Enslave Me Sweetly (Alien Huntress #2)(23)
Author: Gena Showalter

Leaning back, Parker tugged at his earlobe with his free hand. “That hot, is she?”

“She’s fire and ice. Lava one minute, glacial the next. And she won’t have anything to do with me,” he admitted, losing his darkness and assuming a sheepish quality.

“Ah, Hunter. I wouldn’t let it worry you. Women like to play hard-to-get. They want us to romance them. They’re desperate for it. How else do you think I won each of my wives?”

“I thought that was what women wanted, too. I sent her three hundred orchids, and she used them as fertilizer. I bought her a ’Vette, and she used it for a crash-test demonstration. I sent her a diamond necklace, and she sent me a restraining order.”

Jonathan chuckled. “If she’s that difficult, why don’t you find someone else?”

“I wanther .”

I stepped toward Lucius, coasting my fingertips over the buttery soft leather couch. With each step, I imagined his scent, that soapy pine scent I so admired. I even imagined the heat of him.What are you doing? Stop!

Lucius’s shoulders tensed slightly. Had I not been so focused on him, I would have missed the action. My head tilted as I watched his gaze flicker left and right, as if searching for something—or someone? A cold shiver racked me, and I paused. There was no way he could see me. Right? Was something wrong? I scanned the room, looking for anything that might have raised his guard. I found nothing out of the ordinary.

“I’ll win her one way or another,” Lucius said, but there was now an edge to his voice that hadn’t been there before.

“I hope you’re right.” Jonathan didn’t act any different. He dropped his head back to stare up at the vaulted ceiling, the action causing the liquid in his glass to slosh. He puffed at his cigar. “If the woman’s as reluctant as you say, she might not like it that you followed her here. Well, beat her here, I should say.”

“I can guarantee she won’t like it.” Determination gleamed in his eyes. “But I’ll persuade her to see things my way, I have no doubt.”

“You’re confident.” Parker straightened and gazed pointedly over at Lucius. “That’s what I’ve always liked about you. Nothing dampers your determination.”

Lucius nodded in acknowledgment of the compliment. I resumed my journey toward him. I hadn’t seen him or touched him in a week. It felt like years. The urge had never left me, of course, but now that I was here—well, kind of here—the craving intensified.

When I reached him, I allowed my fingers to drift through his hair. I couldn’t feel the strands, but I imagined their silkiness and wished I could somehow solidify my fingers. The best I could do was gather energy and pushthat through his hair. But such an action required more concentration than I was willing to devote at the moment. Besides, Parker and Lucius might wonder at a sudden breeze.

Sighing, I moved to caress his jaw. He stiffened, even sucked in a slight hiss of breath. My hand froze in place. What the hell was going on? He should not feel me. Not even a little. No one, not even Michael, had ever guessed my secret. I hurriedly drew back my hand.

“Do you smell cinnamon?” Lucius asked.

My knees nearly buckled in shock.

“No.” Parker’s brow furrowed. He regarded Lucius silently for a moment, then tilted his chin and said, “Are you all right?”

“Fine, just fine,” Lucius said. “Just thinking of Eden. She’s likely to spit on me when she realizes I’m here.”

“Even if she despises you, you’re a lucky man. No woman has ever consumed me like this one does you.”

“Not even your wife?”

“Which one?” Parker snorted. “Never mind. Which one doesn’t matter. They were all bitches.”

Lucius’s eyebrows descended low over his eyes. “Were? Isn’t Cybil still alive?”

“Barely. If I’m lucky, she’ll soon drug herself to death.”

My focus whipped to Parker, darkening. If I’d had a weapon, I might have used it. Such casual disregard for his wife deserved a bit of punishment.

“Being consumed by a woman isn’t a pleasant experience,” Lucius grumbled. “I almost wish I’d never met her.”

There was a ring of truth to his voice that insulted me. Turning to face him, my eyes slitted; I reached out and jerked his hair. Childish of me, I know, the actions of a spoiled princess. Just like before, he stiffened. I frowned. How was he doing that? Did the connection between us allow him to sense me?

My blood chilled with the thought. I didn’t want to be connected to him like that. I gulped and backed away until I stood in the corner, out of reach. Out of temptation’s way.

“Speaking of Eden,” Lucius said, resuming the conversation as if it had never stopped, “I need you to host a party for me.”

Parker grinned slyly. “One to welcome her to town, perhaps?”

“No.” Lucius shook his head. “I don’t want her to know she’s the guest of honor. A political gala will do. A gala that I, of course, will attend.”

“What about the restraining order?”

“The law can kiss my ass. She’s an alien, so she doesn’t really have rights, does she?”

Parker’s grin widened, and he sipped his brandy. “Who’s your Eden working for?”

“Ambassador Claudia Chow.”

A heavy pause slithered around the room while Parker mulled over his next words. “I don’t like Claudia Chow,” he said. “And I’ll be honest. I don’t really have the time to host a party.”

It was a lie. I knew it, and Lucius knew it. Parker was simply hedging for some type of favor.

“I’ll owe you,” Lucius said.

Head tilting to the side, Parker studied him. “The woman really means that much to you?”

“I told you. I’m obsessed with her.” He sighed.

“I know she’s a Raka, but goddamn. She’s still pu**y, and you can get that anywhere. Tell me again what’s so special about this one.”

A wicked gleam lit Lucius’s eyes. “She’s got a mouth that could suck a man dry.”

Yes, a weapon would have been nice. I’d carve my name in his balls, then drain every drop of his blood so there would be nothing left to suck.

“Then, of course,” Jonathan said, “I’ll take you up on that favor and happily arrange a party where the two of you can renew your acquaintance.”