“Like a treasure?” She arches a brow.
“Exactly like a treasure, which I happen to collect.”
She pulls her hand from mine. “You like to collect things that don’t belong to you?”
I can’t read her tone, but what little I can get, I don’t like.
I pull up to the front of my home and kill the engine, then turn to her. “What do you mean?”
She thins her lips a little, as if pressing them between her teeth.
“Pansy?” I take her hand again, gently. “Did I say something wrong?”
“No.” She looks down at where our fingers are joined. “Sorry. I just … Never mind.” She forces a smile. “Let’s go inside.”
I want to say more, to dig deeper, but not in my car. I need her in my house behind a locked door. Safe from everything but me.
I get out and open her door for her. She steps out and hurries up the front stairs, her dress perfectly molded to her round ass.
I lead her inside, and once she’s there, I turn and lock the door. Then, I finally do what I’ve been wanting to do from the moment Pansy Box fell into my arms.
Pushing her up against the bolted door, I claim her surprised lips in a kiss. She’s so warm, her startled stiffness giving way to a delicious softness that I want to sink into.
Her hands go around my neck, and I grip her waist and lift her, pulling her up to my level and pinning her against the door. She parts her legs for me, wrapping them around me as if instinctually as I deepen the kiss, slanting my mouth over hers and pushing my tongue into her sultry mouth.
She answers with her own, and her fingers stray to my hair, mussing the unruly strands even more as I press against her body and feel every curve she has to offer. My cock is demanding I take her here and now, but I focus on her mouth, on the way she tastes, her scent, the hard pounding of her heart against mine.
When I move my hands lower and cup her ass, kneading lightly, she moans into my mouth, and I swear I’ve never heard a sexier sound in my life. My hips rock forward, everything inside me howling that I have to make her mine.
I pull back. “I need to be inside you.”
“Gaines,” she gasps, her tongue darting to her swollen lips.
Sliding a hand between us, I feel her wet panties. “Tell me you want me right here, as deep as I can go.”
She makes a strangled sound, her eyes rolling back before she meets my gaze again. “Gaines,” she whimpers.
“Tell me it’s my treasure. Just for me.” I nip at her bottom lip.
She darts her eyes up, then stiffens. “Who--”
“Well, isn’t this a delightful surprise?” Mrs. Pettyford’s amused voice has me biting back a curse. Her giggle may force me to end her.
9
Pandora
“These are the best cookies I’ve ever eaten.” I shove another warm chocolate chip cookie into my mouth. Mrs. Pettyford tops off my glass of milk. I don’t know what’s wrong with Gaines. He didn't even take a cookie for himself. He’s just sitting there with a grumpy look on his face.
“Where are you from, dear?” Mrs. Pettyford asks, pushing the plate of cookies closer to me.
“Louisiana,” I answer with a full mouth.
“That so?”
I snap my head over to Gaines. Damn it. This Mrs. Pettyford is good at getting information out of people. Her secret weapon is clearly cookies. I’ll have to remember that.
Maybe Gaines is grumpy because he was interrupted before he could get my cookie. He was all but staking a claim to it. I’d almost let him, too. That mouth of his is dangerous. I need to remember why I’m here. To get my box. Not for him to take my treasure.
“For a while. I enjoy moving around,” I lie. It rolls right off my tongue. I’m getting good at this. The truth is I never left home until I lost my grandma. Then I went in search of my box. I could barely cover getting myself here and finding a place. But I know it’ll all be worth it.
“Gaines enjoys traveling from time to time, but then he’s right back home like a hermit.” Mrs. Pettyford speaks like Gaines isn’t sitting right here watching my every move.
Yes, when he’s not collecting other people’s treasures--ones that don’t belong to him--he mostly stays home. That’s why tonight was so important. There aren’t many opportunities to run into him. His social life is pretty much non-existent. So I need to make the most of the opportunity I have. I can’t keep getting distracted. Not by cookies or his amazing mouth.
“All he does is work and stay holed up here,” Mrs. Pettyford fusses.
I nod. She’s absolutely right. It’s why it’s been so hard to meet the man. “I mean, yeah, he seems as though he’s a homebody. I wouldn’t really know,” I rush to add. Crap. I need to remember I’m not supposed to know anything about this man. They both stare at me, not saying anything for a moment.
“Pretty much. He never even brings anyone here for me to meet. So this must be a special occasion.” I can see the little smile she gives Gaines.
“This place is beautiful. I don’t know why you wouldn’t show it off.” I wipe some errant milk from my chin.
Gaines doesn’t take his eyes off me. He has all of these beautiful things in his home, yet he can’t take his gaze from mine. Is he trying to lock me away as he does with all his treasures? I don’t know why. There isn’t anything special about me. Unless he’s on to the necklace. I’ve seen his eyes go there a few times. He might recognize it.
“Well, I’ll leave you two alone. I hope to see you again soon, Pansy.” Guilt settles in my stomach at her using my made-up name. I hate lying to people, especially ones that remind me of my grandma. But I push it aside, reminding myself that I wouldn’t have to do this if Gaines hadn’t stolen my box. This is all his fault.
“Thank you for the cookies,” I say again. “It was really sweet of you.”
“Come back, and I’ll let you try my brownies. I put Oreos in them.” She winks at me before leaving the kitchen.
I lick my lips. I’m once again alone with Gaines. I feel shy all of a sudden. I let out a squeak when he grabs me and pulls me into his lap. He does it with such ease. Compared to him, I’m all but a doll. Small and dainty. That really shouldn't turn me on. Nothing good can come of this attraction. Even now, I’m digging my fingers into his shirt not wanting to let go. Oh no. What if I’m a clinger? I wouldn’t know, since I’ve never been this close to a man before.
“I told you I’d get the stain out of your dress.” He runs his thumb across the mark.
I’d forgotten all about that. I also need to be out of here and back to the store first thing in the morning. I’m a real life Cinderella. Needing to get back before the truth is revealed. Too bad Gaines isn’t a prince. No, he steals from them and loots their castles, the same way he did with my box.
“I’ll need to have it laundered.” His lips feather across my ear.
“Are you trying to get me naked?” I tease, ignoring my body's reaction at the thought of that.
“I gave you my word.” He stands with me in his arms.