Текст книги "Take Me"
Автор книги: T. A. Grey
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Текущая страница: 22 (всего у книги 23 страниц)
Chapter 27
A week came and went.
Dominic and Felicity hardly left the bed.
They acted like two newly mated couples though they’d yet to actually do the mating part. Whenever Felicity broached the subject of mating Dominic would find some way to shut her up, by either distracting her with his vein or with his talented mouth. It wasn’t fair, and at the end of the week she found herself struggling in turmoil.
Why didn’t he want to talk about mating? Why was he hiding around it? What if he didn’t want to mate with her anymore?
They explored each other’s bodies, and he never ceased to surprise her with how intense their lovemaking was. However, just because they had a great week together, a stress-free one where they finally begun to grow accustomed to each other, did not mean he could keep something so important from her.
She made her decision. Today she would make him tell her what was going on. If this was some kind of sick punishment then she wanted to know so she could end it. As it stood she’d been with him for one long, glorious week without interrupting phone calls, brothers, work, or bodyguards barging in. Just her and Dom together for one great week.
Naturally, having such a great week made her wary that something bad was going to happen. After all, good things rarely came without steep prices for her. Felicity decided to face this day like she might a job interview. She showered and dressed putting on her game face.
Now she stood wringing her hands outside his office where he’d closed the door. She couldn’t help but stare at the door. It was the first time the door he’d shut the door since she arrived. What did it mean? And why did she have that nagging sensation in the pit of her stomach that something was wrong? She heard a low rumble and cocked her head to the door, bringing her ear closer so she could hear better.
The sound still came out as a low rumble which meant he had to be whispering or at least trying to keep his voice down. What was he hiding from her?
He said he loved her. He said he still wanted her, that he forgave her. He said he’d find other work there was always other work, so then why did sweat bead along her brow?
“Come on Fel it’s now or never,” she muttered under her breath.
She didn’t hesitate any longer and turned the handle. It didn’t move.
Shock hit her first. He’d locked her out. She stepped away from the door, staring at it as if it’d slapped her. Then she heard his voice speaking something rapidly and his steps coming to the door. As soon as he opened it she said, “Who were you talking to?”
His brows shot up, a grin curled his lips. “Hello to you too, sweets. Come in. I was just having a phone call, business.”
She followed him in, scanning the place like she might find something suspicious. It was ridiculous but she did it anyway. “What kind of business?”
A moment, then, “It’s nothing.”
“Are we getting mated or not?” No more beating around the bush for her. They’d done enough of that all week long.
He paused, not even bothering to turn around, just paused on his way to his desk. “Why?”
Not the answer she wanted. Her heart stopped beating. Oh god, she knew it. She knew something was wrong. It hurt to speak. “I’ve been asking you for a week now and I’m done playing games. You’re keeping something from me. I know it.” He turned around. “I want you to tell me what it is. No, I need you to tell me because if you’re going to break my heart then do it now.”
“It was supposed to be a surprise.”
She jerked, stunned. “What’s a surprise?”
A slow, devastating smile formed as he crossed his arms and sat on the corner of his desk. “I was planning the mating ceremony, flying in your mother, sending out invitations to only select people, though we can’t keep out people if they want to come and I was going to surprise you.” The smile he sent her was taunting and mocking.
She glared. “You need to work on that.”
“Work on what?”
“Hiding things from me.”
His smile slowly died. “It was a surprise, sweets, nothing more.”
“Yeah, but this sneaking around all week had me worried and getting more worried by the minute. I appreciate the surprise, I think, I mean, yes, I do. But you could have dropped some hint so I wouldn’t have been worried that this was going to end in a break up.”
He stood. “A break up?” he said slowly. He came towards her. “A break up?” he repeated. “You and I could never...break up. After all we’ve been through. After our failed attempt at mating before, everything we’ve been through since, you really think I’d let you go?”
“Just promise you’ll work on it.”
He bit her earlobe catching it with his teeth and tugging. “Promise. Do you have any idea how much I love you?” This he said while cupping her cheeks, his face closing in on hers.
“I have an idea,” she said, soft as a mouse.
The corner of his mouth turned up. “How about I show you.”
“That sounds great.”
His grin turned into a soft laugh as he did just that.
* * *
The crunch of tires over gravel brought Felicity’s head snapping up. She glanced down and saw Dom still asleep on top of her from where they’d had their rather vigorous lovemaking on the floor of his office. He was still inside her, still hard.
“Dom, get up! Someone’s coming!”
