As our paths crossed, I reached out. Not enough to startle her. I brushed my finger against the sleeve of her uniform. The muscles were taught and strained beneath. I swore I could feel the heat of her skin under the material.
Rae didn’t stop. She picked up a fresh tray, but the glasses trembled. The telltale reaction was a small confession.
“I see you, cherry-bomb,” I murmured as I passed. “You can’t hide from me.”
Rae sucked in a sharp breath.
I let her walk away. Turning to shake hands with some fucker in a suit, I cast a glance in her direction to see if she looked back.
She did. Once. Quick as lightning.
Her gaze struck me square in the chest.
Roped into a conversation about the stock market, I wasn’t able to catch what Rae said to her uncle at the other end of the bar. The butler pursed his lips and gave a slight jerk of his chin. Rae set her tray on the bar, rubbed her arms, and took off toward the hall.
I didn’t even acknowledge the businessman who was speaking at me. I cut through the crowd with a vicious intention. Stepping into the hall, I caught a whisp of black and white as Rae ducked around a corner.
I went after her.
Those long legs scrambled up the stairs. Cutting the corner, she dashed down the hall.
I chased. A wicked thrill shot through me.
What I wouldn’t give to have the house to ourselves. The idea of truly hunting her down, running through the halls, tackling her naked! There were plenty of surfaces to fuck her on. We would christen every room. Twice. And I would let her think she could outrun me.
If it meant I could keep catching her.
Rae stopped at the door of the don’s office. It was cracked, and she was about to shut it, but I stopped her by putting a hand in the opening. She bumped me with her body, trying to push me back out.
Well, that wasn’t happening.
I tugged her inside.
“Rae, talk to me,” I breathed.
She shot a look to the ancient furniture on the other side of the room. Was she nervous?
No….
It was like she was trying to bite back a smile.
“We have to go back downstairs,” she whispered.
“Not until you talk.”
Soft gusts of air whispered across the room. I didn’t pay much attention to the ancient furniture. This old house was always making weird noises. I swore it was haunted. Hell, tonight it sounded like the ghosts were having sex.
Good for them.
That should be us.
“Not in here,” she hissed.
“So you’ll talk to every other man at the party, but not to me?” I regretted the words instantly.
Rae’s face turned bitter. She was going to run.
I screwed up.
