Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Michel and Eve had spent the better part of the morning with Johann, enjoying his oddities once the business had been completed.
As Michel and Eve walked back to camp, Michel felt some relief that he had a tangible contact for the cashmere.
He would meet with the man, secure the deal, and then he could focus on what he wanted to focus on: Eve.
He worried about the complications of those looking for her, but Johann was right.
If he stayed on the roads and stayed smart, it was unlikely he would be attacked.
Plus, he could handle a fight here or there.
It may be a good way to take out some of the frustration he felt in his body from being near her and having to resist. He looked over at her then and started whistling a tune at his good humor.
She just shook her head at him and laughed.
They wove through the maze-like alleyways between the buildings.
As most families were now having lunch to avoid the high heat of the day, the shaded walkways were empty other than the smells of food cooking in the apartments.
Cloves and spices. Onions and oil. Eve looked back at him, and he raised his eyebrows at her, still whistling.
“Will we be leaving right away? To meet this contact?” Eve asked, smiling at his good mood.
“A few more days,” he said. “I have business to finish here, and then I still have other important men I have to meet with on the way.”
“Why is this cashmere so important to you?” she asked.
“France has been at war with Spain for years. I fought in the war, and so did my brothers.” He moved slightly closer to her, letting the backs of his knuckles brush her dress.
“The war has mostly ended but there is debt. Cardinal Mazarin plans to levy a high tax on the regions, but I,” he let a finger brush her hand, his mind trailing away before coming back to his thoughts, “I promised to secure new, profitable trade.” Michel shrugged.
“Cashmere.” He scoffed. “The Cardinal agreed not to enact the tax if I did.”
“If you don’t succeed?”
“My father is a powerful, beloved Duke,” he said. “He will organize and go to war with Paris over it.” He glanced at her. “He could raise an army overnight.”
Eve nodded, stepping in line with him, allowing her arm to touch his.
“Cashmere is tightly held. No one has ever secured a stable line. I would be the first,” he said, turning into her, enjoying the proximity. “I hope this friend of Johann will be my answer.”
“My family has a herd of wonderful goats,” she glanced up to him. “Many of the tribal people weave cashmere.”
“Perhaps if you ever tell me where you are from,” Michel teased, “then we could trade directly.” He circled behind her as they walked, his eyes on her like he wished his hands to be.
“Oh no,” she said, looking directly ahead, ignoring his movements as he worked to get closer. “The elders of my people would hate you.”
“Why?” Michel asked, intrigued. “I’m respectful. I bring good business. What have I done that’s so bad?” He hooked his finger in the back of her dress and pulled her to a stop. He whispered into her ear, “Except for a few of the things I’ve done to you.”
She turned and pushed him off, grinning as she did so.
He let her get a few steps ahead, then continued stalking her. “Really,” he said. “Why wouldn’t they trade with me?”
“They don’t like Westerners. Plus, it is far, and the trade routes can get messy. There would be loss.”
“That is why I patrol.”
She rolled her eyes. “Michel, you really think you are more important than you are.” She laughed, teasing him.
Michel stopped in the center of the walkway and held out his hands.
“I think I am just as important as I think I am.” He grinned.
Then he jogged up to her again and grabbed her arm.
He couldn’t help it. He couldn’t help pawing at her.
He turned her around to face him and shuffled her to the wall.
“What do you think of me?” He pressed himself against her.
For a second, she looked surprised, but her body never stiffened against him and he leaned into her, already feeling his blood shift.
“I am your servant,” she said, her voice going breathy. “You shouldn’t care so much what I think of you.”
He watched her for a moment, tilting his head to look into her eyes. “After what happened last night, Siren,” he said, the memories of her causing changes to crash through his body, “how could I not care?”
She tilted her chin up to him. “What happened last night?”
He watched her lips. “When you…” He couldn’t find the right words, words that wouldn’t be vulgar. “When you, uh…”
She whispered, leaning up to nip at his bottom lip. “When I what, Michel?”
He cracked a half smile. “When you took me in your mouth,” he said.
“Oh, yes,” she said. “That.” Her eyes sparkled.
“Yes,” he growled. “That.” And his lips were on her, hard against her.
All of him was hard against her. What was he doing kissing her out here where anyone could see?
He just couldn’t help it. Any attention from her, any chance to touch her, he couldn’t stop himself.
What in the world was he going to do with her?
Eve was not the kind of woman that he would be able to move on from.
Just standing in the street, tasting her lips, feeling her yield to him while he stroked his hand through her hair made him forget everything in the world.
Her lips, her scent, her body, her words, made him understand addiction.
As soon as he dealt with this cashmere nonsense, he was going to figure this out.
His duties mattered less and less. He just wanted to make Eve a permanent part of his life.
He pulled back to look at her. A needy whimper escaped her lips, and it almost caused him to push his way up her skirts in the middle of the alley.
He groaned, feeling weak, blurry from the kiss.
He wanted to take so much more, but he also didn’t know what she had endured in the past, before she had escaped her situation.
“Listen,” he said, the warm desert air now separating their bodies and the soft desire building between them.
“I want you to know…you don’t have to do that. ”
She looked at him but didn’t say anything.
“I mean, I loved it,” he said. “Your mouth.” He reached up to draw a line down her jaw with his thumb. “On me.” Then he shook his head again as his body wanted to remember. “I know why you did it.”
She continued to watch him. “Why did I do it?” Her voice was teasing still, but he recognized the sober note to it.
“You think I’m going to abandon you.” He gripped her side as he said it.
He wanted to pull her to him again but didn’t because he wanted her to see his sincerity.
He continued, his voice low. “I’m not, Eve,” he said.
“I don’t care who is coming after you, or what you did. I’m not going to leave you behind.”
She watched him with a serious expression on her face and nodded. “Thank you, Michel,” she whispered.
He wanted to kiss her again, to keep kissing her, but he feared he would sink into her lips, here on the street, and never be able to stop.
So, he took her hand and pulled her back to the alley.
They continued to walk, hands together. “If you should decide to reward me again, though…” he looked at her playfully.
“I will take any scraps you throw my way.”
She laughed at this. Then she looked at him and shrugged. “I guess you'd better keep your blade sharp then,” she said, still smiling.
He stopped, causing her to pause and look at him. He brought her hand up to his lips and placed a kiss in her palm. “You’re going to need to tell me more, though. Soon, I hope.”
“Yes,” she conceded. “You are right.” Then she took a big breath and let out a sigh. “I just don’t want anyone else to get hurt.”
Michel nodded at her. “I understand, but I can’t protect you if I don’t know who’s coming.”
She nodded. “I know.” Then she looked up and gave him a smirk. “I sure am worth the trouble, though, aren’t I?”
He held his arms out, his hands open, and he smiled at her. “Absolutely,” he promised, sure of the words.