He grumbled something then snuggled deeper, planting his face in her neck.
Grunting and wheezing she pushed and squirmed under him trying to free herself. “Dominic, get up!”
“Sweets...no,” was all he said.
Half-laughing, half-freaking out, she heard the vehicle stop then the sound of a door slamming. “I’m telling you someone is here.”
“I know,” came his sleep-heavy voice again.
“What do you mean you know? If you know then get off of me.”
A low rumble came from his chest then he leisurely lifted himself up into a push-up just as the doorbell rang. Felicity pushed at his shoulders, laughing.
“Get off of me. I haven’t seen another living person in a week.”
He smiled. “Tired of looking at me already?”
“No,” she said in a soft voice.
“Fine,” he said leveraging himself off her. “It’s for you anyway.”
“For me?” She didn’t wait to hear his answer. She pulled on her clothes and raced for the front door, throwing it open. Her jaw dropped but she quickly clamped it shut. Then she wasted no time in slamming the door shut. However, the man on the other side simply stuck out his hand so the door bounced off. “Dom!”
“There’s no need to get all snippy with me now, darlin’. I mean, really, after all we’ve been through? I practically raised you.”
Felicity relaxed as she felt Dom’s presence at her shoulder. She cast him a glance and found his face set in stone.
“You didn’t raise me.” The words felt so ridiculous to say she nearly giggled. The alpha had to be crazy or something.
He rolled his eyes. “Semantics, syntax, whatever. If not for me you wouldn’t have this fine vampire at your side.” He leaned down and whispered. “Let me know if you ever get tired of his taste. I hear us weres are practically mouthwatering.”
“What are you doing here?” Dom said, his voice a growl.
Zeke stepped back, putting his hands in the air. “Hold on there, partner. No need to go all Dracula on me now. I just came by to have a little chat with you.”
“Go inside, Felicity.”
She snorted. “Like hell I’m gonna miss this.”
He sent her a warning glare but she just winked and wrapped her arm around his waist.
“What do you want, Zeke?” she asked.
Zeke smiled at her. “I like her. She’s got spunk and all that. Now, here I am, president of the council which you so sadly lost, Dom. Very regrettable. My sincerest apologies for kicking your ass at the polls and all that.”
“What the hell do you want, Zeke? Remember, you’re on my land now.”
Zeke rubbed a hand over his stomach as if he was petting a full belly. “See here I got a little problem, thought you might help. Philips wants to step down. That means we need another of your kind sitting on the council to even things out. I thought I’d be a nice fella and offer it to you.”
Felicity’s eyes widened. She smiled up at Dom, but he still looked like he was made from granite.
“What do you want in exchange?”
Zeke slowly grinned, his whole face softening. “I can’t tell you how good it makes me feel that you know me so well already, Dommy. Can I call you Dommy?”
“Not if you want to keep your teeth,” came the sharp reply.
Zeke laughed a deep, belly kind of laugh that made you want to join in. “Dom it is then. Listen, pal, all I want is for you to agree with me every now and then. My people want some big changes. They want to mate with other packs, having stronger pups and all that.”
“It’ll cause problems. The men won’t like it. It’ll be a war.”
Zeke shrugged. “It may, it may not. Fact is, we gotta keep our stock strong and mating with the same folks for years on end, well, you can see the problem. We need to spread our wings. Change things up. I have strong support in the were community.”
“From the men?”
Zeke laughed. “From enough of the men. The smarter ones.” He winked at Felicity like they shared some kind of secret. They didn’t.
Dom grew quiet. Felicity knew that look on his face—the deep, thinking one where he weighed the pros and cons of the entire situation before making a decision. After a minute, he nodded. “I’ll do it.”
Zeke rubbed his stomach again. “Sounds good, Dommy—I mean Dom.”
They shook hands then Zeke left shooting up gravel as he did.
Felicity turned to Dom. “That was my surprise?”
He grunted. “Hardly.”
Another car came down the drive passing Zeke on its way. Felicity squinted at it but didn’t recognize it. “Who’s coming now?”
He smiled. “Now that’s your surprise.”
“Dommy, what have you been up to?”
He pressed her up against the door, his face inches from her. In a dark voice he said, “What did you call me, sweets?”
She wet her lips at the dark glint in his eyes. “Dommy?”
She squeaked at his growl then his lips caught hers in a kiss that addled her mind like scrambled eggs. They were still kissing when someone cleared their throat. She tried pulling away, but he was much more reluctant. He kisses her on the lips, at the corner of her mouth up the line of her jaw to her neck.
