Page 73 of Kiss of Wrath

“Is that a groan of disgust or a groan of pleasure?”

“Definitely pleasure . . . if you consider that I am probably adding dozens of years onto my penance.”

“You might be punished for liking something about me?”

“No might about it. I will be punished but not for liking your hair down. Nay, ’twill be for all the bad things I am imagining that I could do to you. Many of them involving red hair.” And not just on your head.

They continued to engage in the foresport called dancing for several long seconds before Miranda looked up at him again. “What kind of bad things?”

He laughed, something he could not recall doing in years, or leastways not very often. It felt good. In this moment, there was no soul-searing grief, no darkness of spirit, no rage at his fate, just a warm joy.

“You are so good-looking when you smile,” she observed.

“And when I do not smile?”

“Trolling for compliments now?”

He shook his head, enjoying this light banter. “No, just being a troll.”

In silence, they danced then, so close their two hearts seemed to beat as one. Meanwhile, the band moved from one slow song to another on the crowded dance floor.

“You Were Always on My Mind.”

Yes, she was.

“Shameless.”

Yes, he was.

“Must Be Doin’ Somethin’ Right.”

It would seem so.

“Come a Little Closer.”

Any closer and he would be inside her.

Then, in what could have been a message from you-know-who, “God Gave Me You.”

No, He did not, a voice in his head disagreed.

“Then why offer her to me in such an enticing package?”

“Are you talking to me?” Miranda murmured.

“No. Just to myself.”

“I know how you feel. I keep telling myself that this is a bad idea, that I should hotfoot it home and take a cold shower.”

“Together?”

She never had a chance to answer because the band struck up a loud, raucous trill on electric guitars, and the leader announced, “Enough of these hokey slow songs. Time to liven up this party.” With a bit of applause from the customers, they began to sing, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.”

Mordr figured that was his cue to leave. A reminder of why he was there tonight. Not to mention he did not do wild, dervish-style dancing like what he was now witnessing around him. Really, some men had no sense when it came to their attempts to seduce women to their bed furs. “Come. Let us leave this place.” And, no, it was not cold showers he had in mind. If he had a mind at the moment!

They were not alone in the elevator down to the parking garage. They were not even touching. But a sharp awareness of each other resonated in the air, a promise of things to come. Things long forbidden to Mordr. Things still forbidden, but contemplated just the same. Like Adam, who was done salivating over the crisp, juicy, red apple and about to take that first bite.

The door binged open and everyone exited, leaving Mordr and Miranda to come out last. Instead of heading to the right where his car was parked, Mordr tugged Miranda into a dim alcove on the other side of the elevator. Backing her up against the wall, he succumbed to the taste of her rose-petal lips.