“This is serious. You know there’s no mention of what he looks like.”
“I confess. Somehow, in between running a billion-dollar company, landing my latest inventions and wooing you—”
“Toby!”
“—I’m just popping off to the Tate now, actually.” He neared me. “Let me know if you need anything. Nice little Rembrandt, maybe? How about a packet of Picasso-shaped gummy bears from the gallery store—”
I threw a tea towel at him, and he batted it away and laughed.
I crushed my body next to his and nuzzled in.
He wrapped his arms around me. “After nabbing those paintings, I hang them up in The Wilder and hope no one notices.”
I tickled his ribs. “Thank you for being here. Are you sure you want to be associated with me right now? Maybe Logan’s right?” I hated saying it.
“Of course I want to be here.” He looked pained. “I thought I’d lost you.”
“No.” I rose onto my toes and pressed my lips to his. “I was trying to protect you.”
“Zara.” He nudged me against the wall and crashed his lips on mine, stealing my breath and stunning me into stillness as he trapped me there with his body, all firm muscle and uncompromising strength, his tongue lashing mine fiercely, his mouth forcing mine wider, his cock pressing against my lower abdomen.
Arousal blindsided me and my core tightened, my sex milking as though he was already inside me. His firm fingers ripped at my blouse, sending buttons flying.
His sharp tug at my bra yanked the cup down to free my nipple for his mouth. My head struck the wall when that shock of pleasure hit, making me needy as I responded to his firm suckling, his nibbling exquisite, the way he caught it between his thumb and forefinger to ease its pertness. It felt like a cord was attached from there right to my sex.
My thoughts swirled with confusion, the dread of having the police here, St. Joan now missing and my world spinning out of control.
He broke away. “I didn’t lie to them. Look at us.” His hand slipped beneath the waistband of my pj’s and settled between my thighs. “I know you love it when I touch you like this. See how well I know your body. The way you respond.”
The rhythm of his fingertip pressing my clit brought me close to the edge. He grazed his teeth along my neck, the warmth of his breath tickling, soothing.
“Tobias.”
He pulled away and stepped back. “You’re just so kissable.”
“Help me understand all this.”
“We both know that theft at Christie’s looks suspicious. That’s why you were first on their list of suspects. Look, Zara, the art world is full of wealthy collectors willing to do anything, and I mean anything, to get what they want. If they find a piece they want they’ll go after it and nothing will stand in their way.”
“Why are you helping me?”
“Because you’re my girl. And you’ve already been through too much. You’ve risen out of a scandal that had nothing to do with you, and you’re on the precipice of launching a stellar career. You’re poised to make your mark. I admire that. You’re ambitious because of your love for the profession and you see the true value of what art delivers. I won’t see those wealthy collectors ruin you.”
“You think they will?”
“You have something they want.”
“What?”
“How can you be so sure rumors haven’t surfaced about the other paintings you did manage to save that night?”
My legs weakened and my back pressed against the wall.
He stepped closer and took my hands in his. “I brought us food in because I figured it was best not to leave that Michelangelo unattended.”
I stepped forward into his hug, resting my head against him, a pang of fear nestled into my chest when I realized that the thief might know where I live and worse still, might know about the paintings.
No one knows, I reassured myself, only Clara and Tobias, and I trusted them more than anything.
He hugged me tighter. “We take them to The Otillie. Tomorrow.”
I held his gaze and conveyed how much his being here meant to me. Having a friend to navigate me through this storm meant everything. He was soothing this ache of uncertainty and supporting me in the best kind of way.
Tipping my chin up, I offered my lips to him and he kissed me leisurely, our tongues tangling. My body yearned for this, for him, for the way he mastered my body so thoroughly with his, the way he suckled at my neck, sending luscious tingles into my skin.
“I’m on the pill,” I whispered.
His jaw tightened as he clenched his teeth, and my fingertips traced over his lips as I told him what I needed with that one gesture. Tobias’s mouth brushed over my throat, his familiar fragrance of domination and sex rising, the heat radiating off him and sending shivers throughout me.
“You’ll tell me everything,” I said. “You share all you learn about where my painting came from.”
“We’ll never know if it was real.”
I held his gaze; I know.
He gave a nod.
My forehead crashed onto his shoulder as I realized my dirty family secret had somehow been given a reprieve, and from the way he looked at me he knew it too.
My lips trembled. “I need answers.”
He nibbled my earlobe. “We’ll find them.”
Yes, he had the resources and emotional stamina to do what I couldn’t, but was I asking too much? Was he?
He caught me in that fierce glare of his. “Zara.”
“You really want to deal with this?”
“Yes.” His fingertips found my clit, making small circles...
Sending me into a writhing mess. “I need you inside me. Please, fuck me. Right now. Here.”
His fingers left me and he made quick work of stripping me out of my pajamas.
Leaving me naked with my back pressed up against the wall, I drew from this alertness caused by the cold brick behind me; all senses hyperaware.
