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“Loren?” Darien called.
Loren closed her eyes in defeat and thudded her forehead against the door. “I’m stuck,” she mumbled into the wood.
“You’re stuck?” Darien’s voice was right on the other side now, and there was a hint of humor in it. “What do you mean you’re stuck?”
“The stupid rug won’t let me out.”
There was a pause, and then Darien chuckled.
“Don’t laugh!” Loren’s eyes flew open. “I had a surprise for you, and now it’s ruined.” She pouted, thumping her head against the door again.
There was a pause. “A surprise? We’d better get you out then.”
It didn’t take long to get the rug unjammed, and when the door lurched open, Loren stumbled forward as the rug flattened out, one last wrinkle threatening to throw her clumsy butt on the ground. She caught herself against Darien’s chest just as his hands closed around her arms to steady her. Her heart skipped a beat at the contact, a current of golden warmth spreading between them.
A low whistle slipped through the slayer’s lips. “Look at you…” His voice was a sensual purr, and there was a smile in it that hinted at how pleased he was by her appearance. “Wow. You weren’t lying when you said you had a surprise for me.”
“Getting locked in the bathroom wasn’t part of the plan.”
“I thought my days of saving you from wrinkled carpets were over, but I guess I was wrong.” He paused. “Wait.” He grew abruptly serious as he studied her face, leaning closer…closer…so close, their noses were almost touching. His eyes narrowed, and a smile played on his lips. “Are those…freckles?”
Blood rushed to her face. She tried to duck her head, but he stopped her with a knuckle below her chin.
“Open,” he commanded.
She did as she was told, showing him the brand new diamond sparkling in her tongue. Unlike the enchanted piercing that had done a fabulous job of hiding the freckles on her nose, this one was ordinary, but no less expensive. A real diamond from the impressive selection at Jack and Jill’s, a kiosk near Ella and Prince on the Avenue of the Scarlet Star.
“Changed it,” she declared.
The smile on his face grew. “I was right.”
“About what?”
“You’re even more beautiful now that you’re not hiding those adorable freckles.”
“Enough about me,” Loren said, but she was fighting a smile. “This night is for you, handsome.” Taking his hands into hers, she led him to the center of the room near the huge bed.
“For me?” The words were playful but curious. “What’s this surprise I keep hearing about?”
“I thought you could use a stress reliever,” she said, letting go of his hands, “after the kind of day you just had.”
Slowly, she lowered herself to her knees before him, trying to appear braver than she felt. The lingerie and hair worked wonders, but in reality she felt as wobbly as a wet noodle. Folding her hands on her thighs, she peeked up at the sex god standing over her.
She’d wanted to kneel before this man for a long time now. Maybe even as far back as their lunch date at Rook and Redding’s, when she’d realized how stunning he was, never mind the fact that he’d saved her life without knowing a thing about her.
“Is that right?” He was so close, she had to tip her head all the way back to look at his face. “What did you have in mind?” He reached down to brush a strand of hair off her cheek.
“Well, I was remembering that night at the Devil’s Advocate…”
A sinful smile ghosted across his mouth. “What about that night at the Devil’s Advocate?”
“We were sitting at the table…”
“And?” His thumb went to her bottom lip.
“And I asked you what you wanted to do to me.” She tried to keep her tone steady, but there was a flutter in her stomach. And the way he was looking at her… Gods, she wanted him right now.
“And what did I tell you?”
