“Asshole,” I mouthed through a blast of music that was more bass and beat than anything else.
Those dark eyes glittered at me. “Dance, Cora.”
I whimpered, pressing against him, grinding helplessly, but it was a one way event. He watched me, as promised, and I knew he liked what he saw because his erection protruded against my belly.
Taking the risk, I rose up onto my toes in my heels again, tilting my head back. “Please,” I begged, knowing he could hear me. Probably he couldn't see me, either, as the strobe flashed incessantly, leaving us as nothing more than a series of frozen snapshots in the dark.
His mouth met mine in the barest connection. I closed my eyes, relieved, even though it wasn’t the kiss I needed. Not yet but I knew we would get there. I teased the tip of his tongue with mine, but that was all he would give me, tiny touches, lightcaresses. It was nowhere near enough but that seemed to be his intent, to drive us both mad with need.
Fuck, from the way my thighs slicked, how I pressed my legs together and rubbed against him until he gently held me back with a warning look, it was well and truly fucking well working.
The song ended and I stood before him, panting and filled with the sort of flush that no amount of recirculated nightclub air could fix.
Apparently, Valentine felt the same way. His hand closed around mine firmly, he drew me through the crowd in longer strides than before. I took two steps to each one of his to keep up as he headed for the door. I looked over my shoulder, seeking the journalist party, then decided I didn’t care. It wasn’t like I was with them, anyway. Someone called my name, or I thought they did. Valentine’s hand tightened on mine, his grip warm and firm.
I raised a hand over my head in what I hoped wasn’t too much of afaux pasfarewell, and breathed in crisp night air that slapped me in the face. The caffeine hit had been nice earlier but the chill air sobered me out of my lust induced haze… for about a second as Valentine led me around a corner that backed onto a half filled parking lot. He wheeled about to face me.
Unslaked need blazed in his face as he closed the short distance between us. What I'd thought before had been all wrong. His hands closed on my waist, squeezing me tightly as he dipped his head and claim my mouth in a fierce kiss that left me breathless and in no doubt that I was well and truly fucked.
Or at least I was about to be, Chimera style.
“Heath,” I whispered then faltered, unable to finish my thought as he stared down at me.
“You wanna go back inside with your friends, Cora,” he murmured. “Be my guest.” His touch dropped away, leavingcold patches on my sides where warmth had bloomed a moment before.
I shook my head, aching to inch forward, but could only lean into his space. My feet were locked into place between shards of broken glass and gravel beneath my heels.
Valentine’s breaths were even as he watched me. “You should go home.”
“No.” I shook my head, adamant. “Why bring me out here if all you wanted was to tell me what to do?”
The corner of his mouth quirked in his rare version of a smile. “I thought you liked it when I told you what to do.”
Suddenly I was the one panting as my vision blurred. Damnit I hated being out of control, and I hated that I wanted to run from him like I had in the office corridor. But for some stupid,reallystupid fucking reason, I needed to stay and duke this one out with him.
Here, tonight.
“You should run.” He turned his back to me, one measured step away, and then another, heading for the black on black bike that I knew was his.
And suddenly I understood what his version of control meant. That it mirrored my panic and that him telling me torundidn't mean that at all.
At least, not tonight.
“No.” I strode after him, around him and planted a hand firmly on his chest.
The corner of his mouth flickered again. “Reckless, Cora.”
He gave me one breath—just one—before his hands closed on my waist again. Then I was airborne as he lifted me onto his bike and laid me back across the seat, looming over me. My breath hitched and I slapped at his chest.
“No.”
Valentine froze.
Inch by inch he eased back, though his hands remained on my body. “Be clear, Cora. Right now with me.”
I nodded, tossing my hair over my shoulder. The wide curls mussed and fell out but I didn't care as I knelt up on the bike seat. I wobbled, the machine wobbled but his hands were on me and I knew he wouldn’t let me fall. That was the level of trust we had.
“You. Here.” I pointed to the seat he’d planted me on.
