Chapter 3
3
ASTON
T o my shock, the mention of her friend caused a ball of rage to explode in my chest. I’d never felt jealousy over a woman. But then, I’d never had such an intense obsession with one. Everything about Kerrigan was unique, including my reaction to her.
She was gorgeous but also intelligent and so passionate about art. And merde , she felt amazing in my arms.
But I needed to address this issue of her friend because I was determined to have Kerrigan, and no one would stand in my way. I’d simply have a quick tête-à-tête with the connard . Nothing brutal, just…persuasive. I’d make sure the explication was one he wouldn’t forget.
I pulled Kerrigan just a little closer, my hand firm on the smooth, warm skin at the small of her back as my eyes locked on hers. “I’m astonished that any man would let une créature aussi exquise come to an event like this alone.”
Her emerald-green orbs turned a little glassy, and she shivered. I bit back a smile when she blushed, making her adorable and sexy freckles stand out, and asked breathlessly, “What does une créature aussi exquise mean?”
The music wrapped around us, low and sultry, just like my voice when I leaned in so my lips were near her ear. “It means you’re quite the exquisite creature. The kind that makes men forget their place.” My gaze sharpened, the smile still there but with an edge now. “And I’m wondering what kind of fool let you walk in here alone.”
The pink stain on her cheeks deepened, and she sucked in a tiny breath when my fingers dipped a little lower so they were resting right above the curve of her plump, round ass.
“Um…” She shook her head as if trying to clear away the sensuous fog. “My friend is…um, isn’t. It’s a she. She works for the catering staff.” Then her brow furrowed as she realized what she’d admitted. “Please don’t get her in trouble. She was just doing me a huge favor because I begged.”
“Your secret is safe with me,” I assured her with a wink that brought more pink to her cheeks. “But tell me what was so important that you needed to crash this particular party?”
Kerrigan glanced away, her expression uncertain, and it remained so when she met my eyes again. I didn’t like that she was hesitant with me. I wanted her to feel comfortable, to trust me and tell me all her secrets.
Yes, I was a fucking hypocrite since there was a ton of shit I would never share with her. But that didn’t stop me from wanting her to surrender to me. To give me everything.
Kerrigan was a bright light in a very dark world. Especially mine, where corruption and deviousness were the reality. She was sweet and innocent. She didn’t belong in this life. Or with me.
But beneath my suave, carefree exterior was a ruthless, selfish man who would do whatever it took to get what I wanted. And I wanted her.
Perhaps I should have felt some guilt over my actions and intentions, but it wasn’t an emotion that I wasted my time with.
“You can trust me, petite miette ,” I told her in a compelling, sensual voice.
Kerrigan sounded breathless again when she asked, “What did you call me?”
I smiled lazily, not quite letting her see the wicked intensity I was feeling.
“ Petite miette . The closest translation is ‘little crumb.’”
I chuckled when she scrunched her nose, and my thumb brushed her wrist as we moved.
“Don’t be offended. It’s along the lines of ‘little thing.’ But it felt appropriate since you’re so small and sweet.” I brought her closer so she could feel her effect on my body. Heat blazed in my eyes when I continued, “And I’m confident that you’ll be impossible to stop tasting once I start.”
Kerrigan’s mouth formed a cute little O, and her face flushed, but not from embarrassment. An echoing warmth in her green pools gave away the fact that she was just as affected by me as I was by her. The spark in them also told me that seducing my little miette was going to be hot as hell and a fuck of a lot of fun.
I decided to give her a little reprieve, though. The last thing I wanted was to scare her off.
“So tell me, what is the reason that brought you here, fortunately for me, into my arms?”
She bit her full bottom lip, and I resisted the urge to nip at it so she would let the plump flesh go. I didn’t like feeling jealous of a fucking mouth. But fuck all if I could help it. Putain . I wanted to feel those lips all over me, not just between my teeth.
I could practically see the wheels turning in her head as she studied me, trying to decide whether to trust me.
“It’s difficult to prove yourself in this business,” she admitted. “I’m sure you know that being a junior curator sounds more glamorous than it is. You must have plenty of curators at all levels working for you.”
My chin dipped in response, though I didn’t say anything. She was right to a certain extent. She just didn’t know that those curators I worked with had already proven themselves to The Family. They were assets in our less-than-legal activities in the art world and in the ones above board.
Kerrigan sighed. “Most of the time, it feels like my boss sees me as a cataloger or gofer rather than someone to teach and guide into becoming her equal.”
“Starting out is never easy,” I replied sympathetically. “And the competition to move up is fierce. As much as I hate to say it, many people will do their best to keep others from climbing the ladder because they’re afraid they will be knocked off.”
That was often the case, but I didn’t want to discourage her. Before I could say anything reassuring, she surprised me.
Determination glinted in her eyes, and her voice was firm when she spoke. “That’s why I’ve been looking for an opportunity to prove myself. I can’t just wait around for it to be dropped in my lap. I might be stuck waiting forever if I do.”
My lips curled, and I felt something like pride fill my chest. This woman…it was becoming clearer every moment that she was fucking amazing. And it only fueled my desire and resolve to have her in my bed.
“I don’t want to trample over anyone, but it’s a cutthroat business, right?”
I wasn’t sure if she was joking, but I almost laughed because she had no idea just how right she was.
“So bloodthirsty,” I teased. “A quality I quite admire in you.”
