Chapter 6
LEO
Where do I know her from?
It’s the question I keep asking, but I’m coming up empty.
The thought insults my subconscious every time I catch a glimpse of that wonderful red dress that caresses her body in all the right ways.
It’s hard to focus on the boring conversation I’m having with the mayor when all I can think about is those two chocolate brown eyes that make me want to give up my no sugar rule.
“And that’s why this new zoning law is going to be great for your district,” Mayor White says, pulling me out of my brain fog.
“I agree,” I say, bringing the glass to my lips. I welcome the burn that slides down my throat and nod as he continues to drone on about timelines and committees.
Years in rooms exactly like this have taught me how to make powerful men feel important even when they’re not worth the dirt on my shoes. But boring and useless men like Mayor White somehow find themselves in useful positions, so I’m forced to pretend like I give a shit about what they’re saying.
As he continues to talk, I file away the important parts, but my attention drifts back to the crowd.
To her.
She and her date have moved closer to the bar. From this angle I have the perfect view of the patch of bare skin exposed by that damn dress.
When she laughs at something her date says, she tips her head back, exposing more perfectly golden skin on her throat. A gnawing sensation tightens low in my chest. That laugh doesn’t belong in a place like this. It’s too real. Too perfect and wholesome.
I crave to ruin her.
When I sense a natural lull in the conversation, I politely excuse myself, murmuring something bullshit line about greeting a donor.
From the corner of my eye, I spot my date making her own rounds, but I quickly take a detour so she doesn’t see me. I’ve been ignoring her all night and I can tell it’s starting to get on her nerves, but I don’t care. I found a shiny new toy to play with.
As I spot Mia from across the room, another wave of recognition washes over me, but I still can’t place her.
I take a slow lap around the room. With each passing nod and brief pleasantry, I drift closer to her like a shark circling its prey. She’s switched from champagne to water now and her posture looks relaxed even if there’s a hint of an edge that no one else in this room can see but me.
When her gaze flicks up and meets mine, the corner of her mouth tips forward in a small smile. She knows I’m watching her.
She whispers something in her date’s ear before passing him the glass of water and turning away from me to walk in the other direction. I wait a minute and then follow.
Mia glides across the floor of patrons, turning heads of bored husbands and cocky politicians. I want to rip their eyes from their heads. They shouldn’t be allowed to look until I’ve had my fun.
She leads us into a dark alcove and excitement buzzes inside me. “I was hoping you’d follow,” she says with her back still facing me. “Then again, I’m not sure what it says about you, following me back here when you brought a date.”
I smile, finding a sturdy wall to lean against. “And what about your date?”
“Just a friend,” she says, turning toward me. A glimmer of light drapes across her face, making her eyes look golden.
“Does he know that?”
“Yes,” Mia answers, taking a step closer. “And yours?”
“No one important,” I hum, crossing my arms.
“Good,” she says, her lips curling upward.
She takes another step closer until she’s so close I can smell her intoxicating scent of amber and spiced vanilla.
I let my fingers ghost over her hip, raising an eyebrow for permission.
She nods, deepening her smile as I rest my hand on the silky fabric of her dress.
“Do you usually lure strangers into dark corners or am I special?”
“You seem like the type of man that gets told he’s special a lot, so I’ll save my breath,” Mia quips, fire dancing behind dark eyelashes.
“You’d be correct,” I say, leaning closer and letting my lips graze the shell of her ear. “Now tell me what I have to do to earn a last name.”
She sucks in a sharp breath, making my heart dance with delight. My slacks begin to tighten, imagining all the ways I’m going to make her scream her answer. I firm my grip on her hip, letting my other hand rest on her other side.
Mia’s hands find their place against my chest, but she doesn’t stop me. She simply curls her fingers around the fabric of my coat until she’s grounded herself.
“Careful,” she whispers, lowering her voice to make it deeper. “You ask questions like that, and I’ll think you’re the type of man who likes to take orders.”
The response catches me off guard. Even burrows into my skin a little. But it does nothing to cool the heat radiating between us. I’ll let her think she is in charge until she is putty in my hands. Soft and willing to do whatever I tell her.
“I’m willing to compromise if the offer is good enough,” I say, pulling my head back so I can stare into her eyes. “And something tells me it’s going to be good.”
