An Inconvenient Affair (The Alpha Brotherhood #1)(12)
Author: Catherine Mann

Taking advantage of their shadowy corner, Troy slanted his mouth over hers, testing the soft give of her full lips. Tasting the lingering lime flavor of her drink. He squeezed her hand more firmly and claimed her. Completely.

He slid his arm around her shoulder and deepened the kiss, teasing along the seam of her mouth until she opened for him. Her sigh filled him with a surge of triumph. He’d been imagining this since the second he’d clapped eyes on her on the airplane. She didn’t just melt, she participated, stroke for stroke.

His fingers tangled in the silky glide of her hair along her shoulders. The strands clung to his fingers with a snap of static and something more snapping through his veins.

There was chemistry here, a connection and crackle he burned to explore along with the curve of her hips, her br**sts. He wanted to kiss the crook of her arm, behind her knee and find the places that made her go weak with pleasure. This weekend presented the perfect opportunity to indulge in the countless fantasies exploding to life in his brain.

Her hand flattened to his chest, her fingers gripping his silk scarf and bringing him even closer.

His heart ramped up at the strength of her passion. And the thought of her tugging that scarf off, of peeling the rest of their clothes away and touching him without the barrier of fabric… A possessive growl rumbled deep inside him, almost pushing him over the edge.

He pulled himself from her before he took this too far in such a public setting. She gasped, then looked around quickly.

Her eyes wide, she pressed the back of her trembling wrist to her mouth. “That was…”

“Damned amazing.”

“Not a good idea.”

“I thought you might say that.” But given her reaction to him, he wasn’t daunted in the least.

She flattened her palms to the table and drew in a shaky breath. “You’ve got to understand, I have exceptionally crummy taste in men. It’s like I have a radar for finding the most dishonest, untrustworthy guy in the room. So the fact that I like you makes you very dangerous for me.”

“You like me.” He nudged her loose hairpin back into place. “But, wow, you sure know how to throw a guy hope and smack him back down again at the same time.”

“I’m sorry, but it’s true, and honestly—” she looked around nervously “—now’s also a really horrible time for me to even think about dating.”

She seemed to be searching for an escape route, but then he knew that she also needed to stay here, at the party. Watching. Just as he did. So, pressing her to stay at the table shouldn’t be too tough.

He wanted to kiss her again. But he would settle for hearing the sound of her voice, which was more amazing than even the professional singer and musicians back in the ballroom.

“Tell me more about these horrible men you chose.”

She started to stand, to leave. “I don’t appreciate being made fun of.”

He stroked her arm, the heat of their kiss still firing through him. “Stay, please. I’m serious. I want to learn more about you. Unless you have somewhere else to be?”

Pressing two fingers against her temple as if combatting a headache, she looked through the doors at the crowded ballroom, then shook her head. “I should stay until…the chef is free.”

“Then pass your time with me. Tell me about the losers.”

She turned slowly back to him. “Fine, if you insist.” She held up three fingers. “In high school, I dated three guys. One cheated on me.” She tucked down a finger. “The other was just using me to get to my best friend.” She tucked down another. “Number three liked to mix vodka in his sports drink and dumped me in the middle of the homecoming dance. And the pattern continued on through college and the few times I’ve risked the whole relationship gig as an adult. I’m some sort of a scumbag magnet.”

She said it all dispassionately, as if she’d built a defense against the hurt, but somehow, he knew it was an act. Guilt pinched inside him over the things he wasn’t telling her, that he wasn’t authorized to tell her. His intermittent work for Interpol depended on him keeping up a carefree, jet-setting lifestyle. But if she ever found out his real reason for being here, she would have to know that for once, someone was actually putting her welfare first.

“Hillary, it’s not nice to call me scum.”

“I’m sorry, really, but you must be if you’re drawn to me. Or maybe it’s because I’m drawn to you.” Her pupils widened again in response, just as they had right before he’d kissed her.

“Or maybe you’re just going through lots of frogs until you find your prince.”

Her laughter reached out to him on the night air. “You’re mixing up your fairy tales. You’re not a prince. You’re Robin Hood.”

He winced. “God, I hate being called that.”

“Robin Hood’s been a beloved fella throughout history.” She toyed with a lock of her hair. “He took care of the less fortunate. Exposed corruption.”

“He wasn’t in it for the glory.”

Her praise was making him itchy.

“So it’s the adoration you object to.” She tapped his wrist, already showing a bruise from where he’d first fought the handcuffs earlier. “That’s actually rather honorable.”

“Watch it. You’re falling under my scummy spell.”

“Right.” She inched her hand away. “Thanks for the reminder.”

“I just want to keep you safe from me.” He winked.

She rolled her eyes. “I’m twenty-seven. It’s time I looked out for myself.”

“Does that mean you’re going to stop fighting the notion of being my date for the weekend?” This whole weekend would be so much easier if she went with the flow. Easier, yes, but he also couldn’t deny he found bantering with her exciting.

Intoxicating.

“I thought the auction was for tonight?”

“No, you didn’t.” He took her hand again. “But nice try.” He kissed the inside of her wrist, lingering.

Her throat moved with a long swallow. She shot to her feet. “About the weekend, I do have to work. I can’t spend every waking moment with you.”

“I’ll just hang out while you work. I can even sample some pâté, give you my opinion on petits fours. My friends say I’m quite enlightened.” He slid his arm around her shoulders, pulling her against him so quickly she forgot to protest. “I’m amazingly footloose, too much money and not enough to do. So I’m all yours.”