Page 24 of Keeper of Secrets

His gut niggled at the idea of coming this close to following the man and then losing him again.Not that he was beholden to this investigation, but he’d like to hand it over to the next man with a solid lead.

It was his pride at stake.

And Chloe was the perfect cover.If caught in the hall, she could pretend illness, faintness, and his excuse was that he was just attending her.Or perhaps they could stage a kiss.In the dark, no one would know who they were, and everyone would assume they’d slipped down the hall for some privacy.

But he’d been delayed in retrieving her and as they entered the dark hall, he was certain he’d lost the man.

“Damn.”

“Damn what?What are we doing down here?”Chloe asked, squeezing his hand.A gesture he ignored.

Instead, he scanned the hall, looking for any sign as to where Adam had gone.“Start opening doors.Look for a study.If anyone asks, you’re searching for the lady’s repose.”

She let out a small gasp, her hand tugging out of his.“You’re serious?”

“You think I’d come to an event this dull willingly?”

She stared at him, her mouth opening and then closing.“Is that why we haven’t danced?”

“Danced,” he snorted.“Is that what you consider fun?”

“What doyouconsider fun?”she asked, still not searching.

“I shall tell you later after you’ve done as I’ve asked.”

She let out a long breathy sigh before she finally began trying doors on the left side of the hall.He followed suit, checking the right.

All the rooms were either locked or dark and silent, the only sound was the soft swish of Chloe’s skirts.And then, down the hall, a knob rattled.

In an instant, he was across the hall, spinning Chloe away from the door and toward him, pressing her back against the solid wood paneling, her front crushed against the solid wall of his chest.

A mistake.

Her luxuriant softness molded to him, her body fitting his perfectly.

She tilted her chin up to him, her eyes wide with surprise.

He didn’t hesitate.Clasping her chin in his hand he crushed his mouth to hers.This was not the gentle brush like their first kiss.He’d like to say that he was attempting to sell the embrace, but the truth was, she just felt too damned good.

Touching her like this, he wished to devour her.

Her lips, so soft and yielding, melded to his, one of her arms snaking around his neck.

Her embrace only fueled his passion higher.He forgot about the reason he was in this hall, his mouth slanting hers open so that he might plunder her sweetness.

His tongue tangled with hers as he swallowed her gasp of surprise.Instead, he coaxed her tongue to respond, brushing against hers until she tentatively used hers to stroke him back.It was his turn to groan into her mouth, Chloe so delicious that all he could think was that he wanted more of her.More of everything…

“Just about what I’d expect from the Keeper.”

Those words were like cold water being poured on his head.Who recognized him as the Keeper?He spun, careful to keep Chloe covered by his body.He turned to find himself face-to-face with Adam.Though he’d never seen the man, his scars were unmistakable even in the dim light.“Do we know each other?”

“I know you…” The other man smiled, twisting the scars on his face, his dark hair pulled back in a severe style.“But why don’t you introduce me to your whore.”

Chloe gasped behind him, but he only stood taller.“How dare you speak to her that way.”

Adam’s smile only grew.“I dare.Just like I dare to punish.”

“Punish me?Who do you think you are?—”

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