Tempt Me

by R. G. Alexander

  Ive and Kelly, for once, were not.

  Who cares about them? You can make any man want you. Make any man kill for you.

  Where were these thoughts coming from? Her hand came up to fiddle with her necklace, and her fingers slid over a warm, oval locket instead. She held her breath until she felt the tiny cross that sat at the base of her throat. Her touchstone.

  Why had she put the locket on? It was beautiful, but not exactly something she’d thought to wear. Still, she hadn’t wanted to leave it behind. It might have been stolen or lost.

  She had to keep it close. At least until she could get it back to Gabriel’s mother.

  “Angelique, you are freaking me out. Will you sit down, please?”

  Ive put a warning hand on Kelly’s arm, but Kelly pulled away. “No, Ive, you know I’m right. She’s acting strange. She’s barely looked our way, and when she has it’s been... off. I have a bad feeling.”

  Angelique rolled her eyes, a dark emotion welling up inside her. “So much for solidarity. I’m acting strange? This from the person who lets her feelings make all her life decisions... when she makes any at all. It’s a good thing Ive is a pushover for lost causes.”

  She saw Kelly’s shattered expression, the anger in Ive’s usually serene expression, and sat down, her arms reaching across the table toward them. “Shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. Not a word. I love you both more than family—you know I do.” Their hesitation almost broke her heart. “Kelly, I love how special you are. And you’re always right, always full of life and looking for the next adventure. And Ive is a sucker for lost causes. All the greatest doctors are. Which hopefully means she’ll forgive me if I beg and swear to never drink another margarita again?”

  Ive held out her arms and Angelique flew out of her chair, sliding into the long, booth-like seat between them. “I don’t know what I’d do without you two.”

  Kelly leaned her head on Angelique’s shoulder. “We still have a room for you if you want to come back to Baton Rouge, you know. Maybe being near family and ... other people isn’t good for you.”

  She came close to crying in relief. “Maybe you’re right.”

  She’d come back to see which path she’d take, but since she’d been here, all she’d done was confuse the issue. Gabriel was a giant knot she didn’t think she could untangle. And if he was staying here, maybe she should get away. Back to where she knew who she was and what she really wanted.

  Hopefully it wasn’t too late.

  She leaned her head back. “I feel edgy. I need to work off some of this tension.” She rolled her head on the leather back of the seat and looked into Kelly’s forgiving gaze. “Will you dance with me?”

  Kelly’s smile wavered, but it was there. “I don’t know. This might be too much sexy for you to handle.”

  “Oh, I can handle your sexy.” Angelique waggled her eyebrows.

  Ive chuckled. “Sassy. The both of you.”

  The three women rose together and, holding hands, headed out to the crowded dance floor. As the thundering beat pounded out an addictive cadence that Angelique could feel to her toes, she started to move. Through loving eyes she watched her friends move to face her, swaying in time to the rhythm she’d set.

  This was what she needed. No men. No distraction. Just this. Ive did one of the moves she’d learned in her belly-dancing class, and Angelique and Kelly roared in approval, trying desperately to follow her.

  Tears of laughter fell from Kelly’s eyes as Ive and Angelique moved to sandwich her between them, none of them noticing that the crowd had made a small space for them on the dance floor, watching the women dance.

  Kelly spoke in Angelique’s ear. “Now, this is a party.”

  Angelique pulled her close, still moving to the beat. “I love you, you know.”

  There was a smile in her friend’s voice. “I know. I love you, too.”

  “Good. I was worried for a second I might lose you to the hot guy with long hair behind you.”

  Kelly pulled back, eyes wide as she tried to discern the truth from Angelique’s expression. The man behind her placed a questioning hand on her shoulder. She turned, looking up at the six-foot-and-then-some handsome, bearded hunk. “Yes?”

  “Will you dance with me?” The man’s voice was deep and gentle. Sexy.

  Kelly looked over her shoulder, and Angelique nodded. “Have fun. I’ll be here.”

