Nightbloom by Cross Juliette

Author:Cross, Juliette [Cross, Juliette]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Heated breath on my skin

Haunted by my thoughts within . . .

His mouth, hands, lips

On my neck, breasts, hips

I want

I need

I ache

He breathes my soul awake

My body sings a lullaby

Humming with each whimpered cry

Longing for this man to be

My one and only melody

I doodled hearts and dragons around the poem I’d written this morning when Elsibeta left me in charge of the gallery. I smiled to myself, remembering how Paxon had helped me redress in silence, buttoning my coat up tight and tying a black, cashmere scarf around my neck before flying me home. I wore the scarf now, smoothing it against my face and lips, smelling the woodsy, masculine scent of the man who made my stomach flutter.

I recalled the things he did to send my heart racing. He had only pleasured me, never asking me to do anything to relieve him as Clayton had so many times. I would’ve gladly touched Paxon, but he’d refused to let me. And still, I knew he had been turned on. His desire had been evident in the hard ridge of his arousal against my thigh when he lay on top of me. I closed my eyes and pressed the downy fabric of the scarf to my nose again, taking a deep whiff.

Completely engrossed in my own thoughts, I didn’t hear him enter, jumping out of my skin when he stood in front of the counter.

“I’d love to know what you’re thinking right now.”

“Holy crap, Paxon! You scared me.”

I slapped my journal shut and shoved it aside, hiding my doodling from his wayward eyes. I wondered what he’d think of my newest poem for my next piece of artwork.

“Someone was in deep thought.” Hands splayed on the counter, tapping one long finger. Those fingers. Heat flushed up my neck.

“I was, yeah. I just didn’t hear you.” I tucked my hair behind my ears. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to take my girl to lunch.”

His girl. My heart melted into a puddle.

“Oh.” I smiled, biting my lip. “We’ll have to wait for Elsibeta. She’s still at her meeting.”

“No, we don’t. Come on.” He gestured me around the counter. I joined him. He plucked my coat from the rack and helped me into it.

I buttoned up, adjusting my borrowed scarf. “You’re just going to close down the gallery? I thought we never closed the gallery during daylight hours.”

His hand engulfed mine, warm and steady. Like him.

“What the hell point is it in owning the place if I can’t shut it down whenever I want?”

“Right. Well, I daresay I won’t get in trouble with the boss. I think he likes me.”

That won me a smoldering smile. “I believe he’s more than smitten with you. As a matter of fact, if you don’t misbehave, he might take you back to the art cellar for a more exploratory tour.”

I shivered. Not from the cold. “You’re bad.”

“No. I’m very good, actually.”

I laughed as he tugged me toward the door. “Oh, wait.” I picked up my journal and stuffed it in my pocket.

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