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“I know,” Jax interrupted through clenched teeth.
Chapter 7
Theo Centurion from Centurion Estates, an elite art gallery in Houston, was standing alongside Mariana at the premiere event. This wasn’t a bad job at all. She immediately noticed some familiar faces, and Theo was very busy speaking with so many people. She was more on display as his date than anything. Here and there he called her over to explain more about certain pieces to those people pretending to be interested in buying. She was shocked, though, mid evening as one man purchased an original Jack Vettriano painting for eight hundred thousand dollars. He wrote the check on the spot, and no one even questioned his ability to pay. She couldn’t imagine having so much money and being able to purchase fine paintings as a collector. Mariana hoped to one day run or even own a gallery. In some aspects, running a gallery and choosing what art to display for a time being would be like having the ability and means to purchase. Even if it were for a short time.
Mariana was walking through the study, where some more paintings by Vettriano were displayed. The guests were eating dinner and Theo was entertaining the buyers, so she had some free time to herself.
As she made her way into the quiet room, she had the opportunity to look at some of the well-known paintings by Vettriano. There was The Singing Butler, Dancer in Emerald, For The Dead Admiral, and then the more provocative of paintings that immediately drew her in.
She stared at the painting called Lovers and Other Strangers. Immediately her mouth went dry and a feeling of awareness or maybe even arousal perked her body’s attention. Especially her nipples as she absorbed the figures on the painting and the way the sexy, masculine man held the woman with such control.
Deep down, Mariana knew she was submissive in nature. In public she could be assertive to an extent and in class when she raised her hand to give the answer or had to make a public presentation. But looking at this painting that she always found to be so sexy made her think of things she really shouldn’t entertain. There was an almost invisible pull as she stared in awe. It told a story, as far as she believed, and involved the sexual attraction between two men and one woman. Not so far fetched and more prominently written about, besides being a subject of many artists.
In this particular painting, Vettriano painted the picture of one man holding a woman firmly around the waist. The palm of his hand pressed snuggly against her flat belly as his other hand began to unzip her dress. The most erotic part was the image of a man sitting in a large cushioned chair, watching. He was wearing a tux and holding a cigar whose smoke silhouetted upward toward the couple as he watched.
In her mind she imagined Jameson and Jax. Shocked at how easily she saw herself as the blonde in the picture, head down, accepting to
the one man’s touch as the other looked on. She wasn’t an exhibitionist. She liked her privacy and held in a lot of information about herself. She preferred it that way. But oh, how nice it would be to be able to let go completely, and know that she was safe.
The moment the arm came around her waist, for real, she gasped and turned to see Jax standing there.
“One of my favorites, too,” he whispered, and her heart began to race. He mimicked the position like the man in the painting. His arm was snugly wrapped around her center. Jax’s other hand lay flat against her side, his fingers inches from the swell of her breast.
She tried to speak, but a squeak came out so she cleared her throat. This man made her so damn nervous.
“You look stunning this evening, Mariana,” he whispered then kissed her shoulder and trailed more tiny kisses along her neck. She was lost in the sensations of his touch and the feel of being this close to him. Her mind yelled for her to place some distance between them, but it was too late. The painting, the memory of last week of how fine both Jax and Jameson looked in their tuxedoes, ruled her mind all week.
“Jax, please, I’m here with someone.”
His hold grew tighter a moment, and then he eased up. It was as if he was angered by her statement.
“I know, that’s why Jameson and I are here. We’re keeping an eye on you,” he said then kissed along her neck some more. When she felt his fingers tangle in her hair and hold firm, she found her body reacting in an unexpected way. Her lips parted, her eyes closed, and his hand smoothed across her belly. She was utterly turned on.
The realization of his statement hit her. He was running security? He was the guard she needed for the date tonight because Theo Centurion was very wealthy and had enemies.
“Please, Jax, I need to go.”
“Not yet. I’m mad at you.”
She opened her eyes as he eased his hold on her hair and wrapped both arms around her, pulling her against him.
“Mad at me why? What have I done?”
“Appeared in a setting around people who want you, but can’t have you because you’re ours, Mariana. When will you realize this?”
His words sounded so final and hard. She didn’t know if she should feel frightened or flattered. This was not normal behavior. She needed to think about this. She needed to understand what it was that she wanted. Jameson and Jax both confused her.
“I need to go.”
She turned from his embrace only for him to pull her against his chest. He ran his hand along her waist and her rear. Placing his palm against her ass, he squeezed.
“This is not over between us. Jameson and I want time alone with you. To talk, to discuss these feelings.”
She gripped his forearms, immediately feeling the stone and muscle beneath her palms and fingertips. He was a fit man and resourceful. He was her security, and for some reason it turned her on, just like everything else had in the last ten minutes. She nervously licked her lips, and a moment later Jax was kissing her. She tried so hard to resist the urge to kiss him back and take advantage of this wild moment. But it was no use, he tasted so good, and it felt amazing to be held in his arms. He explored her mouth in smooth, gentle strokes until she began to pull back. It was too much, too wild. She didn’t know him.
Then the kiss grew deeper, wilder, and she felt her body react on instinct. Her nipples pebbled, her belly tightened, and her legs began to shake. Then she thought she heard a bird whistle or something. Jax eased up then gently rubbed along her bottom lip as if fixing her makeup. He glanced over his shoulder, and she followed his movement and locked gazes with Jameson. He looked fierce, dressed in black and in a dead stare at her.
“Theo is coming here looking for you. Jameson and I will be in touch. Be good, Mariana,” he whispered then tapped the tip of her nose gently with his finger as he smiled.
