Page 46 of The Gilded Cuff
She eyed him warily and then walked over. He parted his legs and motioned for her to step between them. She came, obliging him, even if she was reluctant.
“Straddle me,” he demanded.
Rebellion warred with desire on her face, but desire won out and she complied. She placed her hands on his shoulders for balance as she lowered herself. Her knees parted, her legs sliding around to hug his hips. The action brought her close to him, their pelvises bumping. He didn’t miss the flare in her eyes, the spark of heightened awareness. He cupped her bottom, squeezed as she rocked forward with a tiny gasp.
“Tell me what happened to you. What’s in your file that I should know about?” He leaned forward and when she tried to lean back, he put a hand on her shoulder blades, keeping her in place. She was at the perfect height for him to nuzzle her throat. He flicked his tongue out, relishing the faintly salty taste of her skin, even though he tasted soot as well. She needed to shower before dinner tonight. But right now he needed answers.
“Talk to me.” He kissed a path up her neck to her mouth. Her body gave a little shiver, as though she were on the verge of coming undone.
“Read the file.” Her tone was probably supposed to be impertinent but he chose that moment to smack her bottom and her words came out in a rush of fast breaths.
“We are sharing, remember? I tell you something, you tell me something.”
She wrinkled her nose and glared down at him. “I’m not ready to talk.”
When she tried to distract him by grabbing his face and planting a kiss on his lips, he nearly laughed. Her attempt to dominate him was cute. But he was the dominant one. Clearly she needed a reminder.
Emery snagged her wrists and wound them behind her back, pinning them there, and used his other hand to take hold of her neck and pull her face down to his. She squirmed, only making him more restless and hungry for her.
“Stop wriggling or I’ll take you on the floor. With the mood I’m in you’d be in for a hell of a ride, and trust me, you wouldn’t like getting carpet burns,” he warned with a low growl.
She tugged her wrists, but his hold didn’t let up. “I think you say things like that just to shock me.”
She didn’t believe him? Her mistake.
Holding onto her, he lifted her up as he stood and then he dropped to his knees on the thick carpet by the couch, efficiently pinning her to the ground beneath him. She was trapped chest to toes and couldn’t move, except for her head.
“Still think I’m bluffing?”
Sophie had the good sense to look hesitant before replying. “Okay, so obviously playing strip poker with you any time soon is out of the question, because I can’t read you at all.”
“Strip poker? That’s an excellent idea for later. I’m damn good at cards.” He couldn’t resist leering down at her, and she laughed.
“Oh good lord, you’ll be the death of me.” She blew out an exasperated breath and tried to dislodge his body from hers.
“Hmmm,” he chuckled, enjoying her half-hearted struggle. “I’ll be preoccupied during dinner tonight, thinking of all the ways to get you naked. Whether it be cards…or otherwise.”
“You’ll be thinking about sex with your parents right there?” The shock in her eyes and the delightful way she parted her lips made his erection harden to painful proportions. Seeing his chance for relief, he dropped his head and kissed her. Open-mouthed and hard, his tongue conquered hers. He swallowed her little sounds of pleasure. It was impossible to keep his hands off her. Dinner was a few hours away and he was already regretting calling his parents. Seeing them could have waited until tomorrow.
Have to have her, now. He’d gripped the neck of her t-shirt, ready to rip it right down the middle to get to the feast of her breasts and stomach, when a voice disturbed them.
“See, Hans? Like I said, humping like bunnies. Better get a hose and spray ’em down,” Cody sniggered from the doorway of the library. Hans, rather than looking amused, was frowning in obvious disapproval.
“Get off me,” Sophie hissed, shame tinting her face as she shoved at his shoulders.
Emery kept her pinned beneath him a moment longer, pushing his hips down, reminding her that he had every intention of staking his claim on her later. He bent, stole a kiss rough enough to leave her blinking in dazed surprise. Then he got to his feet and helped her up, loving the way she wobbled and fell against his side.
“Why don’t you get cleaned up?” He swatted her behind and prodded her toward the door. When she left he made eye contact with Hans and flicked his head to indicate that the bodyguard should follow her. Hans returned the signal with a nod and trailed off after her.
Cody leaned a hip against the nearest chair, looking entirely too smug about interrupting Emery’s seduction.
“Cody, get me her file. It’s time to read up on my guest.”
“You got it, boss.”
Chapter 11
IN THE THREE MONTHS SINCE EIGHT-YEAR-OLD TWINSEMERY ANDFENNLOCKWOOD HAVE GONE MISSING, NO RANSOM CALLS HAVE COME IN.NO ONE HAS SEEN ANY EVIDENCE OF THE CHILDREN SINCE THE NIGHT OF THEIR PARENTS’ PARTY.