  She turned to find Ive paired up as well. That was fast. But it always happened. They always attracted attention when they were together, in one way or another.

  One song blended into the next, and Angelique knew she wouldn’t stop dancing. She couldn’t. Something about the beat was hypnotic. She closed her eyes and let it take her. Without being able to help herself she saw Gabriel in front of her, watching her dance just for him. His eyes said, “Seduce me.”

  So she did.

  Bodies closed in around her, but that was a part of the fantasy. She would tempt him by showing him what he was missing.

  Angelique smiled up at the handsome stranger beside her and let him tug her backward, rocking against him. Against Gabriel. He wanted her again. No one but her. And nothing would stop him from taking what he wanted.

  “Don’t mean to disturb you, little Rousseau. I just found a new partner for your dancing buddy.”

  Her eyes popped open, the illusion bursting at the sight of BD standing in front of her, his smile not reaching his eyes. She watched in shock as he tugged her to his side, handing the man she’d been dancing with over to a tall, blonde bombshell. “I’m sure you two will have amazing sex. I can tell. It is what you might call my superpower. Enjoy.”

  With that he began to walk off the dance floor through the mass of bodies, her hand still in his. “Wait. What are you doing here?”

  BD shouted over her shoulder. “Saving that poor man from an untimely demise. And you from yourself.”

  “What?”

  He ignored her, speaking to someone in front of him. “See? I found her. No harm done. We can all relax.”

  She leaned around his body and gasped. “Gabriel?”

  He stood so still at the edge of the dance floor that for a moment he looked inhuman. A statue. Until she saw the tick at his temple and the clenched fists at his sides. He was upset. Wait. What did he have to be mad about?

  “What’s going on, BD? Why are you hanging out with him?” And where was BD’s wife? Angelique was thinking she might have a thing or two to say to her after her botched attempt at matchmaking.

  Hopefully BD wasn’t trying to follow in her footsteps. She was not in the mood tonight, no matter how mouthwatering Gabriel looked.

  Gabriel stepped around BD until he was close enough to touch. So close she had to crane her neck to meet his gaze.

  His silence was making her crazy. Why was he looking at her like that? Like she’d been unfaithful. Like she’d done something wrong.

  “Did you forget something this morning, Gabriel? Any other insults or accusations you want to hurl at me before you leave me the hell alone?”

  She wanted to kiss him. How dysfunctional was that? Despite his obvious anger, she could see something in his eyes, something she wasn’t willing to put into words, something she wasn’t able to believe.

  He wants you. Use that. He’ll be lost to lust. Then you’ll have him.

  No. It wasn’t enough anymore. It hadn’t been from the moment he’d touched her. She wasn’t able to keep her heart out of the equation.

  BD laid a hand on her shoulder, ignoring Gabriel’s low growl. “We didn’t know you were here, cher. I promise. Gabriel and I were just . . . talking.”

  “It’s okay, BD.” She couldn’t look away from Gabriel. She lifted her chin, trying to hide the arousal rising inside her. “I was about to leave anyway. Actually, I think I’m heading back to Baton Rouge. This city is getting too small for me.”

  She’d barely finished her sentence when Gabriel’s hands shot out from his sides, dragging her up agains
t his body. “You aren’t going anywhere.”

  Angelique’s body started to tremble, instinctively recognizing him, remembering how he made it feel. “You have no control over what I do. Just sex, remember?”

  “Hey, where are you going with her, you . . . um . . . you . . .”

  Angelique managed to tear her gaze away from Gabriel long enough to see a breathless Kelly stop dead beside them, Ive close behind.

  Good. Reinforcements had arrived before she lost her perspective.

  BD took a step closer to her two friends. “Ladies. You must be the friends from college I’ve been hearing about.” He lowered his voice. “I’m Bone Daddy.”

  Angelique’s shoulders slumped. The turncoats. Three little words and they turned to putty in his hands, forgetting all about their endangered friend.

