Page 9 of Secrets & Desires
“Sandor? You might have met him at theparty.”
Livia nodded. “I did. He seemedlovely.”
Nox smiled. “He is. But as lovely as he is, I don’t want to talk about Sandor. Liv, those few moments we spent together in the garden… I don’t want to presume, but to me, there was somethingthere.”
“I felt it too.” She began to tremble as he got out of his seat and stepped closer to her. He was so tall, she felt tiny next to him. He pulled her out of her chair and slid his hands onto her waist—tentative, a question inhiseyes.
“Isthisokay?”
Livia nodded and Nox smiled. He bent his head and Livia felt—at last—his lips against hers. The first kiss was brief, hesitant. But it didn’t stop at one, and went on, became more passionate, his fingers tangling in her long hair, pulling her closer. Livia could feel his heart beating in his chest as her own arms snaked around him, her hands feeling the taut muscles ofhisback.
Kissing him was like taking a shot of pure heroin, she imagined. Heady, overwhelming, electric. His lips shaped themselves perfectly to hers, his tongue caressing, massaging hers, his breathing ragged. Finally, desperate for air, they brokeapart.
“Wow.” Liviabreathed. “Wow.”
Nox brushed his fingertips across her face. “Livia, may I please take you onadate?”
His words seemed so formal after that breathtaking kiss that she giggled. Nox grinned. “I’m sorry, I’m out of practice. What I mean is, I would like to see you again. And again. Andagain.”
His words made her melt, and she leaned into his embrace. She gazed up at him. “I would like that too, Nox, very much. But…what will your family, your friends think? I’m just a waitress. Well, a grad student, but I’m clearly not of your social circle. Won’t they think badlyofme?”
“I really don’t care. There is no ‘just’ a waitress or a student. Both of those things are honorable, genuine things. But who cares what our jobs are? You’re Livia, I’m Nox. The rest is just windowdressing.”
Livia gave a soft moan of desire and he tightened his arms around her. “I’d just like to get to know you, Liv. We can work anything else out together. Let’s just try, that’s allIask.”
He walkedher back to her apartment, but didn’t ask to come in. He kissed her again and it was just as spine-tingling as their earlier kiss. She could feel the tension in his body, the way his huge erection pressed against her belly when he held her tightly, but Nox Renaud was clearly a gentleman. “May I see youtomorrow?”
So proper, so polite. She nodded, grinning. “Tomorrow is my day off,soyes.”
“Then would you spend the daywithme?”
“I’d like thatverymuch.”
Nox brushed his lips against hers, his hands gently cradling her face. “Then shall we saytena.m.?”
“Perfect.”
The kiss deepened, once again leaving Livia breathless. Nox smiled at her. “Goodnight,lovelyLiv.”
“Goodnight,Nox.”
She felt bereftas she saw him walk away, turning to look at her once more before he turned the corner. His grin made her heart swell. For a moment or two, she stood out in the cool night, blinking. “Did that actually justhappen?”
She chuckled and went inside. As she opened the door to the apartment, Moriko, dressed in Hello Kitty pajamas, held up a bag of potato chips and said, “You, on the couch,now. You’re not going to bed until you’ve told meeverything.”
He had watchedNox and the girl, Livia, walk back to her apartment, following at a safe distance. They were obviously smitten with each other and he guessed they must have met at the party. The party where she was awaitress, and Nox was the billionaire party host. He couldn’t fault Nox on his taste. Livia was beautiful, all sumptuous curves and softness. But still, a waitress… The scandal would be great indeed, especially amongst their cohorts, but that wasn’t what was making him smile. No, it was the thought of Nox and Livia possibly falling deeply in love, so deeply in love that when she was taken from him, Nox would finally bedestroyed.
And that’s all he everdreamedof…
ChapterFive
Moriko was sittingon the bathroom cabinet, watching Livia apply her makeup. “I cannot believe you didn’t sleepwithhim.”
Livia rolled her eyes. “Dude, we haven’t even been on adateyet.”
“Prude.”
Livia grinned. Moriko was a seize-the-moment kind of girl; Livia preferred the slow-burn. “Besides, if we’d had sex in the restaurant, Health and Human Services would have been outraged.” God, just thinking about sex with Nox was making her hot, but she brushed the thought aside before Moriko could pick up on it. “Look, we’re going ononedate. Don’t jumpthegun.”
