“I’ve never once seen you run when you’re afraid, and I’ve seen you very afraid.” His lips pulled into a smile. He kissed the tip of her nose. “You have such courage. It’s one of the things I admire most about you.”
Twisting around to face him fully, she slipped an arm around his neck and returned his kiss. Heat built between them, fast and urgent. She clenched her fists in the back of his shirt, so hungry again for him she shook all over.
Somehow, despite everything he’d been through and everything he did, he carried a light inside of himself that made her ravenous. When she wasn’t with him, the world felt darker and colder. It was impossible to imagine she could ever get enough of him, and that scared her more than anything.
He slanted his mouth over hers, his lips hardened and demanding. Shuddering, she kissed him back with everything she had. He slid one long-fingered hand into her hair, at the back of her head, holding her in place while he cupped and massaged her breast through the soft, thin material of the robe.
After several moments, he pulled back with obvious reluctance. “Much as I would love to take you back to bed and pick up where we left off, I promised to drive Diego into the city.”
With an immense effort, she tried to chain the crazy woman inside of her that urged her to ignore all common sense and tear off all his clothes. She pulled back enough to search his gaze. “Are you upset over him leaving?”
“I’m disappointed, but I’m not surprised.” He shook his head. “Life at the estate is a very small, specific world.”
“I love it there,” she said quietly.
His face lit with a smile. “I do too, but I also recognize that the lifestyle isn’t for everyone. As much as Melisande moans about the rat race in Los Angeles, she could never leave it.” His smile faded. “And I simply don’t have anything else to offer him. I offered to talk to Julian about finding Diego a position at Evenfall, but he’s determined to make a complete change.”
Straightening her spine, she made herself let go of his shirt. “Do you want me to stay here while you take him?”
“Hell, no,” he said forcefully. He rubbed his face and continued with more moderation. “I’m not leaving you alone in Evenfall, especially not when Justine is around.”
Her expression turned dry. “Well, I would have kept the apartment locked.”
“I don’t care. Locks aren’t good enough. You’re not staying.” He looked over his hand at her. “Come with me while I take Diego into town. We can stay at my town house for a day or two, and you can meet the rest of my attendants.”
Hesitating, she thought it over. As much as she did love the estate, she had spent all of her time there in fear of Malphas finding her. The thought of spending some time in the city did have appeal.
San Francisco might have its dangers, especially for someone who was penniless and on the run, but this time around, a visit should be quite different. Maybe she could even shop for some new clothes that would fit her properly.
Also, she might not know exactly where she and Xavier were headed, but if it turned out they were together for any length of time, it would be good to get acquainted with his people in the city.
“I’d like that,” she told him.
His expression lightened. “I’m glad. We have a couple of hours until sundown.” He added softly, “All I can think of is what I would like to do to you while we wait, but I’m afraid I have other things I need to attend to before we can leave.”
Her gaze fell to the opening of his shirt, and she gave him a slow smile. “Can’t they wait?”
While it wasn’t making love, his intake of breath was immensely satisfying. He growled, “I would love nothing more than to put them off, but I have to see if Gavin can edit the recording of Julian and Melisande on my phone.” He paused, and when he continued, he sounded very serious. “And I found out a few hours ago one of my operatives has gone missing.”
Her playfulness vanished. “Oh God, I’m sorry. You must be worried.”
“I am.”
She wasn’t sure she should ask—she didn’t know what any of the boundaries were, in this new, unknown place they had come to—but she went ahead anyway. “Is it . . . anybody I know?”
His expression darkened. “I’m afraid so. It’s Marc.”
Shock rippled through her. She hadn’t expected him to answer her so readily, or that she would actually know the person involved. “But he just left.”
“I know.” He moved suddenly, a sharp, quick movement he stilled almost at once, but it was another telling slip and indicated the strength of his worry.
A powerful urge gripped her. She wanted to help him so badly, she ached with it, but there was nothing she could do.
Except for one thing. She could support him.
She stepped away from him. “Go. Do what you need to do.”
Still, he lingered, and the tender expression in his eyes as he looked at her was worth everything she had gone through over the last two months. “What about you?”