  “Of course you are. She was right. You’re pretty.” Kelly sounded like someone had knocked her over the head with a sledgehammer. Although she could be mistaken. Pressed up against Gabriel’s body, feeling his heartbeat, smelling him, was making it harder and harder to think.

  Gabriel’s fingers tightened on her shoulders. “You’re coming with me, angel. Now.”

  She looked up at him, hearing her friends’ protests, but she knew it was too late. Of course she was going with him.

  You can’t resist. How easy you are to control.

  Tell her something she didn’t know. No matter how bad she knew it would be for her, she couldn’t stop her body’s reaction. Or her heart’s.

  “Beautiful ladies, please.” BD interrupted Ive and Kelly’s argument behind her. “I think we should let them sort it out. Tell you what—I’ll buy you both something to drink and tell you how Bone Daddy, a simple Loa, managed to bring together three of the greatest love matches of the centu—oomph. Excuse me, sir . . .”

  Angelique held her breath as that strange man pushed past BD without pause, watched as BD’s beautiful amber gaze narrowed in suspicion. “That’s an unusual coincidence. And I don’t believe in them as a rule.”

  Ive tilted her head charmingly. “What’s a coincidence?”

  Gabriel didn’t wait to hear his answer. His hands slid down, one of them grasping Angelique’s as he turned and started for the door.

  She wanted to tell him off. Wanted to get in the car tonight and drive as far away from him as she could. Wanted to feel him inside her again more than anything else.

  The cooler air hit her, the blaze of the streetlights breaking her out of her silence. “Gabriel, stop. I—”

  He turned, pressing her back up against the brick wall of the club with his body, his lips silencing any denial she might have come up with.

  Yes. It felt like years instead of hours since he’d kissed her. It felt like coming home. Or falling off a cliff.

  Gabriel reached down to grasp one of her thighs, heedless of the skin revealed as he wrapped it around his waist, letting her feel his erection through the fabric separating them.

  She inhaled sharply against his mouth, not caring where they were or who saw them. She just wanted to feel the way she had last night. Just one more time. Maybe then she’d find the strength to refuse him.

  His hand came up to cup her breast and she cried out. At the sound he reared back and swore beneath his breath. “Jesus, Angelique, I’m sorry, baby. I don’t know if I can wait until we get to the apartment. Fuck, this is insane.”

  Angelique made a breathless sound of agreement. She was so turned on she could hardly speak. “I know. Don’t have to wait. Hotel. One block.”

  She slipped her hand down between their bodies, rubbing against him. He moaned. Her fingers searched beneath the fabric of her belt until she found what she was looking for. She held the narrow card up victoriously. “I have a key.”

  Understanding and a relief so profound it mirrored her own crossed over his face. “Thank God.”

  He half walked, half dragged her down the sidewalk. Angelique supposed she should be glad he hadn’t tossed her over his shoulder.

  She could hear him muttering under his breath in disbelief at his own behavior. “I wouldn’t have cared. I would have taken you up against the wall, in front of everyone.”

  She knew. Worse, she would have let him.

  CHAPTER 12

  THE ELEVATOR HADN’T CLOSED TO TAKE THEM TO THE FLOOR her room was on before her back was against the wall and Gabriel’s hand was beneath her dress.

  In his heart he knew the possessiveness he felt wasn’t caused by the shadow that had been drawn to him. It only intensified what had already been there. What he hadn’t been able to accept until now.

  She was his.

  He bit her lower lip, his breathing ragged. “This is for me. You’re soaking my hand, angel. Say it.”

  “For you, Gabriel.”

  He pushed her thin panties to the side and curled two fingers deep inside her. No teasing. He had to feel her around him. Was aching for it.

  But he needed more. He needed to know she was giving him everything. All her passion. Giving up her control to him.

  “If I wanted to take you here, you would let me, wouldn’t you?”

  “Yes, here. Anywhere.” She sounded dazed.

  His fingers slid out of her wet heat and he brought his hand to her mouth, painting her lips with her own juices.

  He licked along the seam of her mouth. “Sweet. Don’t space out on me, baby. I have plans.”

