Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
M ireille applied her lipstick, a deep burgundy shade she never would have chosen for herself, purchased as a replacement for her missing armor—the veiling potions that typically masked her identity during her assignments. And though it would do her no good tonight, she’d brought along the vial she’d concocted last week just in case.
She leaned further over the vanity, her dress hanging open and exposing her back. She couldn’t zip it up herself, but she hadn’t yet asked Ronin for help. Knowing how she’d reacted to his touch down in Kheimos made her hesitant to indulge the temptation.
Ronin had only spent about thirty minutes scoping out the parlors . She knew the real reason he’d gone down there, had felt his vibrating need for a Delirium as soon as they’d come upon the supply downstairs. But she didn’t want to call him out on it. If he needed the substance to steady himself, to get him through these next few days, who was she to judge?
“We need to discuss some rules,” she said.
“Discuss away.”
Through the mirror, she watched as Ronin undressed.
His ice-blue tattoos shimmered across his chest and arms, carving down his thick thighs. Though he wasn’t looking at her, she knew that he knew she was watching him. And he was taking an abnormally long time shoving his legs into his black suit pants.
Wrenching her gaze back to her face, she smoothed on a second coat of lipstick. “When we’re downstairs together, you may touch me, but there’s no need to go overboard. Back only, and stay above the ass and below the shoulders.”
Ronin snickered, flicking white hair out of his eyes as he buckled his belt. “How long has it been since you’ve been in a real relationship?”
“Asks the male who doesn’t seem to know the meaning of the word.” She blotted her lips with a tissue. “Why?”
Ronin shrugged on his dress shirt, his long fingers making quick work of the buttons. “Because a new couple, especially one as attractive as us, wouldn’t be able to keep their hands off each other. In any type of crowd.”
“So what are you suggesting?” She tilted her head back to sweep mascara up her lashes. “That you’re going to bend me over a table and take me in front of the entire room?”
Ronin shot her a heated look. “Exhibitionism one of those secret kinks of yours, Valette?”
“No.” She dusted her cheeks with blush to hide the real one threatening to overtake her.
Ronin laughed, a deep rumble that was far sexier than it had any right to be. “Don’t worry. I don’t have any more desire to touch you down there than you do me. I’ll abide by your rules.”
She’d pretended so many times before, through all the unwanted but necessary pawing she’d been subjected to from her marks. Her body was a tool she wielded with exacting precision, whether onstage or on assignment. Attraction had never been part of the equation. At least not for her.
This assignment, however, was precariously different. If she ceded an ounce of power to Ronin, let him see just how much he affected her, the consequences could be disastrous.
She’d be damned if she let yet another male stomp through the broken shards inside her chest.
Time to nip this stupid crush in the bud and put up some boundaries.
“Also, since I am the senior agent on the assignment?—”
“I’m not an agent at all.”
“Don’t remind me,” she mumbled, then raised her voice, lacing it with all the authority she could muster. “And don’t interrupt me. Since I am the senior agent on this assignment, you’ll do what I tell you. Do not question me, nor offer up suggestions. I don’t need your input. And if you think I do, I really don’t. If I tell you to jump, you ask how high then leap for the sky with a fucking smile on your face.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Ronin’s grin had been growing throughout her speech and by the end, it was practically feral. She felt like she was missing something.
Makeup complete, she gathered her long fall of hair and began twisting it into a bun.
“Leave it down.” Ronin’s husky command prickled across her exposed flesh.
Her hands stilled as she met his hooded gaze in the mirror. “Why?”
“Because I prefer it that way.” He crossed his arms, tugging a thumb across his lower lip, and her stupid wolf rolled over in submission.
“Did you not hear what I just said?” She grabbed a handful of pins from the vanity. “I don’t give a shit about your preferences.”
He prowled over, towering behind her, the radiant heat of his powerful body warming her back.
“Here’s why you should.” He reached an arm around her, snatching up the pins, and his breath caressed her nape. “If I can picture my hands fisted in these gorgeous strands, it will help perpetuate our little lie. People will take one whiff of my scent and believe that all I want to do, all night long, is get you back up to this room and bury my face between your legs.”
She rolled her eyes, trying to ignore the scintillating heat unfurling in her core. “Fine. If something as simple as my hairstyle will make us a more believable couple, I’ll leave it down.”
She released her hair, and the coppery waves cascaded down her shoulders. Behind her, genuine hunger flashed through Ronin’s blue-yellow eyes.
He inched closer, his soft dress shirt tickling her exposed back. “You can drop the hard-ass act this week, too. I can see right through it. You pretend you don’t need or want anyone, but the truth is, you’re terrified that someone might find out there’s absolutely nothing beneath your ice queen exterior.” He pressed his mouth against the shell of her ear. “But I can feel it. You want to unleash. You’ve just been waiting for the right male.”
A blaze of molten rage tore through her. The fucking arrogance of this beast. “And you think you’re the right male?”
“I don’t want the job.”
His words were a well-timed blow, shredding through hidden, vulnerable parts of her heart.
Why did she even care ?
“Good.” She launched her own volley. “We’ll get through this assignment—because we have to—and then I can go back to pretending you don’t exist. Just like everyone else on the continent after your wolf was caged and you became the nobody you were always meant to be.”
“Bitch.” He tipped his head back in a barking laugh. “Claw at me all you want. But by the end of this week, you’ll be begging me to touch you. And not just above your ass and below your shoulders.”
“Un-fucking-likely.” She bared her teeth even as her useless wolf continued to pant and preen.
Dangerous. He was too dangerous. In more ways than she cared to admit.
She managed to get herself—and her wolf—under control, and side-stepped away, struggling to reach the zipper on the back of her dress.
He vented an exasperated sigh, then tugged her back to him and pulled her hair aside. He zipped her dress, his knuckles trailing up her spine far more tenderly than she deserved, given the vitriol she’d just spewed at him.
He turned her around, then bent down to examine her cheeks, which she knew were flushed from their argument.
Only the argument. Had nothing to do with his gentle touch.
“Perfect. You’ve got some color now and your breathing is heavy. The other guests might even believe we spent the afternoon enjoying each other before attending this party.”
She gawked at him, certain he’d baited her into this fight on purpose, and she almost laughed in admiration.
He opened the door and held out an elbow, which she grudgingly accepted.
Then he ushered her out of the room and into their first test.