Page 63 of Burning Beauty

Nic set his laptop aside and watched Maria. She'd fallen asleep about ten minutes ago. He knew the moment she was out, her breathing having evened out and her eyelashes settling in partial crescents against the tops of her cheeks. She was so achingly lovely that he couldn't imagine how she had managed to go on the run for five years without calling more attention to herself. A woman like Maria, with her looks and her passion, did not fade into the background. She would shine wherever she went.

Maria was special. She had a big heart and a big personality. Her life could have gone so differently if she'd had more opportunities. If she hadn't met her fiancé. She could have been a movie star, or a singer. She often sang to herself. She wasn't the best singer he'd ever heard, but her heart, and her charisma would always steal the show.

Maria thought that he didn't want to discuss the problems she had experienced in Mexico. She thought he was being cold-blooded in his analysis of her situation. And perhaps he was. Nic was not given to flights of passion. Or at least he hadn't been before he met Maria. She was changing him, making him less stable and more dangerous. But only when it came to her, because her existence gave his enemies something to use against him. Something Nic couldn't allow.

He'd known of the death of her fiancé, and of her trial, before they even met. Luke had given him a full dossier on the Mexican beauty. The reading material had only intrigued him more. What kind of woman did it take to survive the things Maria survived? How did she go from being on the run in Mexico to landing in the hands of the scummy Las Vegas hotelier, Franco Delgado?

He signalled for the flight attendant to bring him a blanket, and when she returned, he took it from her hands, shook it out and settled it over Maria. She stayed soundly asleep as he tucked her in and gently reclined her seat so she could rest more comfortably. He smiled as he gazed down at her. She always slept so soundly, like that princess from the Disney movie. Only his princess was as grumpy as an ogre when she woke.

He leaned over and pressed a kiss against the fine hairs between her forehead and her hairline. Then he sat down and went back to work.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Their arrival on the west coast was quiet and subdued. They walked out to the car together, Nic's hand on her arm, their bodyguards, Luke and Justin, on either side. Nic acted as though nothing had happened, and she supposed in his mind nothing of significance had happened. They'd had a minor spat and it was time to move on.

Maria was depressed as she thought about the reality of the rest of her life married... scratch that... the mistress of a mob boss. The prospect was both daunting and stifling. Nic would forever restrict her movements, tell her what to do, where to go, how to behave. Like this morning, how he'd woken her up and told her to be ready to leave in an hour. She had been so excited at the prospect of escaping the mansion for a few days she hadn't really thought deeply about the whole exchange until now.

Or maybe she was just looking at reasons to be pissed at him. Lord knows, there were a lot of reasons. But should she be trying harder to get along with him? She glanced sideways at him as they drove. No, he wasn't willing to give her the things she needed to be happy, so she was well within her rights to express her displeasure.

As if sensing her mood, Nic pinched her chin between his fingers and forced her face to his. He dropped a hard kiss on her lips, pushing his tongue past the barrier of her teeth and filling her mouth. Maria gasped at his intrusion, sorely tempted to bite him. She didn't think he would snap her scrawny neck now, as he'd threatened in the past.

He must have divined her thoughts because he brought his other hand up and cradled her face in his hands, pressing his thumbs into her jaw and forcing her mouth to stay open. She growled angrily and twisted in her seat, smashing a fist against his chest. He ignored her outburst, continuing to kiss her until she was out of breath and dizzy. Did he intend to smother her, to kill her with a kiss? She slumped against him, giving him what he wanted until he finally surfaced.

His eyes glittered in satisfaction as he looked down at her. She expected him to make a comment, to tell her that she needed to simmer down and stop testing him. Instead, he surprised her by saying, "I fucking love your fire, mia bella. It makes me want to crawl inside you and experience it for myself."

Her heart hammered at his words, at the way he said them, meaning every single one, including his endearment. When he looked at her, he truly saw beauty and fire. He didn't mind her temper, savouring the attitude she threw around. Perhaps because it matched his. Maybe he needed a strong woman in his life, one that could bring him to his knees. Now that was a thought to unwrap at a later time, when she was alone with a bottle of tequila and the new season of RuPaul.

"We're here," Luke said from the passenger seat without looking back. He was a well-trained bodyguard, he knew when to look away and focus his attention elsewhere.

"We'll go up to the room," Nic said, his voice businesslike once more. "Please go to Mercer and King and tell them we've arrived. Arrange a meeting."

"Yes, boss."

They got out of the car and Maria looked around. Given all the tall buildings she thought they must be in the downtown core. The section of street they were on seemed to be busy, filling with people rushing around wearing business casual. She saw a few people asking for money and one asking for directions. A bellhop came rushing out of the fancy hotel and Nic directed him to the trunk where the man picked up their bags before escorting them inside. Luke and the driver left, while Justin walked into the hotel with the pair, his sharp eyes sweeping the lobby.

Maria headed for the check-in desk, but Nic took her arm and pulled her toward the elevators. "We're already checked in."

At her confused look, Nic explained, "Luke checked us in online and had the room cards dropped off at the airport. The driver gave them to him, and he gave them to me."

She sensed amusement at her ignorance, but Maria had never heard of such a thing. "Rich people," she muttered and stepped onto the elevator when it arrived.

Their argument was almost completely forgotten when they arrived in the penthouse suite of the most exquisite hotel she'd ever been in. Everything was decorated in gold, white and rose colours. Their suite had two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a huge sitting room with a balcony. The balcony revealed sweeping views of a stunning city, with a huge forest park with a winding river only a few streets away. Maria longed to go explore the park, to breathe some fresh air and discover what this place had for shopping.

"We won't be here long," Nic said coming up behind her, and placing one hand at her back while one-handedly lighting a cigar. The pungent aroma drifted over her and she closed her eyes, breathing it in. She would always associate this scent with Nic. The heavy, masculine odour fit him perfectly.

"But we'll have time to go see the city, right?" she asked, gazing down with longing.

"Doubtful," he replied. "I'm here for business and do not have time to escort you."

Maria frowned. She didn't want to come across as petulant, but she was getting really sick of being cooped up all the time. She'd been excited for this trip because she thought she'd get to go out and experience something beyond four walls. So far she'd been ushered from the mansion to a plane and the plane to a hotel. This was not the exciting trip she'd been hoping for.

"Justin or Luke can take me out then," she said hopefully, already knowing his answer.

"Out of the question," he snapped, and when she opened her mouth to argue, he said, "You will now drop this subject."

Maria chewed her lip, then bit down, trying really hard not to argue. She didn't need the last word, she could live with his ridiculous and boring edicts.

"But I'm just as safe with them as I am with you!" she burst out.

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