Chapter 12 #2
While I was a cold-blooded killer, seeing her toying with a deadly weapon created a knot in the pit of my stomach. For all her insistence she had similar skills to mine, my need to protect her transcended everything else.
“If I die, the world continues without anyone mourning my death. If you’re injured, your family will collapse.”
For some reason, my stark answer surprised her.
She placed the knife on the table, grabbing both plates in her fingers and heading closer.
Her indigo blue eyes hit mine and in those seconds of her searching my blackened soul, I was pulled into an enlightened vacuum where right and wrong collided.
“That’s not true. I would mourn your death for a very long time. You’re very… unforgettable.”
Unforgettable. I’d never had a woman use such a phrase when talking about me.
I accepted the plate, unable to take my eyes off her as she used her fingers, scooping up a small piece of cake.
“Happy birthday to me.” She sang the second line.
There shouldn’t be anything sensual about what she was doing and especially not with how she was chewing her food. But every cell in my goddamn body was alive, on fire and suffocating the hell out of me.
“Happy birthday, dear…” Leaving the end open, she tilted her head, darting her eyes back and forth across mine.
Daring me.
Challenging me.
When she arched an eyebrow from amusement, I realized my hand holding the plate was shaking. She didn’t ask me to join her. She didn’t chastise me for not taking a bite. She simply moved closer, standing directly in front of me and I hadn’t paid but so much attention that she’d moved.
Exhaling, Emmeline took my plate away, placing both on the table. Every action deliberate, she picked up the remainder of the piece she’d been nibbling on.
“Care to explain what you’re doing?” I asked, uncertain I wanted the answer.
“Tempting you.” She gave my body a quick sweep, a woman identifying her prey. “Happy birthday…” she repeated while bringing the chunk of cake toward my face.
“Ambrosia dolce.”
Her lower lip quivering, she smiled briefly before finishing the song. “Happy birthday… to… me.”
Was I expecting her to shove the piece into my mouth?
Maybe.
Did I anticipate my body’s reaction to a simple act?
Possibly.
Had I planned on acting on the years of longing to touch and taste her?
Absolutely not, but at this point, I had no other choice. Not one that was acceptable to a man who’d never accepted no as an answer from anyone.
I grabbed her wrist, holding her arm in place as I chomped on the sweet treat.
The fire in her eyes burned brightly, and the slight dart of the tip of her tongue across her bottom lip was a powerful aphrodisiac.
Even her perfume was at the point of driving me crazy.
As soon as I’d swallowed, I had a choice to make.
Either push her away again.
Or…
There was no further hesitation. I yanked her closer, capturing her mouth as I fisted a handful of her hair.
Her initial shock gave way to the same feelings and sensations in both my brain and body. She wrapped her long fingers around my shirt, pulling herself closer. The combination of the sweet icing and her lush mouth sealed the deal.
There wasn’t a chance in hell I could let her go.
She slipped her arms around my neck, tugging my hair with one hand. The feel of her warm body in my arms was everything I’d thought it would be. Every sound I captured, every sweep of her tongue driving away all limitations.
At this point, I couldn’t care less about rules or obligations. There was no turning back, no acceptance of anything else but fulfilling every burning desire.
She ripped at my shirt while moaning into the kiss, arching her back as she swept her tongue back and forth across mine.
After several tries, she managed to jerk the shirt from my trousers, sliding her hands underneath.
The thrill of having her fingertips sweep across my heated skin created a flash of gasoline.
I dominated her mouth, her tongue, and her body while slowly moving backward toward the table. The kiss was even more powerful than I’d imagined, driving me to insatiable places in my mind.
The passion was already through the roof and I could barely contain a possessive growl.
Seeing her in her skimpy dress, the material accentuating her long legs and curvy ass, I’d wanted to castrate every single man who’d dared even look in her direction.
Her voluptuous breasts practically spilled out, her hardened nipples on full display.
Her desire equaling mine.
Now all I could think about was gripping her hips while fucking her.
Without thinking, I raked my arm across items on the table, knocking over the loaf of fresh bread and the bowl of fruit. Yet I’d been careful enough to avoid the cake, merely pushing it aside.
She pushed her hands against me, breaking the kiss, her laugh scattered as she noticed what I’d done. “You do need help with interior design.”
Grinning, I ripped at her dress, pulling it over her shoulders and pitching to the side.
To hell with my duty. I’d been right before.
After tonight, there was no chance at altering the future, one with consequences that I’d be happy to face.
Because she would finally belong to me.