Chapter 19
The soft light of dawn filtered through the heavy curtains of the suite, casting a muted glow over the room. Celestina stirred beneath the plush silk sheets, her head throbbing faintly from the champagne of the previous night. The faint scent of jasmine lingered in the air, mingling with the crisp linen fragrance of the bedding.
She blinked, the memories of the masquerade ball swirling hazily in her mind: the music, the laughter, and the mysterious man in the black mask. But as her consciousness sharpened, she realized something was terribly off.
She wasn’t alone.
Her breath caught in her throat as she turned her head slowly. Beside her, the man lay on his back, his black mask still covering the top half of his face. His chest rose and fell steadily, the blanket just barely covering his waist.
Celestina’s heart raced as she registered the situation. A quick glance under the covers revealed the truth: she was naked. Completely.
Her pulse thundered in her ears as she pieced it together—what they’d done, the champagne-fueled abandon that had led her here. A thousand thoughts screamed through her mind. What have I done? Who is he?
Panic surged through her, and she scrambled to find her clothes, moving as quietly as possible. Her sapphire gown lay in a crumpled heap by the chair, her delicate silver pins scattered across the carpet. She clutched the sheets around her, trying to make sense of the chaos.
The man stirred, a soft groan escaping his lips. Celestina froze, her heart pounding. He shifted slightly, but his eyes remained closed.
Thank God, she thought, exhaling shakily.
Working quickly, she slipped out of bed, holding the sheet tightly around her body. She crouched by the chair, hastily gathering her gown, shoes, and the mask that still sat askew on her face. Her fingers fumbled with the intricate folds of her dress, her mind racing.
I can’t stay here. I have to leave before he wakes up.
As she struggled to pull the dress over her trembling form, she caught her reflection in the mirror across the room. Her face was pale, her hair disheveled, the silver pins barely holding it in place. The mask still perched on her face only heightened the absurdity of the situation.
She tugged the gown into place, fastening it as best she could before reaching for her shoes. Her hands shook as she slipped them on, her movements clumsy.
The man shifted again, this time rolling onto his side. A low murmur escaped his lips, his voice soft and indistinct.
Celestina stilled, her breath catching as she glanced toward him. For a moment, she was struck by the serenity of his face—or at least the part visible beneath the mask. His dark hair was tousled, his jawline sharp even in repose.
Who are you? she wondered fleetingly. But the thought was quickly drowned out by the urgent need to leave.
She tiptoed toward the door, her bare feet silent against the plush carpet. As she reached for the handle, her diamond ring—the heirloom her father had given her the night before—caught the light. It glittered brilliantly, a stark reminder of the legacy she carried and the expectations she had just defied.
Her fingers hovered over the door handle, hesitation gripping her for the briefest moment. Then, shaking her head, she steeled herself and pulled the door open.
Flashback
The man stepped closer to her, his hands reaching for her face. He grabbed her masked face and kissed her on her mouth, hard. Celestina moaned, her body responding to his touch. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer.
The man picked her up and threw her on the bed. Celestina giggled, her body bouncing on the soft bedding. The man climbed on top of her, his dick hard against her thigh. Celestina reached down and grabbed it, stroking it gently.
The man groaned, his body trembling with pleasure. He grabbed her by the waist and flipped her over, positioning himself behind her. Celestina felt his dick enter her pussy, filling her up. She moaned loudly, her body shaking with pleasure.
The man started pounding her hard, his balls slapping against her ass. Celestina cried out, her orgasm building up inside her. She moaned louder, her body trembling with pleasure.
The man reached down and grabbed her breasts, squeezing them roughly. Celestina moaned louder, her orgasm building up inside her. She could feel herself on the verge of cumming, her body trembling with pleasure.
“Who are you?” she asked, her voice husky with desire.
The man smiled. “Just a man who knows how to please a woman,” he replied, his voice deep and husky.
Celestina giggled, her body still trembling with pleasure. She reached down and grabbed his dick, stroking it gently.
“Then please me again,” she demanded, her voice husky with desire.
Present
Celestina sat stiffly in the backseat of the taxi, her forehead pressed against the cool glass of the window. The streets blurred past her, the city alive with the soft bustle of the early morning. Her heart raced, her thoughts spiraling as the events of the night played on an endless loop in her mind.
She adjusted the delicate folds of her gown, now wrinkled and slightly askew, and rubbed her hands together to calm her nerves. It was then that she noticed it—her bare fingers.
Her heart dropped.
The ring!
Her hands shot up, frantically searching her lap, her gown, even the floor of the taxi. But the large diamond ring, the precious family heirloom her father had entrusted her with, was gone.
“No, no, no…” she muttered, panic lacing her voice. She leaned forward, gripping the edge of the seat as if that would somehow help her locate it.
She groaned, burying her face in her hands. “How could I be so careless?”
She closed her eyes, her chest tightening as the weight of her mistake settled in. That ring wasn’t just a piece of jewelry—it was a symbol of her family’s legacy, of her father’s pride.
And now, it was lost. Somewhere between the ball and the stranger’s room, it had slipped away.