Panting, she peered over his big shoulder and gasped. “Beth!” At the sight of her friend a rush of excitement burst inside her and she shoved Dom away and pulled her friend into her embrace. “Oh my god! What are you doing here? I’ve missed you so much.”
“It looks like I’m to be your ‘sort-of’ maid of honor again.” She grinned then winked up at Dom.
“You planned this?” Felicity asked Dom.
“This is nothing, and it’s only part of the surprise, sweets.”
Felicity jumped into his arms and of course he caught her and kissed her square on the mouth, licking his way inside to taste her. “Thank you.”
He shook his head. “You haven’t even gotten to the good part of the surprises and you’re already kissing me. I think from now on I’ll make it my duty to surprise you.”
“You might want to do that,” she said with a wink.
Beth grabbed her hand and pulled her back to her car. “Come on, you and I have fun stuff to do.”
“Like what?” She could barely contain her excitement. Dom got a job, they were getting mated, and now her best friend was here for part of her “surprise”. She couldn’t be happier.
Beth grinned at her from the other side of the car. “Shopping.”
Oh, hell yeah. With a final wave to Dom she peeled out.
Chapter 28
“Now, listen up,” Beth was saying, “I need to get you dressed, done up, and all that by midnight.” She pulled onto the highway and sped up. The girl had a lead foot.
“What happens at midnight?”
“Your fairy godmother comes by and turns you into a pumpkin, what do you think happens at midnight?” Beth said, her lips fighting a smile.
“I think, for one, that isn’t how that fairy tale goes, and for two I think I’m getting mated—tonight.” Just saying the words aloud made butterflies dance in her stomach. She pressed a hand over it to stifle them.
Beth tossed her head back laughing. “True enough and you’re absolutely right. So, right now we’re headed to the mall.”
Felicity glanced at the clock. “It’s almost ten, babe. They won’t be open.”
Beth sent her a knowing glance. “They’ll be open.”
“You know that because of your secret mind powers?”
“Nope, I know it because Dom arranged for you to have full access to all the clothing stores, shoe stores, and even that great makeup place I like to go to. Anything and everything you need to beautify yourself is at your disposal.”
Felicity’s heart beat a mile a minute and she couldn’t stop smiling. “Oh my god, this is too much. I spent all week unsure if he was even going to mate with me but instead he’d been planning all this to surprise me.”
Beth whistled. “Mmm, girl, he’s a keeper.”
“Speaking of keepers how’s your man?”
Beth hesitated. It was only a moment’s pause but in that look Felicity saw a fleeting look cross her face—pain. “He’s good. We’re good. He sends me flowers, and when it’s not flowers it’s these gift coupons for the spa. All day free massages, tans, which I don’t use, face masks, the whole she-bang.”
“So everything’s good?”
Beth smiled, a real one. “Everything’s good.”
They pulled up to the mall and sure enough a lone security guard unlocked the entrance door and let them in. For the next hour she and Beth ran around the mall from shop to shop like little kids in a candy shop.
“We need a shopping cart,” Beth said, her arms full of clothes for herself.
Felicity laugh. “I hear that.”
Beth tried to check her watch, which was hilarious to watch as she struggled to move the mountain of clothes in her arm to glance at her wrist. “Damn, we have to get rolling soon. Do you know what you want to wear? Personally, I thought that light pink dress with the ruffled material looked perfect on you.”
This was the crux of the problem and what Felicity had been avoiding since they got here. What the hell did she wear? Last time she’d worn an expensive and gorgeous red gown. Things hadn’t turned out so well though. Now, everything felt perfect and right. She wanted to do things her way.
“You know, I’m not gonna wear a dress.”
Beth blinked, looked down at the pretty pink dress, and then blinked again. “Why not?”
Felicity shrugged. “Give me a sec.”
Running back to an outfit she saw earlier, she grabbed the clothes, some shoes, a few pieces of jewelry, and then headed for the changing room. When she came out, a proud smile on her face and hands cocked on her hips, Beth caught one look at her and burst out laughing.
“You want to wear that?” She laughed harder, her eyes watering.
Felicity didn’t flinch, didn’t snicker, didn’t join in. She stood poised and ready. More ready to mate with Dom that she’d ever been. She wore a pair of gray athletic pants, the kind women wore to yoga classes, a black fitted tank top, and to top it all off she had on some cross-trainers.
