Chapter 18

That evening, when Eva stepped from a grimy concrete mid-town apartment building, Aiden’s heart stumbled. As a scuffed, faded green metal door creaked closed behind her, he locked onto the tiny figure beneath piled-high dark hair. The knee-length, chestnut brown leather dress was so tight she had to step sideways down every shallow, cracked stone stair. As he stood beside the open limo, each sharp click of dark-brown stiletto heels sent his pulse pounding higher.

“From the look on your face, I guess you approve?” she said after halting on the sidewalk before him. As his mind continued to whirl, she chuckled. “If I’m to end the night strapped in leather, I figured to start with ... Well, it’s a motif.”

Before he could respond, she raised on pointy toes to tap her waxy lips to his for a quick peck. When she inspected the open door, she giggled. After following her gaze, he shook his head.

“Then again, this dress isn’t very practical,” she added before sinking shiny white teeth into her lower lip and returning to him.

As her deep brown eyes glimmered in the flickering light of the closest lamppost, his chest tightened. At another giggle, he let a smile slide onto his face. It widened as he stepped closer. When his arms slipped around the slick dress, she crumpled into him.

“God, you’re so lovely,” he whispered into her hair while ducking to carry her into the limo.

When her lips found his cheek, his entire body jangled. Although it remained wary in its dark corner, the ring purred. But at the rising growl within his chest, its purr silenced. Also hearing it, she clasped him tighter as her slim frame trembled.

“My handsome, hmm, sir,” she murmured, while her fingernails clawed along his back.

Once her soft words forced past his mind’s glaring at the ring, he reclined into the rear bench seat with a sigh. Despite expecting her to ease from him, she remained snug at his side. When his gaze dropped to her, he swallowed. Molten darkness, her eyes were waiting and plumbed his soul. As the car departed with a sway, his pulse thundered.

“Are you still okay with this, Eva?” He stroked a loose, wispy hair from her face. “She’s not expecting you. I’ve no idea how she’ll react.”

“Oh, you’re”—she giggled—”adorable. With you there, in that posh tux, looking like a prince, she’ll accept it.” Before he could reply, she raised her glossy lips to his for a brief touch. When she slipped downwards, she flashed him a grin. “Besides, Aiden, I’m not leaving your side. You also know that. And she needs to contend with that idea.”

As her words faded, and the limo continued moving from the city, the swirling in his mind calmed. The ring, silent, remained huddled in its darkness. When he reached for it, the metal glowed. At his mental grasp, it sent slivers of warmth across him. And, at the gentle sigh slipping from her as those delicate long eyelashes fluttered, it pierced her as well.

Time slowed.

Other than her heart pounding against his loud drumming and the quiet rumble of the car, the calm deepened.

“She does, indeed,” he said at last. There was a sudden flare of heat in his mind’s fist. “I don’t understand why, but it’s even more important than ever now.” Beneath a quick scrunch of her brow, Eva’s eyes narrowed, and he swallowed; his glare fixed on the ring. Its silence was profound. “No, I also don’t understand how I know that.”

Before he could speak again, she surged upwards with a moan to mash her lips against his. Even before his tongue could move, hers had driven deep inside to play. As they kissed, images flowed. Her dreams. His.

However, despite its heat rising and the low flicker of wispy flames, no melody came from the ring. At his scowl, it huddled further into the dimness of its dark cage. Fear. Not for them, but for itself.

Though he probed, it remained silent. Walls of black steel. Icy. At last, it sang. Not a dramatic revelation. Its tune was the gentle ancient melody it’d played for Kim. With a sigh, he relented and focused on Eva’s soft frame, pressing tight to him as her nails clenched along his spine. Her eyes—glimmered. When his widespread hands crushed her round butt, they widened.

From her, a muffled groan of pure hunger swelled between their rolling lips. That pulled a rumbling groan from him as his flesh hardened beneath her squirming heat. Although his fingertips shoved upwards, they only scratched against the tight leather. With a moan, he shifted to grasp for the zipper along her spine. But just as he reached the little tab, the car decelerated. And as it climbed an arching drive, he growled under his breath. To the sound of brakes, he took his hands from her.

As he lifted her frame, a lengthy sigh left Eva. When he flicked his tongue around his mouth, her shiny lips smacked. He wanted those soft pillows back. And by the gleam in her eyes and the relentless clawing of her nails as he dragged her free, she felt the same.

“I want—” he began.

“—you more,” she finished with a smile before skimming her hand across his abdomen.

With her grin widening, and his mind spinning, she settled into the seat just as the rear door opened. After a quick glance at the opening, she looked down to inspect the tight dress immobilizing her. The grin became a giggle when he again scooped her up and headed for the exit. Only once he’d placed her on her tottering heels did he laugh. After a quick nod to the driver, he took her waist in his arm and sighed while gazing at Madame Dumont’s grand front entrance.

It was as brightly lit as it had been the night of the party. But the silence was profound as he scanned the darkness. Without the chattering crowds or music, they were greeted only by distant crickets and the muted buzz of insects. He swallowed before turning to her.

“Well, here goes nothing,” he muttered.

“No, Aiden.” She pressed her sleek leather-wrapped curves into him. “Here goes everything.”

Right as he was about to reply, a stinging shaft of pain from the ring had him gasping. At the sudden snarl, Eva’s eyes widened.

“What is it, Aiden?”

“I don’t know.” As he glared at the ring in his mind’s palm, it remained unmoving. “Just be prepared.”

After her swift nod, he guided Eva up the stairs. Once they approached the towering doors, a lock clicked, and one half of the portal sunk inwards with a soft creak. Rhythmic clacking was followed by black and gold striped nails appearing on the door’s edge to pull it wider.

When a woman’s entire slender figure came into view, his pulse roared. She was not “Madame Dumont.” No, she was in full-on “Sophie” mode. With a neckline plunging to her waist, a mid-thigh length crimson silk halter dress clung to what few curves remained hidden. Even Eva inhaled loudly while scanning the woman, who continued opening the door. Despite her eyes quick shift to Eva, the woman’s grin spread as she gestured for them to enter.

“Good evening...?”

“Sir. Sir will be fine, Sophie,” he finished while stepping past her into the home with Eva tight to him. “This is Eva. Miss Graham used to work for Dennis Hawthorne. Now she—”

“—more than works for you, I see,” Sophie muttered, with a hint of jealousy in her voice. When he stood silent, meeting her dark eyes until they dropped, she gulped. After clearing her throat, she added in a shaky tone. “Sir.”

After scanning the home, he winked at Eva before returning to Sophie’s bowed head. “Yes, Eva is more than my employee now. So, you’ve got competition for my attention, Sophie. But we both know you enjoy a challenge, don’t you?”

When a soft giggle escaped her, Aiden’s brow shot upward. At Eva’s eyebrows, also arching, his pulse stumbled faster. Even as its flames appeared once more, the ring chuckled. For a brief second, time wobbled, and he slipped sideways into a blurring, spinning un-reality. He found himself watching his shaky arm lift. As soon as his fingers felt Sophie’s neck, she pushed into them before letting him drag her closer.