Chapter 8

Teddy’s eyebrows shot up when Evan stepped up to the bar. “Did you lose her already?”

Evan shook his head. “No, she’s safely hidden in the lounge.”

“I thought you’d wander more in the direction of the upper floor.” He winked at him.

Evan sighed. “I may be a little out of practice with some things but I do know how to start slow.” He motioned to the wine fridge. “Give me the best white we have, something sweet preferably, and some glasses.”

Teddy nodded abruptly and opened the glass door. “Perfect, add a plate of those strawberries and cream to the menu and you might have seduction.”

He hadn’t thought of that. He glanced toward the dessert display and spotted the items mentioned. “I think I will.”

Teddy opened the bottle and wrapped it before putting it in an ice bucket and quickly hanging two glasses from the holders at the side. “Best of luck, and I completely understand why you ditch work so often to see her.” He slid it toward him.

Evan blinked, he wasn’t sure how his friend knew that was the woman, but he didn’t care. “Thank you.” He picked up the cool silver container. “Uh, if anyone asks for me . . .”

“I’ve lost you, no clue where you are.”

Evan grinned. “Excellent.”

He grabbed the berries and then skirted around several women, as least he hoped they were all of the female persuasion, with those inviting smiles, probably hoping the wine under his arm was for them. Getting out of the room as quickly as he could, he went back in the direction of where he’d left her.

He couldn’t believe she hadn’t realized yet that it was him, but he wasn’t about to ruin the chance he had to spend time with her either. The only reason, as far as he could tell, that she was staying this long was to speak to him, so letting the cat, or the lion in this case, out of the bag was the wrong way to go. Evan paused at the door. He’d have to keep his eyes hidden from her though, or she was sure to recognize him. He shifted the dish to his other hand and opened the door.

He stopped to see Arianna standing in the moonlight looking out the window. The light shimmered over her and made her appear ethereal. He let out the breath he’d been holding and closed the door quietly. “Was our hiding place found while I was gone?”

She turned slowly from the window and smiled. “No, it’s been peacefully quiet in here.”

He set the wine and dish on the table and then went over to the light switch and dimmed the lighting enough to allow the moonlight to brighten most of the room. “This way, no one from outside will find our hiding spot.” He watched her walk over to the table and look down at the berries. Quietly he flipped the lock on the door and went back over to her. “May I ask your name?” Would she confess her identity he wondered?

She glanced up at him, her lashes hiding most of her eyes. “That would defeat the purpose of the mask, don’t you think?”

He lowered his gaze and bowed his head. “I suppose it would.” Feeling he could safely look at her in this low light without her knowing it was he, he let his eyes wander down over her dress. “I’ll just call you Wanda then.”

She laughed. “Only if I get to call you, Leo.”

He laughed with her. “Why not.” He glanced to the door at the back corner of the room. “You know what, I had thought to hide you in here, but I have a better idea.”

She gave him a curious look. “You do?”

He nodded and picked up the wine holder. “Yes, grab the berries and follow me.” Evan headed toward the door. “The stairs behind this door lead to the upper floor and beyond that to the little lookout veranda on the roof. Let’s sit up there.”

She quickly picked up the dish. “Absolutely.”

~

Evan’s heart crashed against his ribs as he watched her. He lounged on the bench that sat in the small area while she stood against the rail. A gentle breeze blew lightly over her as she raised her hands up and threw her head back. He had to suck in a breath. She looked just like the figurine he had bought from her the day before. “A . . .” He’d almost said Arianna. “Wanda, come sit and share a toast with me.” His voice was quiet.

She turned and gave him an animated smile. “What are we toasting?”

“Hallow’s Eve, of course.” He reached for the wine bottle.

She sat beside him on the small bench, and he immediately felt her warmth being so close to her. She reached out and ran a hand down over the mane he wore on top of his head.

“Isn’t that itchy?”

He handed her a glass and grinned. “A bit. I’ll lose it when we go back in. I might misplace my tail too. It’s getting a bit annoying.”

She laughed and then raised the glass to taste the wine. “Mmm, it’s good.” She looked out over the lawn. “It’s beautiful up here.”

“Yes it is.” He was looking at her and not the scene below. Her eyes went to the dish resting on the tiny table in front of them.

“Are we going to try those, Leo?”

Evan’s eyes moved over her lips. “Of course.” He set his glass down and picked up a large berry. After dipping it into the cream, he held it in front of her mouth. She gave him a wary look as he placed the tip in her mouth and wanted to groan when she slowly bit into it.

Pulling his hand back, he popped the rest of it in his mouth, not even tasting it as he was too busy watching her mouth. Her tongue darted out to lick off the cream. “More?” He couldn’t hide the husky edge in his voice.

She nodded. He reached again slathering a berry with the cream. Sliding closer, he held it out to her, just far enough that she’d have to lean forward to take it into her mouth. This time, as she bit into it, he didn’t eat the remaining piece. He ran it over her lips as she chewed slowly. Leaning forward, he lowered his mouth down to hers and licked the cream from her lips. He watched the flare in her eyes as he leaned back and smiled. “I’m not sure which tastes better.”

