She’d gotten under his skin. He didn’t know how or when, but he needed her out. He spent his life among thieves and murderers. He couldn’t drag someone he cared about into that life. They’d be his weakness and would no doubt pay for it eventually.
As if sensing his turmoil, Kate turned and met his gaze, frowning quizzically. The flash of gold in her dark brown eyes took him back to when she’d lain beneath him. Her legs wrapped around his waist. His dick buried deep within her. Fuck it.
“Excuse us.” He clasped Kate’s wrist with his hands and practically dragged her out of the building. She’d give him hell later, but right now it appeased the devil that had risen within him.
The driver they’d hired for the night opened the car door as soon as they appeared outside. Etienne guided Kate into the back seat and followed her in.
She turned to him, eyes blazing.
“What was that about?”
“It was time to leave.”
“Fine. But you didn’t need to drag me out. The Hendersons are going to think me very rude.”
“They’ll get over it.” He leant over and pressed the intercom switch. “L'hôtel s'il vous plaît.”
The car pulled out into the night time traffic. Alors. He’d got her alone, but what good was it going to do him now that he’d pissed her off? Again. “Sorry.”
She glanced sharply at him.
Etienne ran a hand through his hair. He was in unfamiliar territory. He’d never explained his actions before and was unsure how to start now.
“I saw that guy trying to edge in on the conversation and I didn’t like it.”
Her gaze softened. “You don’t mind pitching me against police, thieves, and murderers, but you’re worried about some art enthusiast who was probably more interested in talking to the Hendersons than me.”
The glint in her eyes and the gentle up-tilt of her mouth reassured him she was teasing. He didn’t warrant her forgiveness, but he still had a chance to make it right. He picked up her hand and linked his fingers through hers.
“I saw the look on his face. It wasn’t the Hendersons he wanted.”
“And what look was that?”
“The one I’m giving you now.” He reached up with his other hand to cup her face. “The one that says if you carry on with that smart mouth of yours, I won’t be able to wait until we reach the hotel room to start peeling that dress off of you and exploring the bare flesh I reveal.”
She licked her lips and swallowed. His erection strained against his trousers. He was playing a dangerous game considering he had to get out and walk in just a few minutes.
“First with my hands and then slowly with my mouth.”
Her pupils dilated. “Slowly?”
Her breathless whisper made him want to start right now.
“You have no idea. So slowly you’ll be begging me for release.”
Desire flared in Kate’s eyes. Who was he kidding? He was ready to get down on his knees and beg her.
The car pulled into the hotel entrance. The bright lights of the foyer were visible through the blacked out glass of the car. Etienne took a moment to compose himself before stepping out of the car and holding out his hand to assist Kate.
They crossed the marble floor of the foyer and into the open lift already filled with several guests. As they stood waiting for the next floor to arrive, he caught Kate’s gaze in the mirrored panelling. Her eyes danced with amusement, her enjoyment at his frustration obvious. He gave her his sternest frown, but she only smiled in return.
The doors swished open on their floor, and Etienne stepped out, allowing Kate to pass in front of him. He followed her up the corridor, mesmerised by the seductive sway of her hips clearly exaggerated for his benefit. At the door to their suite, she turned and leant against the architrave, waiting for him to catch up.
“Still want to go slowly?”
Her husky voice fed into his lust. As the key card flashed green, he wasted no time in pulling her into the room after him and backing her up against the door as it closed.
“Trying to test my willpower, princesse?” He brushed her hair back from where it fell across her cheek. “Because I must warn you, I always get my way. Eventually.”
Her sexy little gasp was all the encouragement he needed to bend down and claim her lips. He took his time kissing her until they were both breathless. Etienne pulled back a fraction and continued his exploration downwards, sucking, nipping, and laving every part of her skin on his journey. It was only as his fingers touched the cool metal of the necklace that he remembered she still wore it hidden beneath the silk wrap he’d just let fall to the floor.
Etienne stepped back a fraction and studied the necklace before raising his gaze to Kate’s. “Dazzling. But nothing compares to the wearer.”
Her pupils darkened and she pulled him closer, lifting her lips to meet his once more. He turned her around to face the door and slid the zipper of her dress down between her shoulder blades. Her skin was pale in the soft lighting, and the gentle scent of her perfume lured him in until he could stand it no more and pressed his lips to the nape of her neck.
His mouth followed the zipper down. Each taste elicited a response from Kate urging him on. By the time the zipper ended at the small of her back, he was on his knees and just about ready to plead with Kate to remove her dress so he could taste her everywhere.
But before he could say a word, she turned around and let the dress fall from her shoulders before swooshing it away with one stilettoed foot. He looked up, taking his fill of her breasts encased in lace, the pendant shimmering against her skin, and into her eyes molten with desire.
For a moment he was speechless. Until she bent forward giving him an eyeful of cleavage, and pulled him up by his tie.
“Turnabout is fair play.” She slid his tie deftly apart and undid the top two buttons of his shirt.
Standing on tiptoe, she reached up and placed her lips against the hollow where his collarbones met. She leant back on her heels and proceeded to undo each button on his shirt, pressing her lips against his bare flesh with each reveal until she reached his belt. If she went any further, slowly wouldn’t be an option anymore.
