I had to get used to the idea that this impossible man and I would be working together. The obstacles ahead—salacious Victor and his predatory daughter Vivien—flew into my head, sending a chill down my spine. And I still wasn’t sure how I was going to manage our physical relationship or my emotions. Jaime could feel me tense up; he massaged my shoulders.
“Let me think about it,” I managed as he pressed his lips to my shoulder blades and trailed down my spine with deliciously ticklish flutter kisses.
“Angel, don’t over think because there’s nothing to think about.”
I closed my eyes, my mind filled only with the sweet sensation of his kisses. Oh, God! I was melting into him. It took all I had to stay on track.
“Let go of me. I need to get dressed,” I pleaded.
He let out a loud, exaggerated sigh. “Oh, Gloria, must I?”
Still clutching me with one arm, he leaned over me and dug his spare hand into my suitcase. He rummaged through my neatly folded garments.
“What the hell are you doing?” I protested.
“Security check. Looking for a dangerous weapon.”
What the fuck?
“Bingo!” he exclaimed as he pulled out one of my sheer silk stockings. “You’re under arrest.”
“Huh?”
Before I could get my mouth to close, he yanked my arms behind my back with such force a painful pull ripped across my shoulder blades. He gripped both my wrists in one hand.
“What are you doing, you crazy asshole?” I cried out, trying impossibly to free myself.
“You’re going to pay, my sweet, for calling me that.”
I swallowed hard, still writhing.
With his spare hand, he began binding my hands together with the stocking. I felt him tie a tight knot. I couldn’t even wiggle my fingers. They were bound together so tightly I was sure my circulation had been cut off.
“Untie me, you bastard! You can’t do this to me.” I wheeled around. A diabolical smirk played on his gorgeous face. God damn him! He could.
“I’m going to call security,” I threatened.
Jaime bent over with laughter. “Oh, so you’re going to dial the room phone with your nose?” He lightly flicked the tip of my nose with his thumb. “And then you’re going to unlock the door with that talented mouth of yours and let Mr. Security see you tied up and naked?” He playfully traced the outline of my lips.
I screwed up my face.
“You’re so cute when you do that.”
Damn him!
The ring of my cell phone sounded from inside my handbag.
“I need to get that. It could be some kind of emergency.”
The ringing stopped. And then it picked up again.
“Mr. Zander, would you be kind enough to retrieve my phone, press answer, and then put it to my ear.”
“Say please.”
“Please,” I grumbled. “It’s in the zipper compartment of my purse.”
With a wicked grin, he did as asked. My monstrous bag was parked on the dresser across from the beds. My eyes stayed fixed on him as his strode over to it, soaking in his broad shoulders, rippled back, and boyishly narrow hips. His beauty made his painful scars almost invisible.
He found the phone easily and headed back to me with it in his hand. It kept ringing.
He hovered over me. “Tell whoever it is you’re tied up.”
That was a fact.
I gazed at the screen. It was Kevin.
Jaime pressed answer and then held the phone to my ear.
“Hi, Kev. Is everything okay?” My voice faltered.
“More than okay. I’m just checking in on you. You sound strange. Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I’m just a little tied up at the moment.” Did I really just say that?
Jaime rewarded me with a chaste kiss on top of my head.
“Did everything go smoothly with Madame Paulette’s funeral?”
“Yes. It was a beautiful service. Thanks so much for helping.”
“Say good-bye,” Jaime breathed against my neck, his lips skimming my sensitive skin. He simultaneously draped his free arm over my shoulder, crossing my chest until he was groping my tender breasts. He began to massage them. A delicious chill skated down my spine, erasing the sad memory of my beloved Madame Paulette.
“When are you coming back?” asked Kevin.
“Um, uh, tomorrow. I’m going to stay in Paris an extra day.”
Jaime rewarded me this time with a squeeze of each nipple. They instantly grew into pointed crowns as he twirled them between his forefinger and thumb. My temperature was rising. He tweaked them again, sending tingles to my core. I moaned into the phone; Kevin heard it.
“Is Jaime there?”
I gulped. I couldn’t hide anything from Kevin.
“Yeah.”
“Good. He told me about Vivien hitting on him. He’s a good guy. Paris is the City of Love. You should let him fuck your brains out.”
Kev never held back. Never. “I’m thinking about it.”
“Oh, Glorious, I wish you could see me. I’m doing a happy dance.”
I could actually picture Kevin doing a little jig. Not wanting to dwell on Jaime, I changed the subject. “And what about you?”
“I’m still in New York…”
“With…”
“Ray. He’s fucking amazing.”