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But the teenager had lifted her head, the hand holding the bow of her cello slowly lowering to her lap. It had been her dazzling eyes that had caught my rapt attention, keeping me in suspended animation. She’d pleaded with those emerald green signatures of her soul to end the pained moment, but it hadn’t been my place.
I’d never forgotten the last expression crossing her face before I walked away, trying to locate the man I’d considered my best friend.
Disappointment as well as flash of hatred, as if I’d been the only one capable of breaking her mother’s concentration.
That had been two years before all hell had broken loose in her life.
And in mine.
Our worlds had collided years before. If only I could say fate had brought us back together. Sadly, there was no such thing in my world. Only reality and violence.
That was the first moment I was concerned she’d be caught up in my madness, destroyed as everything else good in my life had been.
As the kiss continued, my heart pounded to the point I was curious to see if the adrenaline was too much for my system, ready to cause a heart attack. That would serve me right given the ruse I’d created.
She moaned past the tight embrace, bringing me back to the moment. The feel of her skin pressed against mine was sinful and I could sense she was locked in the same moment of filth as I was.
I fisted the back of her neck, forcing our lips to part. Then I bit down on her lower one, holding the tender tissue in place. When I released it, she dragged the tip of her tongue around my mouth, taking several shallow breaths. I tangled my fingers in her long curls, tugging with enough force she whimpered. As I raked my teeth down the side, she closed her eyes, her breaths becoming more ragged.
I was attracted to the hard pulse in her neck, dragging my tongue around it in several circles. When I bit down, she shuddered audibly. The woman knew I had her life in my hands. She’d sensed that two nights before. Nothing seemed to bother her, including having dozens of the most powerful and influential people in New Orleans in her gallery at one time.
She was poised and practiced, behavior that had started with her mother and was reinforced by the people her uncle had hired for her education. She could make dozens of changes in her appearance, but she could never take past behaviors and conditioning out of her system.
She’d been taught to be a princess, and her femininity could be a valuable tool. Even now, she was attempting to take control, using her soft whimpers and undulating body to drive me to the point of madness.
I slowly lowered the strap on her right shoulder, easing the material down until her nipple peeked over the edge. She squirmed in my hold, fisting my shirt, her brow furrowed.
“This is crazy,” she whispered then licked her soft lips, drawing my attention to the crimson stain I’d almost worn away.
“Perhaps.” I exposed her nipple, flicking my tongue back and forth across the tender bud. She half laughed then cried out only once when I twisted it between my fingers. “But embracing the moment of sanity allows you to live again. Isn’t that right, goddess?”
“Uh-huh.”
Growling, I sucked on her nipple until the sharp rap on the double doors drew my attention. I slowly lifted my head while she cradled hers in my neck. The feel of her heated breath kept the beast just below the surface. “What is it, Chef Paul?”
He was flustered, more so than I would have imagined. After giving me a respectful nod, he turned his head away. Good for him. “Dinner is ready whenever you are, sir.”
“Excellent. First, I’m going to enjoy my hors d’oeuvre.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll bring them in two minutes.”
“No, Chef Paul. My first hors d’oeuvre. Please wait for fifteen but you can have the staff fill the wine and bring the champagne.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll take care of it right away.” He left, closing the doors behind him, his attempt at giving us privacy.
“What are you doing?” Eden whispered.
I rose to my feet, forcing her to wrap her legs around me. “I should think that’s obvious. The main course can wait. And dessert will be long after we’d indulged in several succulent dishes.”
As I strode toward the doors, she did her best to cover her breast until I issued another growl.
“Do you remember I told you about rules that you’d be required to follow?”
She gave me a hard look, narrowing her eyes. “And you really think I’m the kind of woman who’d follow those rules?”
I laughed as I reached the door. “Yes, you will,diosa. If not, you’ll learn that there are two kinds of pain, one not nearly as pleasant as the other.”
* * *