Grasping her shoulders, he pulled her up and kissed her. His hand slid to caress her breast, rubbing his thumb over the taut nipple poking against her bra. He reached around her and undid the clasp, allowing the material to drop away. Bending his head, he sucked hard on one tip and then the other. Kate arched her back towards him.
Who had he been lying to? Going slow with Kate was never an option. She riled him up into such a frenzy he could barely think straight. Unless he was planning on taking her here in the hallway, he needed to move.
Etienne slid his hands down to her firm behind and lifted her up. “Put your legs around me.”
He groaned as she wrapped her arms around his neck and lifted her legs, pressing her heat straight against his erection. “I’m not sure we’ll make it the bedroom.”
“What happened to testing your willpower?”
“I’m man enough to admit defeat when the occasion calls for it.”
Her eyes glinted. “I might just remind you of that another time.”
The back of his legs hit the bed and he sat down, pulling her into his lap, but she slid the floor and reached for his belt, unbuttoning his trousers with a speed he was grateful for.
His breath caught as her fingers closed around his cock and began to slowly move her hand up and down. She leant forward and took him into her mouth, and Etienne relied on all of his self-control not to speed up her rhythm.
As her hands drifted lower, he pulled her up onto the bed. “I don’t think I’ll last very long if you continue.”
He slid her panties down and skimmed his tongue along her seam. Her hips rose up and gently he pushed his finger inside of her, setting a rhythm fast enough to create an overwhelming need, but slow enough to keep her orgasm just out of reach.
His gaze roved across her body and up t
o her face. Eyes closed, she seemed lost in the power of the flame that burned between them, and yet, she held back.
She always held back. He’d sensed it last night. As if there was a small piece of her she kept guarded, protecting herself against the temptation of crossing a line.
“Etienne.” Her tone held both a command and a warning. She couldn’t hold out much longer, either.
Giving her clitoris one last caress with his tongue, he rose up, shrugged off his trousers, and reached for a condom in his pocket, sheathing himself quickly. Easing back on top of her, he propped himself on his elbow and kissed her. “Oui, princesse?”
Her eyes, glazed with desire, took a moment to focus on his. When they did, he felt an unfamiliar pull on his heart. With her cheeks flushed and her lips swollen from his kisses, she’d never looked more beautiful. But a frown marred her forehead, and he could see the hesitation that dampened the desire in her gaze.
He stroked a finger across her cheek. “What are you afraid of, chérie?”
She grew serious. “Being sucked into the dark shadows.”
“Is that what you think I am?” He wished he could say more, but it was an impossible situation. He could no more tell her who he worked for any more than she seemed capable of explaining why she had such a deep aversion to the very people she was supposed to be hunting down.
“Maybe.” Confusion clouded her gaze and she twisted away from his hand. “I don’t know anymore what to believe.”
Undeterred, he ran his hand down her neck. “You can’t flit around the edges and not be drawn in.” His fingers traced the outline of the talisman she still wore. “If you want the thrill of the chase, you must be prepared to risk losing a part of your soul.”
A sigh escaped her lips. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
He kissed her temple and slid his mouth down to the soft skin just behind her ear. “Don’t worry, princesse, I’ll take care of you.”
His gut tightened. He’d never promised a woman anything more than a good time. There was only one way he knew he could keep her safe. The question was, could he walk away from her again?
She turned her head and captured his lips with hers, lifting her hips to position his erection right at her entrance. With a single thrust, he took her and revelled in the yes that hissed from Kate’s lips.
Their pace bordered on the frantic, but the need for her to see him as the man he was, not the one in her imagination, was stronger.
“Open your eyes, Kate.”
They flickered open at his command.
He slowed down their rhythm, captivated by how her irises sparkled with gold as her body writhed beneath him.
“Tell me what you want.”
Her gaze burned with desire. “You. Only you, Etienne.” The whispered confession was ripped out of her as she went over the edge and took him with her.
DAYLIGHT INCHED AROUND the curtains. Memories of last night flooded through her. Kate rolled over, dragging the sheets with her, and groaned. What had she done?
The man represented everything she’d fought so hard against all her life, and yet, all it took was a kiss for her to forget everything.
Perhaps it was in her blood? She could no more escape the clutches of the criminal world than her mother had been able to.
No. She was stronger. Her mother had had nowhere to turn, but Kate always made sure she had options. Even now it wasn’t too late. So she’d taken a wrong step somewhere and gotten sucked in. She could still climb out of this mess.
Until now she hadn’t done anything wrong. Just followed leads. Sure, she wasn’t supposed to sleep with the guy they all suspected, but hey, everyone made mistakes. It was just an affair. The words uttered yesterday were said in the heat of the moment. She could convince herself of that.
The memory of Etienne’s body hard against hers, his soft whispered words, and her heart’s reaction called her a liar.
She grimaced. Perhaps she could chalk it up to experience once she’d put some distance between them.
