Vengeance Aside (Wanted Men 0.5)(24)

As her taste filled him, he went in harder, tipping her head back to get that perfect angle to deepen the kiss. Flames burst to life under his skin when she grasped at his shoulders, her nails sinking in, and the moan that bubbled up from her throat branded him soul deep. He gripped her tiny waist and pulled her in tight, drawing forth encouraging little mewls when he rubbed her against him.

He grabbed her wrists when she went to rush things by pulling his shirt from his pants, and despite the desire twisting painfully in his gut, Lukas geared down and eventually forced himself to stop sucking her sweet tongue. He ended the kiss and came up in time to see her lids lift. He could get her on her back and fuck her all night long. Full, heated permission blazed from her eyes.

“What’s wrong? Why are you stopping?” Her gaze traced his lips.

“You and I aren’t about getting to the fucking, Magdalena.” If she looked surprised by that, it was nothing compared to how he felt; relief and comfort were the chasers. Normally, a few hours between the sheets was all there was between him and his women, but now, he meant it when he said, “I’d like to talk to you for a while before I draw you out completely by getting you naked. I wouldn’t want to win you over so quickly that you sulk because you were unable to put up much of a fight.” He winked to take the sting out of how egotistical he sounded. “So, we’re going to go downstairs.” She helped separate their bodies that were still pressed together. “I’ll introduce you to the dogs, get you something to eat, then we’ll come back up here.” He let her wrists go when she pulled at them, then turned her toward the ensuite. “The bathroom is through that door.”

She stomped away but paused before closing the door between them. He watched her set aside her annoyance with admirable ease. “Did you happen to think of asking Farah for my purse before we left Scorch?”

“No, yagodka. And the house doesn’t have a landline either. We did away with it last year.”

The annoyance rushed back but disappeared when she snapped the door shut in his face.

***

Arrogant jerk, Dale thought as she closed herself into the dove grey and white bathroom. Conceited. Egotistical. So sure of himself, was he? Could read her so well, huh?

Her shoulders slumped.

How the hell had he known she wanted her phone? She’d have gotten over her aversion and called Farah for help. Or, at least, for some advice.

Pushing off the door as her body continued to spark, she looked around. There was an inviting square bathtub in the center of the room, a wall-length vanity with a matching framed mirror, and a walk-in shower with three showerheads strategically placed. The plants scattered around, and the aloe-scented air was soothing and did its job as she moved to the nearest sink to quickly wash the heavy makeup off her face. She held her thoughts off as she took her hair down, whimpering through it because Erika had put the pins in so tightly…

She stared at the hairbrush she’d just picked up. One that didn’t have a strand in it. Then she took up the cleanser she’d used that had made her face feel like Elaine’s son’s soft little bum. Dale had changed her co-worker’s baby once when Elaine had brought him into the club to show him off after she’d had him. Longing had followed Dale around for days afterward.

She placed the brand-new bottle down. “Lukas?” she called out.

“Yes, Magdalena?”

She spun and gripped the counter behind her because his voice was right outside the door. “Uh, why is this stuff new?”

He didn’t answer right away. “I called home earlier and sent our shopper out to get you some things.”

She stared at the closed door and tried to block what he and his gestures and looks and voice were doing to her. “Seriously,” she called, not appreciating this shit at all. “Is this Farah’s stuff?”

“No. It’s yours.” The door opened a few inches, and his arm came through. He held something out. “As are these. They should fit.”

She walked over but didn’t take the jeans, shirt, and shoes. She stared at the tattoos on his muscular forearm and fought the need to pull him inside. “Your shopper got these.”

“Yes.”

“And where did your shopper go in the middle of the night for these items that are now mine?”

“I don’t know, Magdalena. I’ll have to ask her.”

“You can call me Dale, you know.” She looked down at her nipples and wondered if they’d ever go soft again.

“I will when I’ve gotten over how I feel about your full name.”

That made her smile. “What if I decide to be petty and don’t want to wear this stuff.”

“Then I’ll join you, and we will tour the house in the nude.”

A surprised laugh escaped. “Now I’m really torn,” she teased before she could stop herself.

“I thought you would be.”

She took the offered clothes by deliberately sliding her hand beneath his, scraping him lightly with her nails. “Thank you, Mr. Murdery. I’ll be out in a second.”

His chuckle faded as he closed the door.

As she placed the clothes on the vanity, she decided her best bet would be to not think too hard about what was happening. Why bother? While she was here, she would do what she had to do, because what choice did she have? This wouldn’t last forever because nothing ever did. So, she would be nice, end up in his bed, and after she’d convinced him he was nuts, and she wasn’t a threat who was about to run to the authorities to tattle on him for killing someone, she’d carry on.