she said. Instead, his eyes traced the curves of her body, down to her waist where a gold chain adorned her hips and dangled in front of her perfectly trimmed pubic hair. Her skin was pale and further whitened by a thin layer of shimmery body paint.

As Alan gawked, he could hear her repeat what she said yet he struggled to funnel his attention. Between audience chatter and a three-piece instrumental group playing in the background, Alan was overwhelmed and completely lost in the beauty of the woman in the mask. Her body was stunning and her face was obscured by the white porcelain mask.

The nude woman leaned closer to Alan’s ear and spoke a bit clearer.

“I asked if you would like a glass of champagne,” she spoke.

Of course, Maxwell wouldn’t have it any other way
, Alan thought as he continued to admire the cocktail waitress

As his senses came back, Alan looked to see the nude woman was carrying a silver platter covered with long champagne flutes filled with the sparkling beverage. Even though Alan expected to leave in a bit, he knew that he’d be alright having one drink.

“Yes, thank you,” he took one glass and immediately gulped down the bubbly. The cold drink shocked his body, and an intense ache rushed to his temples. As he quietly belched, set the empty glass on her platter and then his nude companion moved onto the other guests. It was then that Alan saw there were a few other naked female servers. All of the waitresses were dressed the same and covered in different sparkly body paint designs.

“Hey, baby boy!” Alan heard Maxwell shout from across the room.

Alan searched about to see where the host was calling from when a hand waved above the crowd. He slowly worked his way through small gatherings and conversations to find Maxwell surrounded by numerous porcelain-masked women and a few men in bandanas.

“Everyone, this is my boy, Alan. You gotta take care of him tonight, ‘cause he’s in desperate need of a dick suckin’!” Maxwell shouted to his entourage. They all cackled along with him and two women, politely laughed into his shoulder.

The woman on his left leaned into Maxwell’s ear and placed a hand over her mouth at her mask.

“Al, meet two ladies I personally invited to the party,” the two women stepped forward to shake Alan’s hand.

The woman on Max’s left had a porcelain mask adorned with purple gems and painted leaves. She had brown hair tied back and up into a large bouffant decorated with diamonds. Her evening dress was low-cut exposing her large ample breasts that formed deep cleavage. Unlike most of the other attendees, her dress cut short of her hips. If she even bent over slightly, the brunette would show the rest of herself to the world.

The brunette gently embraced his hand and came close to his ear.

“Hi, I’m Katrina,” she strained to tell Alan. “Max was just telling me so much about you. So, glad to meet you.”

Katrina returned to Maxwell’s side and he grasped her around the waist. The second masked woman had blond hair pulled back into a tight braid with glitter washed through her hair. She wore a light pink evening gown that cut from her mid-thigh on one side and extended down past her knee on the other. Thin straps held the dress over her delicate, toned shoulders and revealed a bikini tan line. Alan eyed her bronzed skin down to the v-cut neckline to see she had small perky breasts. Her nipples stood erect under the satin cloth and Alan fell in awe of her allure. The blond approached Alan, and she reached her hand out. Alan became aroused but fought it off as he realized she wasn’t stepping in for a handshake.