She giggled and shook her head. “It’s not like I’m going to bump off my competition.”
“Bump off?” I repeated, adopting a confused expression. Despite how well I spoke English, it was not my first language. And though I’d heard the phrase—I was in the fucking Mafia, after all—I thought it might be better to play dumb.
Kerrigan snickered and looked at me with a little less suspicion. “Sorry, I should have realized you might not know a slang phrase like that. It means to kill or murder someone. With a sort of Mafia-type ring to it.”
“Ah. I see,” I commented, amusement coloring my tone. “I believe the French Mafia might use the phrase buter quelqu’un instead.”
“Okay,” she laughed. “I’m not going to buter quelqu’un .” Then she raised her eyebrows questioningly. “Did I say it right? Or completely butcher it?”
I smirked. “Not bad, miette . With some private instruction, I believe you could sound just like a native.”
She blushed prettily, and I was sorely tempted to kiss her.
But the temptation was interrupted when the song ended. I knew I should let her go and check on Isaiah, but another song began to play. It was slow and sensual, so rather than releasing her, my arms tightened around Kerrigan.
“Tell me then, if you don’t intend to ‘bump someone off,’ how are you planning to climb to the top?” I briefly thought about interfering and lifting her there myself, but I instinctively knew that if she found out she hadn’t earned it, she’d likely be even angrier than if she found out who I really was.
I wasn’t going to test that theory on either end.
Although I was hell-bent on having Kerrigan, I had no intention of letting her anywhere near the darker parts of my life. Especially not the darkness that lived inside me.
But when she answered my question, she threw a fucking wrench into my plans.
“I have a theory about a forgery,” she admitted. “And if I’m the one to expose it, that could snag the attention of the higher-ups. Or even better, private curators. They’ll trust me to add to their collection because they’ll know I can spot a fake.”
“Not a bad plan, miette ,” I mused carefully, lowering my head so that my lips brushed her temple when I spoke. “Is this suspected art piece being auctioned off tonight?”
Kerrigan sighed and melted into me a little more, resting her head on my chest. “Yes. It’s the Nativity with Saint Francis and Saint Lawrence . There is just something about the story that doesn’t add up.”
Putain de merde.
I stayed silent while she told me a little more about the painting and why she suspected it might be a forgery. There was no way that she would be able to know for certain, but if she cried foul, it might bring closer scrutiny that we did not want to deal with.
There was also the possibility that if she stuck her nose in places it didn’t belong, she might run into knowledge that could get her killed.
“That’s an awfully big risk to your career, miette ,” I said softly, keeping my response casual. “I can tell that you’re bright and gifted when it comes to art, but even so, your experience is limited.”
Kerrigan sighed. “I know, but I think if I keep searching for answers and find the right people to help me, I could?—”
“Why this painting, miette ?” I interrupted, needing answers so I could figure out what to do next.
Kerrigan raised her head, looking up at me with a sheepish smile. “Promise you won’t laugh?”
“ Je promets, petite miette .” I crossed my heart, making her chuckle.
“I just feel it in my bones. The story doesn’t add up. Why now? If the painting was worth hiding for over fifty years, why would the thieves part with it now? No one seems to be able to confirm the identity of the current owner. And if it involved the Sicilian Mafia, like the rumors say, why is it being auctioned in the States?”
“Whoa.” I moved one hand to cup her chin and smiled. “Slow down, Kerrigan. Breathe.”
She grinned and took a deep breath before shrugging. “Sorry, I can get passionate about things.”
“Hmm,” I hummed in a suggestive tone. “Your passion is one of the things that draws me to you, miette . I’m hoping it isn’t only art that brings out this fire.”
The hand resting on her lower back slid down a few centimeters, just enough to dip a few fingers under the fabric of her dress. A small gasp left her mouth, and I rubbed my lips lightly over her cheek while my digits brushed over the sensitive skin at the crack of her ass.
“I can’t wait to explore such blazing heat,” I murmured, pleased when she shivered, and a tiny moan escaped her lips.
I aimed to distract her and was pleased when it so easily worked.
When I realized her fixation was on my painting, I knew I would have to steer her away. I couldn’t chance her finding out the truth of who I was and what I did for The Family. The fact that it might send her running was a concern—although she wouldn’t get far before I dragged her pretty little ass back to me. Keeping her safe from The Family was of the highest priority.
If Kerrigan got too close to the truth, and Rafa thought she could be a problem, he would order someone to take care of her.
The best option was to get close to her and gain her trust so I could make sure she looked in all the wrong places and never found out the truth.
Smug satisfaction settled in my chest because the answer to all of that was to seduce Kerrigan. I knew my growing obsession with her was only going to get stronger. I would do whatever it took to make her need me, to make her body crave me until she couldn’t live without me. Then she would forget about everything but me.
The song ended, and the auction would begin in thirty minutes. I reluctantly withdrew my arms from around Kerrigan. I cursed our former authenticator to hell and back because I had to leave my woman and go babysit the new guy.
Leaning down, I brushed my lips over her cheek and whispered, “I have to go, miette . But I will see you soon. Je promets .”
Once again, it occurred to me that I should probably feel some speck of guilt for my plans to deceive Kerrigan. There was a slight hesitation when I thought about how convincing her the painting was real could possibly set back her career. However, it was better to take a little longer to advance than to be dead.
When it came to claiming Kerrigan, though, I felt only anticipation.