“Are you going running or getting mated?” Beth sucked in deep breaths as she calmed herself down.
Felicity didn’t need to laugh though she understood she might look a bit silly to others. Fact is she felt comfortable and right in this. Besides, she knew without a doubt that nothing would keep Helena away tonight. Only now she was ready. She wasn’t going to wear some frou-frou gown that was non-conducive to fighting; no, she looked ready to fight and she was. Ready to fight for her man, the love of her life.
“Let’s go.”
Giving up, Beth shrugged. “Okay.”
Beth drove Felicity back to the hall she’d been at more than a week ago. The night was dark, the air a little muggy and warm. Reporters swarmed the area like bees to a honeycomb, each excited with their cameras flashing as they pulled up.
“Dom’s already here then?”
Beth nodded. “He said right at midnight and it’s five ‘til. You nervous?”
“Me, nervous?” She started to say that of course she was nervous, but then she quieted and took note of her emotions. “You know, I’m not. I’m ready to do this.”
“Good, let’s go.”
They walked through the press like who were used to the attention, sparing a few small smiles and waves, ignoring the questions thrown at them, and entered the hall. Inside was excited chatter.
Felicity spotted Diane waiting at the entrance with bright eyes. She rushed forward. “What are you wearing?” It wasn’t quite admonishment, but close.
“I’m ready,” Felicity said.
“For what, dear?”
“Helena.”
Diane looked back over her shoulder as if checking for eavesdroppers. “How did you know she was here?”
Felicity shrugged. “I just knew.”
Diane stepped back, glanced down at Felicity’s athletic attire and then started laughing. She had a womanly laugh. Felicity tried to think of a time she’d heard it before but couldn’t. “I see now. You look beautiful, Ms. Shaw. Absolutely beautiful. I met your mother. She’s in the front row on the bruid’s side of the room. She’s a kind and lovely woman.”
Felicity grimaced. “Really?”
Diane nodded. “Really. Come, it’s time.”
Beth and Diane went ahead of her, scurrying to their seats. Felicity heard the ceremonial drumming start. The beats were to mimic the excitement of the mated ones hearts beating for each other. The tempo stayed slow as she hadn’t started down the path to him yet.
Felicity lifted her chin, took a deep breath, and then went into the hall.
Chapter 29
Felicity entered the hall. All eyes were on her. Every single seat was filled. They stood at her arrival then at once they took to their knees, bowing before her.
Inside the hall red and white tulle draped from the arches in the ceiling, and the tables were covered in heavy cream linens with red and white tulips on top. It was beautiful; it was perfect. It was how she wanted her mating ceremony to look. This didn’t feel like a ceremony meant for another woman. This had her flair, her and Dom’s color everywhere. It was theirs.
Felicity took a moment to nod at each side of the room acknowledging their acceptance of the mating. Then her eyes shot forward as if drawn to him, Dominic Blackmore, her Dom, her man.
He stood tall on a platform at the end of the hall. He wore a black suit. She could see the quality of the material. His eyes caressed her body as he took in her outfit, then he was shaking his head, a smile covering his lips. She started forward, her steps quick, and a flutter in her heart.
The drum tempo picked up. The entire room thrummed with the sound as it beat against the ears. Shirtless timpani drummers stood painted in ancient symbols of mating and love on either side of the room. She couldn’t get there fast enough. A brilliant smile lifted her face.
He didn’t wait either. Quite unceremoniously, he strode down to meet her partway then lifted her into his arms as his lips claimed hers in front of all. The audience gasped, chuckled, someone hooted—probably Beth.
Dom pulled back, the look gleaming in his eyes. She shivered. “Baby,” she said, helplessly.
He wore a cocky smile as he set her back down to her feet. Then he grabbed her hand and led her to the alter. The drumming came to a climax, ringing louder than ever, the tempo increasing. A woman wearing all white stepped forward. She had hair down past her waist; it was champagne colored with silver streaks from age. She still had a beauty to her though time had finally started to show in her face. She opened her arms and heavy, billowing sleeves billowed.
“Arise.”
At once the drums slammed down then stopped. The echo reverberated in the hall then faded in waves. The audience rose and took their seats.
Felicity soaked up every single moment of the ceremony. She recited her vows then Dominic did his, staring deep into her eyes as if trying to convince her soul the words were true. She wanted to tell him it wasn’t necessary. She already loved him more than anything. Then came the part she’d been waiting for like a lingering thought in the pack of her head.