Her tongue darted out again and wet her mouth. She gave him a heated look and then leaned forward to dip her finger into the cream. He watched her move her hand to his mouth and slid the cream across his lips. He didn’t breathe as she leaned closer to him and ran her tongue over his lips lingeringly.

Inhaling a shaky breath, he slid his hand along the back of the bench, intending to pull her closer. Their mouths were only inches apart when a loud shout broke the silence.

Turning, he looked down to see they had a small audience on the lawn. He sighed. “I think we should go back inside.”

She covered her mouth and looked at him. “I think maybe you’re right,” she whispered.

~

Arianna followed him down the narrow stairs that she knew so well and turned to go back to the first floor. He caught her elbow gently and motioned to a door. She looked at the door and then back at him.

“It’s a sitting area.”

She felt silly. “Okay.” She went through the door as he opened it. She watched him go over to the table beside the small sofa and set the wine and berries down. He straightened and reached around behind him.

“Give me a hand getting this tail off?”

She nodded and he walked over to her and turned around.

“There’s a clasp underneath it.”

She quickly found the clasp and unhooked the cute tail. “There you go.” She held out the tail for him as he turned. Her eyes wouldn’t behave and moved down over his bare chest to admire the golden skin. At least the lion looked after himself, she thought as she looked back to his face to see him studying her. They were almost eye to eye, with the heels she wore, but without them, she was sure he’d have close to five inches on her.

Leo reached past her suddenly and she sucked in a breath. The lights in the room dimmed. She turned her face to look at him and realized he was only a few inches from her. Grasping the wig, she pulled it from his head. “It’s starting to make me itchy just seeing it.”

He grinned and, running a hand through his damp hair, messed it up. “It was getting warm.”

He took the wig from her but didn’t move away. Instead, he leaned a hand against the door and was closer to her. Arianna was barely breathing, not sure if it was a good idea to be this close or if she wanted to be closer, she stood perfectly still and watched him. His lashes hid most of his eyes, so she couldn’t be sure what he was thinking.

She was ready to climb out of her skin. Guilt passed over her fleetingly. She was acting like a cat in heat around this man. Leaning her head back against the door, she looked at him. The look in his eyes convinced her that she deserved one night to enjoy herself, one night to feel warmth from another. She swallowed, not sure how to go about it—his body was so close to hers that she could faintly feel the outline of him.

She watched his hand as he moved the hair from her shoulder and leaned over to lightly kiss the curve of her throat.

“I’m sorry we were interrupted up there,” he whispered, his lips brushing just under her ear.

Arianna could feel his breath on her skin, and that alone made her forget how to speak. She ran a hand down one biceps and rested it by his elbow. “It wasn’t your fault,” she finally managed to whisper. Turning her face toward him, she inhaled the pure masculine scent of him. Something seemed familiar, but it was hard to focus on that thought right now.

Leo leaned into her and lightly ran a hand down her arm. His cheek brushed against hers as he moved to place a kiss against her throat. Through her thin outfit, she could feel the heat of his body. She was vibrating with the need burning through her. His mouth moved over her skin little by little until he reached the low-cut front of her costume. She felt his tongue lightly taste along the edge of the neckline and she trembled.

He lifted his lips from her skin, and she just stood there vibrating. Had it been so long that she’d forgotten how this went or was it just his strong presence that overwhelmed her?

~

Evan glanced down her body. The swell of her breasts rose and fell with each breath. She stood with her back against the door and one sexy leg bent, showing through the opening of her skirt. He leaned very slowly against her, his lips only a breath from hers and reached down to run one hand up the stocking clad thigh. His body responded to her sucking in a breath and he continued slowly up the back of her thigh, lifting her foot gently off the floor as he went.

When his hand touched the bare skin at the top of her thigh, he feathered a single kiss on her lips and waited for her to react. As her hand moved up his chest to his neck, he smiled against her lips and kissed her completely this time. Her knee pushed into his hip as she lifted her leg higher, and the movement brought his aching groin to rest where he wanted so much to be.

She opened her mouth to his, and he wasted no time dipping his tongue into the moist heat and tasting her. His hand moved under the skirt to cup her bare ass and pull her against his hardness. She gasped against his mouth and wrapped her leg around him to rock herself into him again. Unable to stop himself he crushed her mouth to hers and grasped a handful of her silky hair to stop her from breaking the kiss again.

Her hands moved down his bare back, and she raked her nails gently back up. That was the only signal he needed. Lifting her, he pinned her to the door with his hips, the feel of her yielding body beneath him sent the fire shooting through him.

Someone banged on the other side of the door. He pulled his mouth from hers and held her as she clung to him. The person knocked again. Clenching his jaw, he looked down at her for a moment. The house had better be burning to the ground, he thought as he leaned one hand on the door and swallowed trying to settle his breathing. “Yes,” he growled at the door.

“Is Celia in there?”

“No.” He used a tone that conveyed that in no uncertain terms, he was finished speaking.

Her hands slid down his arms, and she straightened back against the door, putting space between them. He moved back a few inches and, watching her, searched for the words to take them back where they had just been. Twice he’d gotten close to her, and twice they’d been interrupted.