Page 70 of He Will Come for Me

He wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me into his chest. “It will be my pleasure. Anything else?”

I pull my lips between my teeth as I stare into his icy blue eyes. “Can you kiss me?” As soon as the question leaves my mouth, I wish I could take it back, but I’ve been craving his kiss for weeks. Darting my eyes over his shoulder, I stare at his earlobe.

“It will be my pleasure,” he rasps, gripping the back of my head with one hand and the side of my neck with the other. I close my eyes, counting every heartbeat before his lips touch mine. He licks the seam of my lips, seeking entry. Opening them in invitation, he captures my bottom lip between his and sucks before sucking my tongue into his mouth.

He groans as I wrap my arms around his shoulders, trying to pull him as close as possible. I’m drowning in him and I don’t care. I want everything he has to offer me. Every touch. Every look. Every breath. He walks me backward until my back hits the door and lifts me. I follow his lead, wrapping my legs around his waist.

He wraps his hand around my throat, tilting my head just so as he devours me. I’m surprised I don’t burn him with how hot I am. This kiss is more than I could imagine. My heart pounds as his kiss becomes laced with need and desire.

“More,” he groans against my lips. I wrap my legs tighter around his waist and my arms tighter around his shoulders. Hetilts my head, tearing his lips from mine, kissing up my jaw to my ear, down my throat to the crook of my shoulder, where he sucks my skin between his mouth and teeth. I gasp at every nip, suck, and lick. I never want this to end, but he’s slowly lowering my legs to the floor and backing away.

He keeps his arm around my waist, supporting me so I don’t fall in a heap on the floor. He runs his thumb across my bottom lip before kissing me one more time. “We have to get back.” I can’t speak, so I simply nod. He reaches behind me, opening the door and guiding me back to the ballroom.

We arrive in time to see the last bid. I ignore what’s happening on stage and look around the ballroom. Phoenix has a possessive hand on my knee, his thumb rubbing comforting circles on the inside of my thigh. As I’m about to face the front, I spot a woman at the end of the aisle a few rows back staring at me. Through her mask, her eyes are in slits as she glares at me. I have no idea who she is and the longer I return her stare, the hair on the nape of my neck stands on end.

“What are you looking at?” Phoenix pulls my leg over his. Turning, I focus on the stage, not really seeing.

“That woman at the end of the third row. She’s wearing a gold mask and a navy dress.” I wrap my hand around Phoenix’s, hoping he doesn’t reject me. He doesn’t; he intertwines our fingers and turns slightly so he can look behind us.

“There’s no one there, Kenz.” I turn again and sure enough, the chair is empty. Looking toward the back of the ballroom where everyone entered, there isn’t anyone standing.

“I swear there was a woman there.” He rubs his thumb over the back of my hand.

“I believe you. If you see her later, point her out to me.” I glance around the ballroom again, searching for her. Where the hell did she go?

Chapter 33

Three Months After Auction

Phoenix leads me to a room on the other side of the house, a group of people following us. I rub my fingers together, trying to get rid of the tingling. I think I might faint. I wish we could get in the room and then the people can gather. Why do they have to follow us?

The room we enter is the same room where I found the secret entrance. He escorts me in and the people follow us into the room. I clutch Phoenix’s arm as my breath hitches. He said they wouldn’t be in the same room as us. He wraps his arm around me, pulling me close. “Relax, pet. They won’t stay in here with us.”

I look at him in confusion. Rex and another of his security guys enter and open the secret passage. “You all will watchfrom this room.” Rex motions for them to enter. Some comply right away, but others aren’t happy about it.

“What is this about, Phoenix?” The man takes a few steps in our direction, but Rex cuts him off.

Phoenix shrugs off his jacket and lays it across the chest at the end of the bed. “The bylaws state you can watch, but it doesn’t say how. You will watch in the room or you won’t watch at all.”

Another man steps forward with a scowl on his face. “It has always been in the same room,” he argues. A woman behind him moves slightly, catching my attention because her navy dress looks similar to the woman’s in the ballroom. I try to catch a better glimpse of her, but the lighting in this room is dim, and she stays behind the man who’s still talking. “You can’t join and decide to make changes.”

Phoenix begins to remove his cufflinks. “I can do whatever the hell I want. I’ve had the highest winning bid this year.” That catches my attention. I tilt my head at him. He paid six million dollars for me. Is he talking about me? He said he hasn’t bought anyone else, but what if he was lying? Right now I don’t care. All I care about is him winning this argument because I do not want these people in the same room with us.

“If you keep arguing with me, I’ll only let you hear what’s going on in the room.” The group erupts in murmurs. “Rex, please escort our guests into the room. If they don’t go willingly, you can escort them out of my house.” There are some more grumbles, but people begin to comply.

Phoenix rolls his sleeves up and I pull my bottom lip between my teeth as his tattooed forearms are uncovered. I lick my lips as he removes his tie and unbuttons the top two buttons on his shirt.

“Like what you see, pet?” Inhaling, my eyes snap to his. I was ogling and staring. He has a small smirk on his face, obviously enjoying the attention. How is it earlier today I loathed him,but within less than twenty-four hours, he has completely turned that around and disarmed me? He has a way of doing that. My heart beats heavy in my chest. He’s going to break me in so many ways, and it looks like I’m going to let him.

I don’t answer him, but he doesn’t seem to care. The door to the secret room closes behind me. “All set, boss.” Phoenix steps into my space, putting an arm around me and pulling me in until my back arches and my feet are barely touching the ground.

“You ready?” My vision swims and my stomach rolls with nausea. This is happening. He cups the side of my neck and runs his thumb over my jaw. “You won’t know they’re there. I promise to make you forget.” I nod slightly.

“You can move the curtain.” Curtain? I try to turn when there’s movement behind me, but Phoenix doesn’t let me. I don’t know why I didn’t put two and two together the other day when I found that entrance. The curtain doesn’t cover windows, well, not windows that look outside. The door gently shuts behind me, and I know this is about to happen.

“Open your mouth and stick your tongue out.” He wasn’t lying earlier when he said that was practice for later. I do as I’m instructed. He runs his thumb over my jaw again, his lips tipping into a grin that’s half smile, half promise of what’s coming.

“Such a good girl.” He leans forward and licks my tongue with his. My stomach swoops like I’m riding a fast roller coaster. I didn’t realize I’d like that. He does it one more time, our moans mingling together before he leans back and places his thumb on my tongue like earlier.

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