Which needed to happen pretty damn soon. She still wasn’t a hundred percent sure what was going down, but one thing was certain. If she continued on this current path, she’d either be a party to him acquiring stolen goods or helping him steal it from Mercier.
Her stomach churned. That made her no better than her father.
The quietness interrupted her thoughts. Kate sat up. She’d presumed Etienne was in the bathroom, but he’d been gone too long and there was no sound.
She swept the covers back and stood up, the carpet warm beneath her bare feet.
“Etienne?”
No response.
She walked into the living area of the suite. Propped up next to the bowl of fruit was a folded piece of hotel notepaper. Her name in bold print stared back at her. Crossing the room, she flicked it open.
Etienne’s broad handwriting scrawled across the page as elegant as the man himself.
Chérie—we both know this isn’t going to work. Thank you for an unforgettable few days.
Au revoir, princesse
Etienne x
The paper rasped against her fingers as the note slipped from her hand and fluttered to the floor.
Nausea at her naivety washed over her, quickly followed by fury. She hated him with every fibre in her body. A tear rolled down her cheek.
But she despised herself more.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
KATE SAT ON the edge of the bed and stared at her phone, hoping the answers to her questions would magically appear. She’d spent the last twenty-four hours going over every detail of the past few days but still couldn’t find a way out of her predicament.
Switching hotels to something more within her budget had really driven home the difference between her and Etienne. Why the hell did she think she could play in his league? His wealth and notoriety gave him far more resources at his fingertips than she could ever hope to access.
Her self-loathing was even worse once she’d realised that not only had she not gotten a better look at the necklace, Etienne had taken Mercier’s card at the gallery, too, and she hadn’t thought to get the details.
Another stupid move on her part. Etienne must be laughing at her naivety. She’d rung the gallery, several hotels in the area, and even risked speaking to a colleague back in the London office. No one had or would give her a contact number for Mercier.
She closed her eyes to stem the tears of frustration that threatened to overwhelm her. No way was she going to give Etienne the satisfaction of upsetting her so much she couldn’t think straight. Somehow she would find a way to contact Mercier to arrange a separate meeting.
Her phone blasted to life and Kate opened her eyes. A French mobile number appeared on the screen. She swiped the green icon, praying it was a way out of this mess and not more complications. “Hello?”
“Bonjour, Kate. It’s Didier, we met in Avignon.”
Kate relaxed. At least it wasn’t someone who was going to berate her for messing up. Avignon seemed almost a lifetime ago. Could it really be just a couple of days?
“Hi, Didier. If you’re looking for Etienne, he’s not here.”
He let out a Gallic sigh. “Ah. I was supposed to be meeting him, but he hasn’t shown up. I wondered if you knew where he was?”
“No, sorry. He took off yesterday and I haven’t heard from him since.”
“Hell. I’m sorry.”
She took a deep breath. “Don’t worry. It’s not like I didn’t expect it.”
“The reason I’m calling is we were supposed to meet someone about that poem of yours.”
Her temperature spiked as anger coursed through her. He’d ditched her to run the “scam” with Didier? Except they were on opposite sides of the fence. It didn’t make sense.
“It wouldn’t happen to be with someone called Mercier, would it?”
“Oui. You know him?”
“We met the other night.” A glimmer of hope rose up within her. “I can join you if
you want?”
If Etienne thought he was going to cut her out of a chance of getting the painting, then he was in for a surprise. She had no qualms about joining forces with a French government official. For the first time in days, she’d be on the right side of the law.
“Bien—there’s a cafe around the corner from where we’re supposed to catch-up with Mercier. Can you meet me there just after midday? We can discuss a deal to our mutual benefit.”
Should she come clean about exactly what she did for a living? Didier presumably would be looking to arrest both Mercier and Etienne if he got the chance. If she went with him, would he arrest her, too? No way she’d be able to hide that from the London office, and Barrett would go berserk if she brought the company name into disrepute. Or at least he would until the matter was cleared up, and then perhaps he’d forgive her.
She glanced at her watch. A couple of hours would give her just enough time to put her own plan in place. “Yes. I’ll see you there. Should I bring the poems?”
“Definitely. We won’t get anywhere without them.”
Kate hung up and changed into the dark suit Etienne had paid for the other day. Well, at least she’d gotten something out of it. If nothing else, she’d look good for all those interviews she’d be going to if Barrett sacked her.
Once she knew for certain that Mercier had the painting, she’d alert the London office and let them decide what to do next. Except she could hear her boss’s loud and scathing thoughts about her actions in her head already. Did she really want to piss him off, when there might just be a chance her job could be saved?
Kate picked up her phone and dialled his mobile.
“What now?”
Ire flitted into her consciousness at his tone, but she shrugged it off. She could get upset about his attitude or just accept that perhaps he had good reason to be annoyed with her. After all, she had left Maastricht of her own volition.
“I’ve got a solid lead on the painting and a meeting in a little over an hour with a chance of confirming it.”
“Wait.” The noise in the background dimmed as she presumed he’d moved to a quieter place. “Don’t take any unnecessary risks; you don’t have the experience. If you’re certain you know where it is, we should alert the authorities.”
Chasing Lies Page 13
