His mouth remains closed, and I freeze with my tongue pressed against his lips. Now what? Shouldn’t he make the next move, since I already did my part? Or is he waiting for me to do everything?
I open my eyes, and realize he hasn’t closed his. Surprise lingers in his gaze, pupils dilated. Abrupt annoyance and embarrassment heat my face. Obviously, I’m the only one who felt anything. Did the contact feel like a squirmy salamander for him?
Forget it.I purse my mouth and pull away. I’m not desperate enough to continue with a guy who’s grossed out by me.
Suddenly he cups the back of my skull, threading his fingers into my hair. His mouth claims mine, open and carnal, stealing my breath away. I don’t even realize I’ve parted my lips until his tongue glides inside, stroking me and sending delicious sizzles all over. My head spins, and I grip his shoulders to anchor myself. His body was warm earlier—now it’sscorching. The air in my lungs grows thick, and I stroke his tongue with mine, curious if it’ll feel as amazing for him.
A soft groan vibrates in his chest. He pulls me tighter, and I feel intoxicated, high on newly discovered sensations. My cheeks burn, and I wish we could get closer. Much closer. My breasts ache, pressed against his torso, and the tips tingle. An unfamiliar throbbing starts between my legs. An almost irresistible urge to wrap one of them around his waist scrapes along my nerve endings, but I restrain myself. That seems a bit too much, even in Vegas.
My head grows lighter and I slump, slightly dizzy. He holds me tight. Is it from not having eaten much all day? But the weakness in my limbs seems somehow different from the effects of not having eaten.
“Breathe.” Ares has my head resting on the spot between his shoulder and chest. I sense his pulse, his quickened breathing. The world quits spinning, although I’m still overly hot and sensitive all over. “What was all that?” he asks.
“Distraction? Reinforcement?” I say vaguely, looking around for the stalker. “That freak who was following you is gone.”
Ares sighs, then runs his fingers through his hair with an irritation I can’t understand. “Kissing a strange man isn’t the smartest move,” he says as he puts a hand on my back and starts to walk along the Strip. His gait is off…a little awkward and slow, like he’s fighting sleep or extreme fatigue.Does he feel weak in the knees from the kiss like me?My cheeks warm at the possibility.
“You aren’t exactly a stranger,” I say. “I know you, and I told you quite a bit about myself earlier.”
He looks at me seriously. Thoughts flicker in the depths of his eyes, but he doesn’t say anything, as though he’s trying to sort himself out first.
“Besides, you helped me earlier, and I wanted to return the favor,” I add.Does what I’m saying sound weird?By now, most people probably have close friends and boyfriends. I don’t have anybody I can call a friend. Aimless trust-fund babies make up my social circle. They’re great for inviting to wild parties to cement my reputation for unpredictability, but nothing more.
His shoulders deflate for some reason. Maybe he expected a better explanation…?
“That thug was expecting a lone man, obviously, not a man kissing a woman in a wedding dress. The guy after you probably thought we were newlyweds and decided he’d made a mistake. Happens a lot in Vegas, I heard. Eloping, I mean, not getting chased by bad guys.”
A corner of his mouth twitches in a small smile. “And yet here we are.”
“Can you tell me who that was? You don’t have to if you don’t want,” I add in case it’s too private, although I’m dying of curiosity. Ares doesn’t seem like a criminal, but…you never know. If he’s in trouble, maybe I can hire a lawyer to defend him and get him out of whatever mess he’s involved in. Rupert bragged his attorneys could get him out of any jam on a technicality.
“My uncle’s man. He wants me to work for him.”
My heart softens with sympathy. He too has a shitty relative. “And you don’t want to.”
“Hell no.” Ares shudders. “That would be my idea of hell. He’s not a nice man.” The finality in his tone says he’s notdiscussing his uncle anymore. “How about you? Did you figure out how you’re going to get away from your aunt?”
“Not yet. Her family and guards are still looking for me.” I make a face. They won’t give up until they get their hands on my money permanently.
“Need help?”
“Are you a lawyer specializing in estate and tax law?” I tease him a little, since I doubt he’s volunteering to marry me right now.
He frowns. “No.” We walk in silence for a few moments, and then he stumbles.
“Are you okay?”
He closes his eyes briefly. “No.”
“Drunk?” There’s a whiff of alcohol on him.
“No. The uncle I told you about? He put something in my drink to make me malleable.”
I inhale sharply and scrutinize him. Bloodless complexion. Beads of sweat popping along his hairline. His pupils are wider and more dilated, his eyes glassy. “Do you need to throw up? Maybe sit down?”
He shakes his head. “No. Too late to purge it. Just have to avoid him until the drug wears off.”
“Jeez. I thought only I had relatives with a propensity for drugging people.” I put my arm around his waist. He’s too big for me to really support, but hopefully I can help him balance better.
