Page 20 of Vicious Seduction

Days earlier, when I’d waltzed into the Bastion Club, I would have said I was confident he was a villain. It made sense. All the evidence pointed in that direction.

But then his challenge shook my foundations.

Kiss me.

It wasn’t the words themselves. It was the overwhelming urge to comply that had me at a loss. I trusted myself. I didn’t fall for smarmy men. I didn’t even own a pair of rose-colored glasses. So why had every fiber of my being gravitated toward him?

I was scared to answer that question.

“Maybe that’s the problem,” Gloria said in a sage tone. “You don’t need a knight; you just need someone who loves you with their whole heart.”

God, she was the best.

Gloria had a way of seeing the very best about the world, and I adored her for it.

“Thanks, Mama G. I’ll try to remember that.” My voice was thin as it squeezed past the lump in my throat.

She patted my hand just as the first drops of bubbling caldo boiled over, sizzling on the hot burner. “Aye, Dios mío.” She jumped up to move the pot from the heat. “Time to eat!”

As always, the food was delicious, and the company filled me just as heartily as the soup.

I left Gloria’s feeling re-energized and ready to make progress in my hunt for information. It was Wednesday, andLawrence had asked me to join him for the weekly club dinner. I had to make the night worthwhile. I needed to manifest some answers, and that called for confidence. As any woman knew, the perfect set of matching lingerie was essential to achieving a queen’s mindset. I went straight from Gloria’s to my favorite lingerie shop.

The pieces they carried were made with exquisite quality, which was reflected in the prices. As a seamstress myself, a quality garment was always important. I struggled to justify buying something I could have made better myself. Not that I had the time, but it was the principle. Conscience of my budget, however, I didn’t usually splurge on such luxuries. Today was an exception.

When I saw a red silk set with a black lace overlay, I instantly fell in love. The lace flowers extended beyond the silk cup with a red mesh backing so fine it was almost transparent. The effect was stunningly beautiful. I wasn’t sure what I’d wear over it, but that was almost irrelevant when I knew what waited beneath.

I thanked the store clerk and walked back to my apartment with long, energized strides. I even managed to keep from stumbling when I spotted Oran standing outside the building adjacent to my own—the one I’d listed at the club as my residence. His eyes were locked on my approach.

My insides begged to liquefy with nerves and melt into the dirty concrete seams, but I forced my chin up and continued forward.

“If I didn’t know better, I might start to worry you were stalking me.”

“The difference between stalking and dating is a simple matter of attraction. In this case, the attraction is mutual, so stalking isn’t an issue.”

I raised a brow at him.

He answered with a lupine grin. “Careful throwing around challenges like that. I might be forced to prove you wrong.”

God, I wanted to ask how, but that was exactly what he wanted. It would have been an invitation. And while the words were on the tip of my tongue, I forced myself to swallow them back.

“What are you doing here, Oran?”

He took a step closer, his eyes darkening. “Say it again.”

I considered being obstinate and asking my question, this time without his name, but I knew what he wanted. I knew it, and I liked seeing how badly he wanted to hear it. I was just as hungry for his ravenous stare as he was for my voice.

Dear God, I wanted Oran Byrne.

The realization clamped down on my lungs, making it hard to breathe.

I licked my suddenly parched lips and gave him what he asked for, not because I had to but because I wanted to.

“Oran,” I said in an unintentionally husky voice. “You still haven’t answered my question.”

He prowled a few inches closer. “I’m here because I started to look into you—into your family—like you suggested at Bastion.”

“I was just venting. There’s no reason to overreact.” I never should have opened my damn mouth that night.