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And then the golden jaguar slid into the night, its dark rosettes bleeding into the dusk before it disappeared entirely.
Chapter 10
“Jaden DaCosta.”
She didn’t like the way her name fell from Kragen Black’s lips. Like liquid honey, as if he had the right to be so intimate. “You’re looking a little tense,” he continued with a smile. The silver-gray eyes that stared at her were unsettling.
Jaden nodded to Kragen and stood back as he pulled out a chair for her. His hand fell to her shoulder, and she kept her smile firmly in place as his breath warmed the side of her neck.
He
was much too forward, which pissed her off, but she’d play the game. Her father didn’t have to worry; she’d do whatever it took to achieve her agenda.
“I’ll do my best to help you forget about your worries.” His tone was silky smooth, confident.
She slipped from his touch and held her hands steady as the urge to rip into his flesh tore at her fingers. She felt the burn beneath her nails but settled into the chair calmly.
They were alone, seated at her private table several feet away from the main dining area, nestled into an alcove on the terrace. It afforded a certain amount of privacy, without making her feel detached from the activity in the main room.
As she smiled at Kragen she couldn’t help but think she’d love to be detached right now, separated from the mess that had become her life.
“It’s been a hell of a day,” she replied, accepting a glass of red wine from Paulo, her manager.
“I can see that.”
He nodded, and her hand grazed the sore area of her cheek as she turned from him, willing the shame that would surely stain her flesh away.
She took a sip, felt the liquid slowly pass over her taste buds, and fought the urge to guzzle it down like water.
She needed to keep a cool head, but that was going to be hard considering that every single nerve ending in her body was on fire. Kragen’s eyes slowly drifted over her and rested for several long seconds on her breasts.
Why the hell did I wear this dress?
Because you wanted Julian to see you in it.
Even now she felt her sensitive nipples ache as they strained against the thin fabric that barely covered them. Her breasts felt engorged, and an image of Julian, suckling at them, tugging on the turgid peaks flashed through her mind. She stifled a groan as the erotic pictures continued to play, struggling to block them out.
She loosened her tight shoulders, rolled her neck, and crossed her legs, an effort to alleviate the throbbing that was constant between them, but the action only inflamed the sensation, and she gritted her teeth.
Good timing, she thought. Yep, perfect week to be on the cusp and nearly in heat. The yearning deep within was compounded by the fact that Julian was nearby. Even now, his scent clung to her. It was inside her and was enough to drive a girl insane.
She raised her glass, nodded to Kragen, and tossed the rest of the wine down her throat.
Christ, I need an hour alone with my vibrator. She was on the verge of losing control and totally pissed at herself.
“Care to share the details?” Kragen asked softly, like they were friends . . . or something.
“Not particularly,” she replied, glad that her voice had at least returned to normal even as her thoughts continued to focus on Julian.
She should have kneed the bastard in the balls, cut, and run.
Kragen’s eyes narrowed as a predatory smile swept over his handsome face. She supposed some women found the weird color of his eyes attractive, but to her it screamed otherworld.
Skye had warned her about Kragen. Finn’s sister had had dealings with him before. The sorcerer was a bastard of the highest order but handsome as all hell. He was used to getting what he wanted.
“A toast then.” He lifted his glass, which was nearly full, and as Paulo swiftly refilled hers, he smiled. “To an unforgettable evening.”
She held her glass high and finished it in two gulps. Daddy should see his little whore now, she thought, dressed to kill and guzzling wine like it was grape juice.
