Page 34 of The Keeper

Oderint dum metuant.

“What does this mean?” I asked, caressing my hand over the words.

“Let them hate so long as they fear,” he answered with an amused grin. “I figured an Ivy League educated woman would know some Latin.”

“Potes meos suaviari clunes.” I elbowed him. “Snob.”

He laughed and shook his head. “I see. You can tell me to kiss your ass in Latin but can’t translate a tattoo. I knew I liked you for a reason.”

“I’m full of surprises.” I grinned. “I can also swear in French and Italian.”

“You’re also deaf. You really didn’t hear what I said, did you?”

“Nope.”

“I was wondering,” he angled toward me, “if you’d like to have dinner with me. Tonight.”

“Seriously?” I looked him up and down. “Like a date?”

“You’re too feisty for your own good.” He smiled and I swear to God this man could induce an orgasm without even touching me. “Actually, I was wondering if you’re more motivated to sell this place now that you know I’m your neighbor.”

“And I’m the feisty one?”

He leaned in, as though he meant to kiss me, then stopped. The rhythmic pounding of my pulse filled my ears.

“Well, Mr. Maddox,” I said, regaining some composure. “The real question is can you handle having me as your neighbor?”

His eyes darkened, his lips parted. He stared at me. Through me.

And there went my feeble attempts at staying in control.

Our playful flirting morphed into something more carnal, more insistent. And it did so with no effort. Ever since I left his place this morning, I’d felt something calling for me, tempting me, pulling me. I’d dismissed it as being overtired or maybe even feeling anxious but a deeper part of me knew what it meant.

Overcome by his scent and closeness, and with a desperate need domineering me, I leaned in, just to get a small dose to satisfy my urge.

“Careful,” he warned, but even his attempt at maintaining control had been weakened, like mine. He felt it too. I knew he did.

His molten stare cut right through me and filled the atmosphere with a thick, powerful haze of need and want. The pad of his thumb whispered over my mouth. A shiver skipped up and down my spine when he pulled my hair free of the haphazard job I did throwing it up in a bun. And just like last night, he sifted his fingers through it, massaging the scalp.

So calming. So amazing.

My eyes closed from the pleasure. Until it stopped without warning. My lids popped open and there he was, staring at me. Sapphire eyes filled with promise and need and…something I couldn’t quite figure out.

“Come here.” He pulled me onto his lap so I straddled him.

“What are you doing?”

“Getting you to sit in my lap.” His lips curled in a crooked grin. “Any objections?”

“Well, no but—“

“Good.” His fingers resumed their sifting and stroking in my hair. “Is this where you’d vacation with your family?”

A violent tremor streaked through me. I tensed, sucking in a breath. “How did you know that?” I almost choked on the words.

“Dawn mentioned it. I was at Black Rose just before.” His shrewd eyes studied me before he continued. “She only said you vacationed here with your family. Nothing more.”

“Right.” I chewed on the inside of my cheek. “Why were you talking about me with Dawn?”

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