Page 1 of Blood & Lace
PROLOGUE
ONYX
I slippedmy arm through his, leaning into George's side as he chatted. As soon as he felt me, he gazed down, a soft smile on his lips. I returned it, my cheeks warming and no doubt turning pink as my belly tightened and my pulse raced.
"Excuse me, gentlemen. I need to go," he said.
Just like that, without me saying a word, he cut off the conversation. For me. I smiled wider as he wrapped me in his arms and swirled me onto the dance floor. The live music was soft and slightly seductive. A perfect accompaniment for a flawless night.
"Are you ready to get out of here, darling?" George asked as he leaned down, his nose buried in my neck.
I knew he smelled the soft cologne I had on: amber and vanilla. Sweet, complex, relaxing. Every bit of what I wore was meant to entice, to draw men closer to me until they were mine. All mine. I dragged my short almond nails over his neck. A shudder left his lips as his breathing picked up. When he moved to look at me, I drew a hand down his firm chest.
"I was enjoying our dance," I said.
He chuckled. "Me too." George raised my hand, kissed it, and gazed at me, his lips still on my heated skin. "But I would like to do so much more than dance."
"Oh." I pursed my lips then clicked my tongue. "How dirty. Let's get out of here then."
The smile on his face was enough to light up every dark corner of the room. With my hand in his, he led me to the door where his driver waited with the car. We slipped inside, and quickly, things went from civilized and demure to handsy. In public, George was the perfect gentleman, but when those doors closed, he was a beast.
"We're almost to your place." I laughed as he tore at my tailored suit. "Five more minutes and you can have me all night long."
He grunted. "Fuck it, let's save time and do it here."
"In the car? With the world watching?" I shook my head. "How would that look? Your face splashed all over the papers for being some kind of pervert."
George stiffened. "Pervert?"
"I mean"—I waved a hand—"we are out in public."
That seemed to bring him back to his senses. "So we are." He sighed. "There's just something about you, Onyx."
I grinned. "Yeah? What is it about me that you like so much?" I asked, teasing his chest with my fingers.
"Everything," he groaned. "If I was sure you wouldn't take me for everything I own, I would keep you on my arm forever."
I chuckled. "Trust me, I have plenty of my own money. I don't need yours."
"Yes, and I like that about you too."
Thankfully he kept his hands to himself the rest of the way to the building. When the driver parked and walked away for the night, dismissed, I followed George. His private elevator wasnice and secluded. In fact, much of this part of the building was barren. And for good reason.
When we made it to his suite, we'd barely stepped over the threshold before he was on me again. His lips on my cheek, teeth on my throat, hand down my pants. I firmly shoved him off and giggled, trying to keep the mood light.
"How about a drink?" I asked.
"No, I've had plenty."
"Then I'd love one," I said, walking over to his wet bar. "Are you sure I can't make you something?"
"Onyx," he growled. "Are you avoiding me?"
I shook my head, glanced back, and winked. "Now, why would I want to avoid someone like you?"
He searched my face before he nodded. "That's good. Very good. The one thing I don't tolerate is a little cock tease." He sat in a big chair and stared at me. "Take your clothes off and make it. And go ahead and get me one, too."
"Sure thing."
