“Long enough to know you betrayed me.” At least there was some hint of amusement in her tone.
“That’s exactly what I believed you’d think. I’m not betraying you. I’m trying to keep you safe. There’s a big difference.”
“Is there?”
There was way too much mischief in her eyes. “Yes.” When I inched closer, she took a deep breath. “Yes, quite a bit.” The moment of tension was different than before, but I couldn’t put my finger on how. “I’m curious. The gris-gris. A good will spell or a curse?”
The way a slow, sly smile spread across her face was enough to tighten my balls. When she shifted her gaze to the bulge between my legs, I was at the point of taking her right here on the balcony.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“You think I’m your enemy.”
Emmeline’s laugh was subtle but powerful. “Heavens, no.” She joined me on the deck, although keeping her distance. “What about the Brotherhood? I overheard you mentioning them.”
There was no doubt she heard my exaggerated sigh. “I don’t know if there’s anything except the magazine who hired the photographer is from the city where Josie was born.”
“I remember. You seem to forget I’m close with Josie and heard all about the Brotherhood from her point of view. What makes you think that’s what we’re dealing with?”
“A hunch.” I dared glance in her direction, noticing she was grappling with the possibility.
“A hunch. I know you’re good at your job, but living in fear is not what my mother and father taught me to do. I’m no fool. If things get dangerous, we’ll leave. I will make you that promise.” She folded her arms as she turned to face me. “But I can’t have you dictating my life or sharing our experience. Our… passion. I won’t stand for that, Donatello. You were right about one thing. Iwill permanently disappear and no, I don’t want to do that. I just want space.”
“And I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
She almost smiled. Almost. “Then don’t allow it.”
For the entire time I’d known Emmeline, she was a woman who could intelligently talk people either down or into anything she wanted them to believe. Seeing the strange look in her eyes, almost as if one of defeat while simply walking away nagged at me to the point where I had no clue what to say to her.
Another laugh drew my attention. She’d stopped in the doorway once again. With a slight tilt of her head toward me, she took a deep breath. “Don’t worry, Donatello. I wouldn’t use a spell on my handsome stalker. If I was so inclined to take out my anger or frustration, I’d use something much more dangerous.”
“That’s good to know. Where are you going?”
Everything about the woman could be calculating, and she could explode just when someone least expected it. For me, a certain laugh was a clear indication people close to her should duck or face shrapnel. The provocative sound meant I was in for a tailspin ride. She’d caught me ignoring her wishes of silence with her family, which meant I’d face the wrath of her choosing.
“To take a shower and get dressed. The date didn’t end last night.” She turned a bit more towards me, her eyes highlighting the wickedness of her thoughts. “You can certainly join me in the shower if you like.”
“Something to consider.” And she knew I would. Hell, my cock was already fully erect.
“I’m curious, Donatello. Why?”
“Why?”
“Yes. Why go to all the trouble to find me when all you needed to do was to send men who work for you to bring me home. I would have had no choice but to follow their commands. Your actions confuse me. First you want me, then you don’t.”
I’d know the question would come up at some point. Maybe I was hoping for a later time, but in certain aspects of life, a man couldn’t always have what he wanted.
Not this time.
There was no longer any reason to hide behind the façade any longer.
“The last thing I want is for you to be confused, Emmeline, so let me be very clear about what I want.”
Hearing that my tone was more predatory than before, she turned around to face me, eagerness in her eyes. I closed the distance, allowing my fingers to draw a path along the carved edge of her jaw, swirling the tip of my index finger around her lips as she shuddered involuntarily.
“What’s that?” she whispered. The flash of her sapphire eyes sparked molten as soon as I’d claimed her space.
“You. You act as if you’re worried that I won’t be able to protect you. Let me be very blunt.” I took the time to ghost my thumb across her bottom lip, pulling it open. “There is no army in this world that can keep me from finding or claiming what’s mine.”
