The VIP Room(174)

She turned, looking for a place to sit—and froze when Marcus walked into the main foyer. He scanned the crowd, obviously looking for her. Before she could even think to duck he spotted her and stalked across the foyer. Trapped by the table behind her and people with plates around her, she had nowhere to run. So she clutched the plate and waited for him.





* * *



Marcus found Leah near the buffet table, and cursed under his breath. What he wanted to say to her couldn’t be said in the middle of a crowd. He’d have to find a way to get her in a corner, find the words to apologize for what couldn’t be forgiven—

A figure stepped into his path. He jerked to a halt, recognizing her a second too late.

Shit. His worst mistake stood right in front of him.

“Hello, Marcus, darling.” The overtly sexy, accented voice wrapped around her words.

His shoulders stiffened. “Tanya.”

“Is that all I get, lover?” She practically purred as she traced one finger down his chest. The woman always did enjoy pawing him in public, like he was her property. It was just one of the many reasons he ran far and fast after their third date, and regretted ever meeting her. “It’s been too long, Marcus. I came tonight to buy you.”

His breath lodged in his throat. Holy shit—he completely forgot about the auction. The auction that would give the highest bidder one night with him.

No way in hell.

“If you’ll excuse me, I need to eat before the auction starts.”

She slipped her hand down and cupped his erection, which had deflated the second he heard her voice. “See you then, lover.”

With a throaty laugh she let him go and strolled off, the too tight orange gown clashing with her short, violently red hair.

He turned around, and found Leah right behind him. His heart pounded when he saw the look on her face. “Come with me. Please, Leah. I’ll explain, if you just give me a chance.”

“Okay.” She didn’t sound convinced, but at least she agreed.

Marcus headed to a different part of the museum, the lights dimmed. Egyptian statues looked eerie and almost alive, their stone eyes following Marcus as he led her to a bench along the back wall. She didn’t say a word as she sat on the opposite end of the bench and lowered her plate, effectively creating a barrier between them.

He swallowed, then sat, facing her. “Tanya is the ex from hell almost everyone seems to have in their past. We went on three dates—which were three too many.” He felt hope when Leah’s lips twitched. “She did not take the rejection well. In fact, she refuses to believe that it’s over between us. If her primary residence wasn’t in London, I’d probably have to file a restraining order to keep her away from me.”

He thought he lost Leah with that self-serving announcement, especially when she crossed her arms. He would not look at her breasts, he would not look at her breasts—

“I know who she is, Mr. Hawkins.”

Marcus let out a sigh. He deserved her disdain—and he definitely did not deserve what he was about to ask of her. “I know this is a shitty—sorry, a bad time to ask a favor, but I’m going to ask it anyway. Can you buy me at the auction?”

Her eyes widened, that sexy flush highlighting her cheeks. “Why would I do a favor for you, Mr. Hawkins? As of fifteen minutes ago, you are no longer my employer, and I am just a guest at this function, not your in-the-spotlight date.” He flinched at her cool tone.” Besides, I can’t afford it, not with women like Tanya Black, finance heiress, bidding on you.”

“I will pay, whatever it costs.” Now he was begging. Hell, if that was what it took, he was ready. “Please, Leah. The auction is for one night with eligible bachelors. If I have to spend one night with Tanya, I may be facing murder charges by dawn.”

“We wouldn’t want that.” He’d never heard that edge of sarcasm in her voice before. She sighed, stared at the wall behind him. “If I buy you, then I will win that one night.” She didn’t sound excited at the prospect.

“Yes, Leah. You’ll get that night with me.”

“I don’t want it.”

He grabbed her wrist when she tried to stand. “It will be your night. Only what you want.”

She jerked free. “Mr. Hawkins—”

“Marcus. You can’t call me Mr. Hawkins again. Not after part of me has been inside you. Not after the way you touched me.” She swallowed, her hands twisting around each other. He took a chance and covered those graceful hands with his own. “You will be literally saving my life, so whatever you want, for one night, it’s yours.”

His cock throbbed as she worried at her bottom lip. He had jumped the first hurdle—getting her to talk to him. Now he had to ease his way back into her good graces, enough to apologize. With flowers and gifts if necessary—anything to take that cool, distant look out of her eyes.

“Okay.” Relief left him shaky. He didn’t realize just how much he needed her to agree to this. Being in the same space with Tanya again really did a number on him. Yeah—he’d go with that, and not the images that kept flashing in his mind of Leah, naked under him, naked over him. Hell, just naked, as long as he could touch those lush curves. Not going to happen, not after his mouth screwed him over. “But on one condition.”