  Her tongue slipped out and followed his, tasting herself as the elevator doors slid open.

  Damn, she was responsive. Addictive. Sex incarnate.

  Mine.

  He placed his hand on the small of her back, taking the card from her and following her to the hotel room she’d gotten with her friends.

  Gabriel wanted to ask why she wasn’t staying at the apartment. Why she’d worn the scrap of nothing she had on and danced so seductively for other men. But it didn’t matter now. She’d come with him.

  He opened the door and followed her inside, covering her hand when she reached for the light switch.

  “Not yet,” he whispered against her ear, loving the way she shivered against him. He reached behind him and bolted the door. Didn’t want her friends wandering in uninvited.

  The drapes were open and the dim light from the side street cast the room in shadow. He guided her past the entertainment center, the chair and table. He moved toward the French windows, smiling at the decorative wrought iron he could see on the other side.

  She stumbled in hesitation. “The bed is over there.”

  Gabriel heard his dark chuckle as if from a distance, the blood rushing to his cock making his thoughts cloudy. “Good to know. Next time, I’ll use this excuse for a dress to tie your hands to the headboard while I make you beg.”

  “Oh God.”

  She was shaking again, but she seemed more energized than weak. Good. He felt powerful and he didn’t want to think it was because of what Emmanuel had seen earlier. Maybe it was a combination of proving to himself that he had some control over his strange abilities and her.

  Just being with her.

  He stood behind her, taking off his shirt while letting her feel his cock pressing against her sweetly curving ass. “This time.” He paused, letting her wonder, knowing she was holding her breath, waiting for him to speak. “This time I’m going to give you what you want.”

  He unzipped his pants, his knuckles purposefully scraping along the base of her spine. She gasped.

  “Open the windows, Angelique.”

  She tensed and started to turn around. “What? No.”

  He used his body to stop her. His hands on her hips. “No? No, you don’t want me to fuck you? No, you don’t want to feel that forbidden rush, looking down from this dark room knowing anyone could walk by. Knowing you’d have to be quiet if they did, or they might look up and see you. Look up and know.”

  He bit his lip so hard he tasted blood as he waited for her to decide. Each second felt like hours. But he waited.

  She
opened the windows.

  “Oh, you are perfect.” For him. He slid one hand up to the middle of her back, loving how she curled toward him like a cat.

  He bent his head until his lips skimmed her temple. “Now bend over and hold on to those bars.”

  She moaned, but this time she didn’t argue. She was bent at the waist, her breasts pushed down against the narrow swirls of iron that framed the other side of the glass like a miniature balcony. Her fingers curled over the bars; he could see how tightly she gripped, her knuckles going white.

  Beautiful.

  The move pressed her ass hard against him, and he gritted his teeth, trying to hang on to his sanity long enough to give her what she needed. What she wanted.

  He stroked her back through her dress with one hand, reaching in his pocket for a condom with the other. “Someone told me, not that long ago, that to make my woman desire me above all others, I had to find out what her wildest fantasy was, and give it to her.”

  Her high-pitched “Oh?” made him laugh softly.

  “I think I’ve found one of yours. Shall we test my theory?”

  In the darkness of the room he reached for the hem of her dress, lifting it to her waist. She was wearing another lacy thong. This one was black to match her dress. Gabriel slid his fingers beneath the elastic and dragged it over to one side, revealing her to his gaze.

  He hummed. “Mmmmm, now I wish I’d let you turn the lights on. This is a beautiful sight.”

  “Gabriel.” His name was a plea on her lips.

  “I know.” He didn’t want to wait anymore.

  He slid the condom onto his erection, but the darker forces in his mind were resistant. There should be nothing between them. She belonged to him.

  Not yet. The yet soothed him enough to allow him to continue. “Anybody below us, baby?”

  “I don’t, um . . . No.”

  He held her hips once more and slid his cock between her legs. “Too bad. I know from experience how beautiful you look when I do this.”

  Gabriel couldn’t hold back his groan of pleasure as he filled her with one deep thrust of his hips.