Duke(25)

She shook her head, her eyes huge.

“Where’s your bedroom, Beautiful?”

“You promised,” she whispered with fear in her eyes.

He tamped back his temper and kept his voice soft. “And I keep my promises, Gen, but if you don’t stop actin’ scared of me you’re gonna piss me off.”

“Then stop freaking scaring me!”

His men had been right about her being a spitfire. Duke kissed her forehead, reached for her hand, and started walking. Bedroom was probably upstairs. He’d find it.

She followed him with her heels clacking on the stately marble staircase. He took her to the first door on the right, which was obviously a guest bedroom. Duke stopped, got the lay of the land, and headed to the back of the house where the best view was likely to be. Looking down over the valley from here should be magnificent. He walked to the door directly in front of him at the back of the hall, and when he stepped through knew he was right. This had to be the master bedroom, and it was so Gen. Large canopy bed, tons of sleek, silky, navy fabric. Huge picture windows looking out over the city lights, with the mountains in the background. And oversized furniture with a pickled and bleached finish, so the only thing dark in the room was the acres of navy fabric on her bed and windows, and the designer looking throw rug under her seating area.

“This your bedroom?”

She was so damned cute when she was mad. “How did you know where my bedroom is?!”

“Wasn’t the first bedroom, stopped to think where the best view would be, headed that way. I’m gonna go downstairs, find a bathroom, and then get you some water and ibuprofen to try to head off your hangover. You do whatever you gotta do to get ready. I’ll be back in five or ten minutes.”

“What am I getting ready for, Keith?” He could smell her fear, as well as her arousal. Her attitude was all pissed-off female with an attitude, though.

“Sleep, Beautiful. You’re getting ready to go to bed and go to sleep. Maybe one more good-night kiss before I tuck you in.”

“You’re bossy.”

“I am. Yes.”

Duke couldn’t help but smile, and the fact his smile annoyed her was just too damned cute, which made him smile even bigger.

Ever the hostess, on his way out the door Gen said, “Go through the formal living room towards the dining room and there’s a bathroom on the left. Kitchen’s at the back left of the house.”

Duke made his way to the bathroom, jacked off as quick as he could, cleaned up, and went to the kitchen.





Chapter Twelve





Gen had no idea what to do with Keith. He obviously wasn’t intending to leave until he was ready, but it made no sense to tuck her in and then make her get up to let him out of the house.

He kept promising nothing would happen tonight though, so she chose to trust him. Her gun was in a hidden alcove of the nightstand, easy to get to. However, she knew there was no way she’d shoot him for just refusing to leave. As long as he didn’t hurt her, anyway.

She brushed her teeth, washed her face, and pulled on yoga pants and a matching tee. No nightgown while Keith was in the house. She could change after he left, but he apparently wanted to see what she slept in, so the yoga pants would have to work.

She was in bed, covers up to her chin, when he returned. He offered the water and ibuprofen, but Gen only accepted the water, saying, “I don’t get headaches from dark liquor, only light. I stuck with rum tonight so I should be okay.”

He nodded, put them on the table, and walked to the seating area of her bedroom. He took off his vest, draped it over the chair, and then walked to the other side of her bed.

Gen’s mouth fell open as he removed a gun from an underarm holster, another from a holster in his pants, and settled them both on the side table. She’d felt the one at his hip while he carried her through the bar, but hadn’t known about the one under his arm. He put two extra magazines, a knife, and his cellphone on the table with the guns, and then walked back to his jacket, where he proceeded to take off his shirt in the sexiest way she’d ever seen — he reached his right arm over his right shoulder, grabbed the back of the neck of the shirt, and yanked it over his head.

His back was muscled, smooth, and sexy. Gen’s entire body was like a lit fuse, just needing to blast off, and she was afraid if he kissed her again she might attack him. She’d never been on top, even though a few guys had asked, but something in her wanted to climb on Keith and… no. Something was wrong with her. Too much rum. Too much something.

Or, maybe it was those two kisses.

She was starting to see Keith as Duke now. He was the same person she’d known as Keith, but a different man.