I shared the clearing with the little cherub, enjoying the peaceful silence until hunger made me button up and get ready to head back. A branch snapped and James emerged from the maze. My pulse beat as erratically as it had in the church. Had he been keeping track of me? Could he still read me?
Did he still want me?
James walked towards me, the smile on his face causing my lips to lift in an automatic response. His hair was slightly tousled and his skin flushed with sun and champagne. I caught myself straining for his scent, inhaled and held my breath. Forced it back out.
Nervous and unsure, I waited for him to say something. “Are you wearing Caroline’s perfume?”
“No.”
James stared at my swollen cheek and a small crease appeared between his eyebrows. My hand twitched with the desire to smooth it out so I edged away, annoyed at myself.
“What happened to your cheek?”
“I pissed somebody off,” I said flippantly.
His face switched from curious to furious so quickly I was taken aback. “Who did this to you?”
His voice was soft, but it had a menacing edge to it. He looked violent and protective, as if he were ready to beat the crap out of whoever had hurt me. I smiled as the image formed in my mind. What would my childhood have been like if I’d had a protector like James?
Safe, my mind answered.
I hugged myself, fighting the impulse to reach out and tell him my deepest and dirtiest. What the hell was wrong with me? I am no damsel in distress, goddamn it, swooning into a man’s arms like a weakling.
“Who hit you?” he insisted.
“Gotcha,” I said, forcing a laugh. “I tripped, practicing walking in these bloody high heels. The door got in my way.”
“You’re lying.”
Well, that answered whether he could still read me. And since his ability hadn’t been a fluke it was time to sprinkle my next lie with a little truth. I recommend adding some of that gold dust whenever you can. It makes the words taste better and gives your fib a shiny ring.
“I got into a fight with a nasty bitch I know. I kissed her man and she didn’t like it. Satisfied?”
His gaze roamed over my jaw. “Looks like she hated it.”
“I never promised not to kiss the boys and make their girlfriends cry,” I said, sexy strumpet all the way.
“And the boy, what did he do?”
Was that a hint of jealousy I detected?
“Oh, the boy groaned and after that he moaned. A lot,” I said, enjoying the way James’s mouth tightened. “But then again you should have seen what his girlfriend did to him. He’s probably still in hospital.”
James grinned and the tension eased. He shook his head, looking at me appreciatively and I flashed him a flirtatious smile. Shit! This was not good. I wanted to get closer to him, to feel his lips on mine and taste him.#p#分页标题#e#
Married! my mind shouted.
James glanced at my trench coat. “It’s boiling. Why are you wearing that?”
“Because I’m naked underneath.”
James’s breath caught, held and was expelled on a laugh. I laughed too, feeling foolish. I unbuttoned the coat and pulled it open so he could have a look at my dress. His eyes widened as he ran them down my body. Up again, lingering on my thighs, my waist and finally on my chest. I had pulled one of Caroline’s stretchy bolero shrugs over my breasts and pinned it together with my mother’s crucifix brooch. A pentagram would have been more suited.
“What do you think?” I asked, bold and sassy.
“I think it’s inappropriate.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Sleazy, you mean. Why don’t you say what you think? You didn’t have a problem telling me a few months ago.”
He crossed his arms. “You look like you’re on the prowl.”
I was insulted even though I’d thought much the same. Nevertheless, what James needed was a slap on the dick or better yet, a splash of my “glass of water” sluttiness to shrink it down to nothing. I would show him I didn’t care what he thought of me.
“You’re right,” I said, slipping the coat off my shoulders and pivoting slowly. “I’m looking for a man. Do you think I’ll find one who isn’t afraid to kiss me?”
“They’ll want more than that,” he gritted out through his teeth.
I smoothed my hands over the sheer red skirt and traced the low waistline with my fingers. “Even better,” I said, tossing my hair back. “I’m not wearing knickers because, well, sometimes a girl just wants to get laid. Filled by a big, thick cock and fucked so hard she screams.”
James’s eyes followed my hands, his eyebrows slanting into a thunderous black V. Nostrils flaring, he looked like an enraged bull getting ready to charge at the taunting, flag-waving matador. His expression sent little frissons of alarm down my spine. At the same time my inner savage thrilled at its violent hunger. Gone was the man who had so easily dismissed me.