The great priestess lowered her arms and addressed the hall. “Any who dare to challenge the male, Dominic Blackmoore, doth step forward now or forever abstain with cowardice.”
A long minute passed.
Dominic glanced around the crowd, eyes hard and challenging, daring someone to try something. He looked like he was ready to tear open his shirt, jump down from the altar, and beat someone to a bloody pulp if they interfered with this ceremony. Felicity hid a smile behind her hand.
“No challenges for the male have been made,” the priestess said. “Any who dare challenge the bruid, Felicity Shaw, doth step forward now or forever abstain with cowardice.”
Felicity turned and scanned the audience, her stomach tightening as she sought one face accompanied by fire-red hair. She didn’t have to search long. The hair shone first as the woman stood and then her face came into sight.
Helena Blackmoore, the former bruid of Dominic Blackmoore, strode forward in a gown worthy of a queen. The bottom half formed a goblet shape. Her waist looked several sizes too small due to the corset she wore under the fine gown. It gave her a curvy hourglass figure. The material shifted and swayed as she made her way towards the dais. Lace draped off the bottom hem, scratching the floor as she walked. Her hair was held atop her head in an intricate bundle of curls. A diamond-covered tiara held it all together; it sparkled under the lights.
Felicity had known this would happen, but she hadn’t been prepared for this. It was almost too much. Her lips twitched. Dom shot her a questioning look then started to grin. His stupid grin made her smile even bigger. Then the laughter came. There was nothing she could do about it. Here she was wearing clothes ready to fight to keep her man, and Helena came dressed as if she was attending a Renaissance fair.
Helena’s eyes snapped cold fire. “I challenge her.”
The crowd gasped with excitement, but Felicity only smiled. This time she’d been prepared.
“I accept.”
She started to make her way down the platform but Dominic grabbed her arm, pulled her in close. “You got this.”
It wasn’t a question. He believed in her. She told him she loved him and pulled him down for another kiss. She didn’t hurry it either, but kissed him to her heart’s content. When she pulled away she sent him a wink then strode toward her fiery haired nemesis.
Helena’s gaze tracked down Felicity’s body taking in her clothes. When she finished she didn’t smirk so much as glower. She looked positively wicked.
“You look ridiculous,” Helena said.
“Funny, I thought the same thing about you.”
Pretty blue eyes narrowed on her. Felicity shook her head. Just what had Dom seen in this woman aside from a pretty face on a pretty body? There had to have been some redeeming qualities. Felicity and Helena circled each other; one dressed for a fight, the other ready to waltz at a ball.
As Felicity circled Helena she realized she had no idea how to begin a fight. Did she reach in and go for the hair or maybe start with a punch? It didn’t matter though because Helena moved first. Felicity caught the glint of silver on her fingers as Helena lurched at her with the kind of speed that came from a long vampire life; a life much longer than Felicity had lived.
The slap came across Felicity’s face, hard enough to jerk her head to the side. People cried out and gasped but no one could do anything. Felicity’s cheek burned as blood surfaced to the angry area.
The burn felt too intense to come from just a slap though. Felicity cupped her cheek then sought Helena’s ring hand again. Her eyes narrowed at what she saw—silver rings. One on each finger. Helena had made her own vampire form of brass knuckles. She came here to win.
That cheating bitch.
Something hot and very angry came over Felicity as she straightened. Helena’s gaze flicked to the mark she’d left and she grinned like a hyena. Felicity took all that anger boiling inside her and leaped.
She slammed into Helena taking them both to the floor. Helena’s back made a nasty crunching sound as it hit first. Felicity pulled back her arm, made a fist, and let it fly. The complete and utter satisfaction that came with the sound of her fist connecting to the bitch’s face could only be described as elation. Never had anything felt as good as watching Helena’s lip bust open and blood dribble out.
They fought hard. Helena squirmed and pushed, but Felicity locked her legs around the woman’s waist and held on. Helena hissed sending the blood from her lip down her chin as she reached up and grabbed hold of Felicity’s hair. She pulled hard and strands tore. Felicity screamed as she smashed her hand on top of Helena’s to stop it.
Helena brought her other hand forward, the ring hand, and jabbed Felicity in the head. Helena didn’t really have the leverage to put power into the punch, but the rings sure burned like a son of a bitch.
Felicity jerked back and Helena took the opportunity to shove her backward sending her reeling. Felicity landed on her back and Helena leaped on top of her. Her face took a blow, then another as she scrambled to get her arms up between them to block her.
“He’s going to be mine! He’s always been mine.”