With a flick of his wrist he had his full length out, its rigidity nudging my entrance, and he lifted me up with ease and I flung my legs around his waist, allowing him to thrust deeper.
He slammed me against the wall and his cock slid farther in, bringing a luscious pang of taut pleasure, and my head lolled forward as I lost all will to fight back. All I needed in this moment was this, him taking me fiercely against the wall.
My vulnerability reached new heights with Tobias still dressed and me completely naked, my defenselessness glaring. The shock of this realization was short-lived as white-hot passion sent my hips into frenzied thrusts to greet his forced strikes slamming into me, alighting me, and I was stunned by the eroticism of being overpowered.
He sent my heart and mind reeling when he touched me, fucked me, controlled every aspect of my arousal to leave me breathless.
“I can’t wait to fuck you properly, Zara.”
“We are!”
“No, this is nothing compared to what I’m going to do to you.”
Moaning as I neared orgasm, my teeth buried into his shoulder tattoo just like I’d wanted to do from the first moment I’d set eyes on him, this man so vivid with dominance. A breathtaking vision of him furiously taking me.
His thrusts were frantic. “This feels amazing.”
He crushed his lips to mine and his tongue fucked my mouth harder than it ever had, proving he meant it.
Frozen in a state of bliss, my sex gripping, milking, hungry for more of him, my clit a constant throb of need as his pelvis struck against it with an upward glide, sending deliberate shocks of bliss.
He pulled away. “I’m going to make it right.”
With my legs still wrapped around him, he turned swiftly and moved toward the kitchen table. He swept off tha
t wineglass with ease.
I barely heard the sound of it shattering on the floor. I was too gone to care.
He laid me back on the table, raising my legs and spreading them wide and resting the soles of my feet on each of his shoulders.
Tobias leaned forward and cupped the back of my head to rest it down. “Let me be everything you need.”
His words rushed through my thoughts, sending ripples of desire into every cell, every sinew, and every inhalation of his cologne made me feel like he owned me.
My back arched. “Please.”
He clenched his teeth. “Do you trust me?”
“Yes.”
“There’s nothing more wonderful than watching you come.”
That was all I needed to free-fall into this blinding climax, my back arching further, my sex on fire with rippling ecstasy, my body rigid, my heart and mind yearning for everything he promised to show me.
My thighs slipped apart, unable to hold up anymore, and he caught them as they fell, holding them firmly and positioning my legs better for his access, to deepen his thrusts, his body taut and still with tension—
He was all hard muscle and ferocious control, his radiant jade irises morphing to emerald green. Then he closed his eyes, his face focused and his expression quietly powerful as he spilled his heat inside me, the rush of his cum tipping me over into oblivion...
Tobias’s low grunts mingled with my own drawn-out groans, my body rigid and caught in this endless cycle of pleasure surging through my sex, my breathless sighs proving my need for this to never end.
Still coming, his hips steadily rocked in and out in this leisurely pace prolonging our pleasure, those shoves of power his only focus as his gaze roamed over where his cock glided in a continuous rhythm, and his fingers brushed over my slickness, stroking my cleft with affection.
Shuddering, I widened my thighs and tipped my hips upward, yearning for more flicking.
“You like this?” he asked.
I managed a nod as my cheeks flushed ever more brightly, my brow spotted with perspiration.
He used a single fingertip to circle my clit. “You’re a goddamn masterpiece.”
“You are.” I breathed out in a rush.
Tobias carried me to the bedroom.
Weak in his arms, all I could do was close my eyes and surrender, my nerves raw from all that had happened.
I couldn’t find the words to thank him for being here. Somehow, he’d convinced me everything was going to turn out fine. This man had superpowers when it came to making me forget.
Tobias stripped off the rest of his clothes.
That’s right, I mused as my gaze drank in his sculptured body, remind me how lucky I am to have Tobias Wilder here in my flat, flexing those arm muscles as they reach for the blanket to pull it up over us.
I lifted my head off the pillow to admire my lover, who now lay beside me and looked just as sleepy. He sensed me looking at him and opened an eye and gave a devilish grin.
That gorgeous smile made my insides liquefy as he reached for me and pulled me over so my head rested on his chest. I let out a contented sigh of happiness.
How had I endured never knowing this man before? The way his fingers trailed up and down my arm comforting me, the way he tipped his head to kiss mine affectionately, were a reminder of what I’d been missing.
The rain striking the window stole my will to stay awake with its patter reminding us how toasty we were in here.
Sleep lured me into unconsciousness.
* * *
When I woke up it was to the sound of Tobias’s low voice coming from the living room.
A glance at my bedside clock told me I’d slept straight through to 8:00 a.m. Thank goodness I was working from home today.
“No, you listen,” he hissed. “It was a gift from me.”
The edge in his voice startled me and I sat up and wrapped my arms around myself.
