Page 22 of Perfume Girl
My body stiffened when Astor cupped his left hand over mine to direct the brush over Vedado just so. His touch was firm and demanding, and I allowed him this control, at least, to lead each stroke, each lift of the brush as it began its downward glide over pure muscle.
He stepped back and watched me intently, his gaze studying my every move, causing the fine hairs on my forearms to prickle. This was obviously the point of his charade, to seduce me or, at the very least, to weaken my resolve.
He gave a nod of approval. “You never told me your name.”
I looked back to observe his reaction. “Raquel.”
“Raquel.” He ran his tongue along his lower lip. “I’m Astor.”
“I know.”
He broke into a smile that looked adorable.
I was here to fight with him and his family, not swoon like a victim of his superior masculinity. An important fact I forced into my frontal lobe.
“Astor’s an unusual name,” I said.
“It means Thunder God.”
“Aren’t we the lucky ones?” I continued to rub the brush over Vedado.
Astor moved closer and though he wasn’t touching me, I could feel the heat of his body behind mine. It made my toes curl and my core tighten. “Any more questions, Mr. Beauregard?”
He leaned down and whispered, “Are you sure you want to work for me?”
A shiver ran through me and I was sure he’d sensed my reaction.
“Where did you come from, Raquel?”
“Clearwater.” It was a small fib.
“Ah, where the ocean is blue and the sand is like silk.” His tone had become hypnotic.
“It’s true.”
“What are you wearing?”
“My perfume?”
He leaned closer and breathed me in. “Yes.”
“Nothing.”
He went silent.
I spun around and stared up at his ridiculously gorgeous face. I could understand why he was used to eliciting a female’s submission with little to no effort.
“So, why this profession, Raquel?”
“It’s my calling.” I refused to look away. “And you?”
He paused. “Me too.”
“You’re obviously good at what you do.”
“Oh, I’m very good.”
“Scent is important,” I blurted out. “It makes more decisions for us than we dare to admit. It decides who we are intimate with, it helps process memories, stirs our emotions and—”