Her pupils dilate and her bottom lip falls open. I catch it with my thumb, desperate to smear the red lipstick coating her full lips. Her chin tips up and her eyes darken, challenging me to push harder.
“Are you always this confident?” she asks, her gaze fluttering to my lips. The motion sends sparks across my skin. Control starts to feel like a distant memory.
“Only when I know the odds are in my favor,” I say, dropping my hand to her chin and leaning in close enough that my mouth hovers painfully closer to hers. For some reason, I find myself pausing. Waiting for her to close the gap.
“You’re assuming,” she says, her breath mixing with mine.
“I don’t think so.” I smirk, using my free hand to trace welcoming circles along her hip. “I usually get what I want and what I want is you, Emilia.”
Something unreadable flashes in her eyes, but I don’t have time to question it before her lashes flutter close, and she presses her mouth against mine.
Her lips melt so perfectly into mine that I pull her close without asking for permission. I grab her waist and turn our bodies around so I can trap her between my arms.
Fireworks fill my vision as my body crushes her into the wall, desperate to be closer.
I sink lower so I can grab the back of her thigh and wrap it around my hip.
And then when I can feel her slowing down the kiss, I grind myself against her and feel my body catch on fire when her lips part in a muffled moan.
I use the opening to deepen the kiss and let my tongue dance against hers.
“Careful, Cara,” I whisper, catching my breath. “If you keep making sounds like that, I’ll fuck you against this wall until you’re carving your last name into my back.”
Her eyes widen, but I don’t give her a chance to reply before crushing my lips against hers again. My hands start to wander frantically, desperate to mark every inch of her skin that’s been so proudly on display.
And just when my hands have memorized the curve of her breasts, I hear a gasp. But I’m too wrapped up in this intoxicating woman to give the onlooker a second glance.
“Fuck off,” I growl, dipping my mouth back in for another taste. But unfortunately, Mia has other plans.
“Shit,” she says, turning her head toward our cock block. I keep my eyes on her, desperate to whisk her away like some caveman. And when she tries to push me away, I don’t budge. “Keith, I’m so sorry. I—”
“Save it, Mia,” her date says. “I can’t believe I thought you changed. I’m leaving.”
“No, Keith!” she yells, with her hands still braced against my chest. What kind of name is fucking Keith?
She turns back toward me with worry wrinkling her forehead. “I need to go after him.”
“I thought you said he was just a friend,” I breathe out, frustration settling in my stomach.
“I’m such an idiot. I shouldn’t have said that. I—"
“He’s already gone,” I whisper, attempting to pull her back into the moment. “Let me make you forget all about him.”
“No,” she says, pushing her hands against my chest. This time I let her. “This was fun, but I can’t do this. I’ve got to go.”
Before she can get too far, I grab her forearm and pull her back. “If you walk away, we’re done. I don’t give second chances.”
Her doe eyes hover on mine in contemplation, and it might just be the blood pumping straight to my southern region, but I swear she considers it. And then she does the weirdest thing. She smiles.
“I’m fine with that, but this isn’t over. I’ll see you soon, Leo DeLuca.”
If I was a simpler man, my jaw might have hit the floor. But instead, I stand there and watch as she disappears back into the crowd.
I may not know her, but she certainly knows me.
Without even thinking, my phone is in my hand, dialing the most important number in my contact list.
“Yes,” Michael answers, not bothering with a formal greeting.
“I need you to find a woman for me.”
He sighs. “That’s not a part of my job description.”
I ignore his snide comment and continue, “Her name is Mia. Brown eyes. Brown hair. She was here tonight with a man named Keith.”
That last part comes out a little bitter, but thankfully Michael doesn’t notice.
“That’s all you have?”
“That’s all you should need,” I say, pressing my hand against the wall I had her pressed up against. It’s still warm. “Find out everything.”
“Done,” he says before the line goes dead.
Anticipation crests inside me. I’m glad she didn’t give me a last name.
I love a good chase.
The second I get home, I’m ready to melt into my chair with a smooth glass of bourbon. That seems like the best option to distract me from the obsession I feel slowly twisting around my brain.
But fate has other plans as I spot Michael emptying the very expensive bottle into a glass of his own. “You better have good news, or I might be tempted to break that bottle over your skull.”
He chuckles, lifting the glass to his lips and taking a long drag.
Fucking asshole.
“You’re lucky I’m good at my job.”
“Just cut to the chase already. My ego and dick are not having a good night.”