Felicity jerked her head left and right, dodging blows. The words did it. They snapped something raw and violent loose inside of her. “You wish.”
Felicity rocked her hips forward then thrust up and slammed her knees into Helena’s back. She went rolling forward, landing awkwardly on her belly, unable to really move or roll with that ridiculous dress she wore. Felicity stood, crossed to her, brought her leg back, and let it slam forward. The kick caught Helena’s stomach and spun her back around. The hoarse cry she let out made her feel a whole lot better.
“Do you concede?”
Helena blinked up at her. Her bloody lip was swelling and the blood had sprayed across her chin and was steadily working its way down her chest.
“Never.”
“Really? I hate to do this.” Felicity pulled back and set loose another fierce kick. This time she flinched and Helena screamed as a rib snapped. “Yeah, please, concede now. This whole...kicking your ass thing sounded great in my head but it’s a little too violent for my tastes.”
Helena struggled to put herself in a sitting position. She grabbed her side, cradling it like a babe. Her eyes glared fiery hatred at Felicity. “I hate you.”
“Concede,” Felicity said.
Wincing and grunting, Helena struggled to stand up. Her hair was askew, her dress wrinkled, and with the blood on her face made her look like she belonged in a horror movie. Felicity stepped forward and swiped her legs out from under her sending her back to the ground.
The woman was persistent, never wanted to give up. Felicity stepped over her, pressed a foot into her ribs and pressed down hard. Helena howled so she let up. “Concede that he’s mine right now and this ends.”
Hands latched onto her ankles but was too weak to throw her off. Felicity put muscle into it until she squealed again in pain.
“All right! All right! I concede.”
Felicity stepped off. The crowd stood and applauded like she’d finished performing some great deed and was getting an encore. She even gave them a little bow. Turning back, she saw Dom and couldn’t help but smile. He looked positively stunned and impressed.
He came forward. “I had no idea you were so ruthless.” The way he said it, so dark and erotic, made her stomach flutter.
“Oh well, I had some time to contemplate it. Plus, I was dressed the part. She wasn’t.”
He pulled her close and at once he was touching her, cupping her in places he had no business touching in public.
“What are you doing?” she asked, pushing him away with a laugh.
“Making sure you aren’t hurt. God that made me hard.”
“H-hard? Here, now?”
He pulled her into his chest, ran his lips down her neck, and arched her into his body. At once she felt the hard length of his erection. “Yes here and now. So passionate, sweets, so beautiful. I want to be inside you right now.”
Her breath caught. “But the priestess still has to finish the ceremony.”
He growled, the sound quite scary though she knew it wasn’t for her. Then he was tugging her back up the platform. To the priestess he ordered, “Finish it.”
The priestess got the crowd under control and then they finished the ceremony. Felicity’s wrist was slit over a golden chalice. Next they did the same to Dom. The scent of his blood reached her senses and her eyes nearly rolled back into her head. Dom’s eyes shot to hers and glowered with the look. Her knees nearly quaked in the spot.
He wants me right now.
At the priestess’s order, they each drank from the cup until it was empty. Then the ceremony finished with a final kiss between the new mates. The kiss grew wet as he slid his tongue inside to taste her. They both tasted of each other’s unique essence, of their blood.
His kiss trailed over her jaw to her ear where he whispered. “Now.”
He spun them around and gave her only a few seconds to wave to the crowd before he lifted her into his arms and ran out the back door. The door led to an empty kitchen area. He raced through it, found a staircase, and followed it up to the second floor of the hall. Several rooms lined the hall. He tried one, cursed when he found it locked, and then went for another.
The door opened to an office. The desk was covered in papers. A filing cabinet stood against the wall with a drawer partway open and there was a bookcase next to it packed tight with books.
“Maybe we should wait until—” Her words came to an abrupt stop when she caught the look. “Or right now is good.”
She smiled up at him. This was a new feeling for her, being carried in his arms. She definitely put it on her list things she loved about Dominic Blackmoore. She kissed him then kissed her way up the smooth warm line of his jaw to nuzzle his neck. She’d already tasted his blood but her body warmed into hot syrup, ready for more.
“Take me,” she said.
“Always.”
He sat with her on the sofa. It was one of those leather chairs that worked as both a sofa and a lounger. It looked like something she might see in a therapist’s office.
He pulled her into his lap as his lips claimed hers. Their lips meshed and parted to allow tongues to taste and slide. He was hard, his erection digging into her. Her moans filled the air as a fire built in her blood.