“I take it you read my messages to her?” he added.
His furiousness caused me to freeze.
“Never interfere with any decisions I make when it comes to Zara, understand? Do you understand?”
The severity of his tone reminded me of when I’d visited his home in Oxford, his uncompromising attitude forging ahead as he continued to master the conversation. I could only imagine what Logan must be feeling being on the other end. I felt sorry for her.
His voice softened. “I appreciate that, Logan. You know how I feel about you.”
My breath stilted as I replayed his reassuring tone.
Quiet descended in my flat once more and I sensed he was taking the time to listen to her.
I slipped into my babydoll nightdress.
And tiptoed toward the living room.
The conversation with Logan sounded tamer now.
“It’s looking good,” came his husky voice. “I spoke with Magnus. He’s in. He has the resources to deal with the level of attention this will bring. Well, I changed my mind. Made an executive decision.” He listened a little more. “I will end this. It will be swift and sure. It will happen. And it will be...kind.”
He was talking about me.
A viselike grip tightened around my throat. Barefoot, I padded closer to him with my heart racing.
Tobias was dressed in that three-piece suit and waistcoat. He still had his back to me. His posture was stiff with tension and his left hand was clenched by his side.
“Give the phone to Coops.” He turned and his jaw flexed tightly when he saw what I was wearing.
“Tea?” I mouthed.
“I made coffee,” he mouthed back, and his gaze narrowed, those jade-green eyes hinting his appetite for me might be insatiable.
Still, doubt surged through me.
With a look of concentration, Tobias broke my stare and strolled over to the window, his focus centered on the street below. “Yes, Logan, I’m handling...it.” He killed the call and remained transfixed by something on the street.
I stepped forward. “Everything okay?”
“You might want to put some clothes on.”
“Why?”
“I’ve arranged for your paintings to be collected.”
“What time?”
“Soon. I realized the ridiculousness of putting them in the back of my car. Or yours.”
“They’re in a pallet.”
“They need to be handled by professionals, Zara. With expert supervision.”
“I’ve taken good care of them.”
He gave me a look that broke the truth out of its chains. I’d been negligent and had taken a risk keeping them here.
“If the police come back with that search warrant...” He let the sentence trail off and shrugged. “My team’s discreet.”
My brain told me not to go there and I ignored it. “Are you in a relationship with her?”
“Logan?”
I gave a wary nod.
When he didn’t answer immediately it felt like a slap. All the clues had been there, the way she looked at him, her jealousy toward me. “Are you still...”
He stared down at his phone and tucked it away. “Not anymore.”
“Why not?”
Considering Logan’s model looks, an impressive career and bilingual skills that no doubt matched her other linguistic talents, she positively oozed sexy vixen.
“I found her a pleasant distraction. But later...”
“She wanted more?”
I sensed he’d sliced through her heart with a ruthless rejection.
He shook his head thoughtfully. “I need a lawyer who never loses.”
Tobias answered my unspoken question on why she still worked for him. It was too late to pull back on my dismay. No wonder Logan went for m
y jugular each time she saw me.
“I know her alias is Ruby.”
“She told me. I reassured her you’d guessed. She knows how smart you are.”
“Have you ever gone to one of those parties with her?”
“No. She has unusual tastes. That’s her private business.”
“She was the one to tell you about the Goya?”
“Yes, she happened to catch the paintings one evening during a private tour of the palace.”
“And she knows how much you love Goya.”
“I’d do anything for you, Zara.” His expression softened and rested his hand on his heart in a gesture of sincerity. “I’ll always be here for you.”
“I overheard you,” I braved to say, “telling her she knows how you feel about her.”
“Logan’s worked for me for a long time. She’s lent her loyalty. I owe her the same. That’s not to say I tolerate inappropriate behavior.”
Balling my fingers into fists, I hoped he wasn’t skewing that remark toward me too for asking him about them.
“Have you any idea how beautiful, how gifted, how sweet you are?” His expression softened and I wanted to believe his outburst was authentic.
Perhaps Tobias was trying to placate me after I’d given away how close these two were.
“How about that coffee.” He arched a brow.
I made my way into the kitchen and was met by the aroma of fresh beans brewing. I lifted the glass coffeepot and poured it into two mugs and added some milk to mine and left his black.
Tobias leaned on the door frame. “My work takes me abroad a lot.”
My body tensed as I sensed where this was going.
Zach had stood there, right where Tobias stood now, giving those familiar excuses about life’s commitments. Offering me a pretty bouquet of flowers, though nothing as lavish as Tobias’s, but the purpose had been the same with those overly scented petals serving as a gentleman’s apology.
Tobias’s flowers were so very beautiful. They really were kind.
He strolled over to the counter and lifted his drink and took a sip. “I’m controlling. I can be demanding. As you just witnessed from the way I spoke with Logan.” He blew a cool stream of air onto his drink.
The Chase Page 20
