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The tap at the door was like a clap of thunder. They sprang apart and stared at each other, both of them breathing hard. "Yes?" Cole said roughly, his eyes never leaving her face. "Your coffee, sir."
A muscled knotted in Cole's jaw. "Just- just leave the tray in the hall, thank you, Dobbs."
"Yes, sir."
They went on staring at each other. Finally, Faith put a hand to her flushed face. "I don't know what you want from me," she whispered shakily.
He didn't, either. There were times he wanted to hurt her but there were other times when he wanted to cradle her in his arms, hold her against his heart...
He took a step back. "We have a dinner engagement." His voice was calm. "And you have less than an hour to get yourself ready for it."
"I don't want-"
"This is your bathroom." He opened a door. Beyond it gleamed black tile, silver faucets and mirrored wails. "Go through it and you'll be in your dressing room. You'll find everything you need, I think. Cosmetics, toiletries, clothes..."
Faith drew herself up. "I don't use other women's leftovers. "
"Everything is new, right down to the soaps." He looked at her, smiled politely. "It's amazing what a man can arrange through the services of a personal shopper. Now..." He glanced at his watch. "Now, we're down to fifty minutes. Since I have no idea how long it takes you to transform yourself into a vision suitable for an evening out, I suggest you get started."
"I wouldn't begin to know how to transform myself into a vision."
"If you're fishing for compliments, forget it. I'm not about to tell you that you're always beautiful because you already know it."
Her head jerked up. She stared at him. "What?"
Cole walked toward her, eyes cool, mouth curved in what was almost a smile, every step filled with determination. "I said, you're beautiful. Too beautiful for a man ever to forget." Something flickered in his eyes as he reached for her and drew her to him. "I never forgot anything," he said softly.
"Be careful or I'll bite you again." She tossed back her hair and hoped he couldn't see the pulse racing in her throat. "How would you explain fang marks to your friends?"
"Some of the men would see it as a badge of honor." He lifted one hand, let it take a slow path over her mouth. "They'd figure it meant you can't control yourself when I'm around."
"You wish," she said, and tried not to smile.
He looked at her mouth, then into her eyes. "What I wish is that I could pass on this dinner," he said softly. "But it's for charity and I said I'd be there."
"I didn't," she said lightly.
"We're married, Faith." He tipped her head up. She held her breath, waiting, reading his eyes, knowing what he would do, telling herself it wasn't what she wanted, but when he lowered his head to hers, touched his mouth to hers, she sighed. "Where I go," he said, "you go."
"But not to bed," she whispered.
God, he thought, God, how he wanted her. Her protest held no meaning. She was still denying the truth, but only with words. Her body, her compliant body, her parted lips, her shining eyes gave a different message. It took every bit of willpower he possessed to let go of her.
"Get dressed," he said gently. "Put on something long. The dinner is black tie."
"I don't own anything long."
"Yes, baby, you do. Check out the dressing room. I didn't know what you'd want so... I mean, I told that personal shopper how I thought you'd look in some colors, some different kinds of things..." He took a deep breath. "Faith. Go find something you like and put it on."
Where was she?
Cole paced the bedroom and glowered at his watch. Seven forty-four. Exactly two minutes had passed since the last time he'd checked. Wasn't she ready yet?
He'd knocked on her dressing room door a little while ago. "Faith?" he'd called. "Are you ready?"
"Five more minutes," she'd said.
And he'd said he hoped so because it was getting late which wasn't exactly true. The dinner invitation read eight thirty, meaning nobody would dare arrive before eight forty five, nine if they wanted to be safely fashionable. Besides, the party was taking place in a town house just a couple of blocks away. So it wasn't getting late. They had plenty of time. The trouble was, he was going crazy out here.
Tonight, he was going to present his wife to the world.
Cole frowned and dug his hands into the pockets of his trousers. Well, no. This wasn't exactly the world. These people weren't even his friends. They were nice enough, most of them, but they were acquaintances, that was all.
Still, this was The Night. He was about to introduce Faith as his wife. Once upon a time, a lifetime ago, that had been what he'd dreamed of doing. Of walking up to people with her beside him and saying, "This is my wife. The woman I love."
