“No one. I just have an interest in maintaining the world’s greatest treasures.”
She narrows her eyes. “Then where are they? I saw some pretty stuff in the halls, but nothing that screamed ‘priceless artifact’ to me.”
“I keep them stored safely until I can either return them to their place of origin or make arrangements for the Smithsonian or other institutions to keep them until such time as they can be repatriated to their rightful homes.”
“Oh.” She cocks her head to the side. “You mean you don’t have them all here somewhere?”
“No.”
“Oh.” This one sounds almost deflated, and she steps backwards until her knees hit my bed and she sits.
“What’s wrong?” I follow her and kneel at her feet.
“Nothing. I mean.” She huffs out a breath. “I’m just tired. Long night and all. I should just get my dress and go.”
“Please don’t.” I reach up and cover her hands with my own. “Besides, there’s no way Mrs. Pettyford has finished cleaning your dress.” Of course, I’d buy her fifty of those dresses if she wanted them, but that little fact wouldn’t keep her here. I’m not above using a tiny stain as leverage to keep this woman in my life. No, in my bed.
“I shouldn’t stay. After all, I didn’t win you.” Her eyes meet mine again, and everything inside me seems to melt. This woman is here for a reason. She came to me, falling into my arms like a heaven-sent gift. I can’t let her go so easily.
“You may not have won the bid, but I’m all yours, Pansy. Let me show you.” I lean down and drop a kiss on her knee.
Her breath hitches.
I move to the other knee and gently press my lips to her skin. Desire races through me, burning a path down my spine, but I temper it, pull it back, and keep slowly kissing her, savoring each contact as I move up her thighs.
By the time I get to the hem of my shirt, she’s almost panting, and I take the opportunity to surge up and claim her lips in another fiery kiss, one that sears straight to my soul.
11
Pandora
I’m really good at this seduction thing. He can’t keep his hands off me.
As my fingers dig into his shirt, I think I might have this backwards. I’m the one clinging to him. I should pull away. I’m only supposed to make him want me or kiss him because I have to. I’m enjoying this entirely too much. Nothing has prepared me for the way his mouth would feel against mine.
I’ve never been kissed like this before. Or at all, if I’m really telling the truth. Now that I’ve had a taste of him, I want more.
He devours me, and before I know it I’m wrapping my legs around him. The ache between my thighs has grown unbearable as I try to press my body to his to get some relief. My nipples harden. I whimper against his mouth, not sure how to tell him what I want.
“I’ve got you.”
My body comes down onto his bed as his mouth trails down my neck. I try to lift my hips, needing to rub against him, seeking the pleasure that I somehow know he can give me.
“Gaines.” Now I’m the one begging him. I gasp when he pulls at my shirt, and the buttons go flying everywhere. I’m once again naked. This time I find I don’t care, especially when his mouth latches on to my nipple. I should feel shy, but instead I curl my fingers into his hair, holding him to me. I keep trying to rub myself against his big body, but he pins me to the bed. His mouth leaves one nipple, going to the other and giving it the same attention as the first.
“More,” I demand.
“Greedy.” He lets go of my nipple.
I’m not the greedy one; he is. Or I thought he was. His mouth travels down my stomach, and my whole body starts to throb. I think something is wrong with me. Something inside me lights and sizzles as he presses an open-mouthed kiss on the outside of my panties.
He groans, the sound causing goosebumps to cover my skin. I can feel how wet I am, and I know he can see the evidence of it. I whimper, closing my eyes tightly, praying that he doesn’t stop. That he fulfills the promise his mouth is silently making to me.
“Eyes,” he orders.
They fly back open in time to watch his fingers grip the edge of my panties, pulling them to the side. “Breathtaking.” His warm breath tickles against my skin. The throb has only gotten worse. I’m so close.
“I’ve seen many beautiful things in my life, but nothing can hold a candle to you.”
My stomach tightens at his sweet words. I’m starting to think he’s the one seducing me now. And I couldn’t care less at this point. The only thing I want is his mouth on me.
His tongue circles my clit, his fingers digging into my thighs as he spreads me wider to make room for his broad frame. I’m wrapped up in him at this moment, not caring that I’ve gone off course. When he sucks my clit into his mouth, I’m lost. I scream out his name as he gives my body the most intense pleasure of my life. He doesn't stop there. He keeps on going. One orgasm bleeds into another until darkness takes me.
I peek one eye open to see big green eyes staring at me. I reach out and give the cat a nice long pet.
“I’m naked,” I whisper to him. This is not how this was supposed to go. I turn my head to see Gaines sleeping soundly behind me.
Ever so slowly, I slip from the bed. I tiptoe into his closet to find another shirt. I spot some boxers, too. I pull them on and roll them at the waist so they’ll stay put. The shirt falls to my knees already, but I’ll feel better leaving the house if I have ‘pants’ on.
“Crap!” I throw my hand over my mouth. Double crap. I will probably get busted, but I have to find my dress. There is no way that I can leave here without it. Not if I want to eat for the next few months anyway.
I sneak out of the closet. Gaines’s arm is flung out, currently resting where I’d been lying. It almost seems as though he’s searching for me. I pick up my pace, opening the door but not closing it all the way for fear the sound will wake him.
I’ve got to get this dress back and regroup. I need a new plan that doesn’t include seduction. My box isn't even here, if what he said earlier was true. I reach up and touch my necklace.
I make it down the stairs without Gaines noticing I’ve given him the slip.
“Sneaking out?” I jump, somehow managing not to scream. Mrs. Pettyford is standing there with my dress hanging over her arm and my heels in her other hand. She softly smiles at me as she takes in my outfit.
“You scared the crap out of me.”
“And you didn't answer my question.”
“I have somewhere to be.” It’s not a lie. I need to be back at that store returning this dress and getting my money back.
“Of course you do.” She lowers her voice. “It’s good to make a man chase you. It’s half the fun.”
An interesting woman, one I’m sure knows all of Gaines’s secrets. I walk over to her.
She hands me the dress. “And you can count on him chasing you.”
I don't know why her words excite me.
“You’ll just have to try my pancakes the next time you’re here.”