Page 29 of The Devil and the Dancer
She laughed into his shoulder. “Stop.”
“You wish.”
Gavin woketo the sound of a clock ticking in an unfamiliar room. He opened his eyes wide. No lethargy. No torpor. He was asleep; then he was awake.
The ceiling was white and smooth. Light came from a small lamp plugged into a socket in the corner.
His lungs rose and fell in a human rhythm. The air smelled of plaster dust, burned plastic, vanilla and coconut oil.
It took him only a few moments to remember where he was. Ben and Tenzin’s safe room. There had been construction recently, explaining the plaster dust and burned plastic. It was the smell of electrical wiring work. The other smells, vanilla and coconut oil, meant Chloe had washed her hair.
He could hear her on the floor above, walking back and forth in what he thought was the kitchen area. She had one of her playlists on the speakers. Gavin smiled. Was she cooking? The air smelled faintly of tomato sauce.
He glanced at the phone next to him on the bedside table. He hit a button and saw that he’d received seven voice mails, fifteen text messages, and forty-seven emails while he’d been sleeping.
Ignoring the notifications, he dialed Audra. “Anything to report?”
“Do you want an activities report?”
He hesitated, his territorial instincts battling with his sense. Did he want to know every step she’d taken that day? Yes. Was it any of his business if it didn’t affect her safety? “No. Safety assessment only.”
“Nothing to report. No one following her. Nothing out of the ordinary. She’s at the loft. And I’m assuming you are too.”
“Is Vivian at my apartment?”
“Last I checked in with Hassim.”
“Good.” He stood. “You’re off duty until tomorrow.”
“Night, boss.”
“Good night.”
Gavin stood and looked for something he could use for clothes. Nothing. He’d left his wet clothes on the floor above. He wrapped a towel around his waist, unlocked the intricate set of locks securing the room, and walked upstairs.
He stood at the threshold of the kitchen, watching her hips move to the music as she rinsed something in the sink. Chloe was a dancer. It had taken Gavin some time to realize she danced toeverything. Music in the house. At the bar. She even danced a little in the elevator. Her life was lived in movement, and it was his pleasure to watch.
Imagine if you could watch her forever.
Too soon. Far, far too soon. For the moment the point was to ensure her safety while Vivian was in town.
Gavin said, “Do you intend to keep me naked while I’m here?”
She jumped and turned around, but Gavin was pleased to see a smile on her beautiful face. “Hey. And that sounds like an excellent idea if you ask me.”
“Hmmm, good to know you like me naked.” He walked over, gripping the towel at his waist, and wrapped his arm around her. He bent down and kissed her full on the mouth, stroking her tongue with his, letting the heat between them build until she was gasping.
Chloe’s breasts pressed to his bare chest. Damp hands came to rest on his shoulders. He slid his hand down and cupped her bottom, pulling her closer as he bent her backward over the counter.
Gavin pulled away. “Give me one good reason I shouldn’t put ye on this counter, strip off these clothes, and show ye how I like to wake up in the evening.”
Chloe blinked. “Uh…”
He lifted her up and set her on the counter. “Didn’t hear a good argument.”
“I really don’t have one.”
Gavin dropped the towel and pulled the smooth grey leggings and her lace-trimmed panties down her glorious legs. He spread her thighs and stroked two long fingers inside her before he gripped his erection and entered her with one hard stroke.
