Page 9 of The Collector's Temptation

His French accent wrapped around my name like a whispered caress, sending a sensual shiver down my spine.

“Then I guess it’s a good thing I like to enjoy my favorite gallery during the quiet of closing time.” I tilted my head to the side, my brows drawing together. “Which is why I’m surprised you found me here when all of our visitors were ushered out ten minutes ago.”

“You already know I have many connections in the art world.” He straightened and prowled closer. “Asking for a small favor from your museum’s director was well worth being able to see you,petite miette.”

Being called a little crumb shouldn’t have been sexy, but there was no denying the swirl of butterflies in my belly each time Aston murmured that nickname in his sexy French accent. Turning back toward the display I’d been enjoying, I asked, “So you’re not here for the Saraceni?”

Aston moved to my side and looked up at the Baroque painting that had been heavily influenced by Caravaggio's dramatic lighting and naturalistic detail. “There’s a quiet drama in Saraceni’s work that pulls you in. His paintings have that classic tenebrism drama, but there’s a certain tenderness in his execution. The way he balances shadow and color gives the whole scene this moody stillness like something is about to happen. The figures feel sculptural yet intimate, caught in these moments of tension that feel as though they’ve been suspended in time.”

I was impressed by his description. “You must be very knowledgeable about the Baroque period.”

He brushed off my compliment. “Obtaining the Saraceni was quite a coup for your museum, and I appreciate being able to enjoy the painting without the usual distractions. But I came for you…comme je l'ai promis.”

“You need to stop wielding your accent like a weapon.”

“Love is war,miette.”Interlacing our fingers, he lifted my hand and brushed a kiss over my knuckles in a gesture that mirrored what he’d done when we first met at the gala. My reaction was more intense than last time, leaving me weak in the knees. “Why wouldn’t I use every weapon in my arsenal?”

“Why indeed?” I knew that the first part was only a saying, but hearing that four-letter word from his perfect lips made my breath catch in my chest.

A slow, knowing smile curved his mouth as he turned to me more fully. “Come with me, Kerrigan. Let me return the favor and show you something few ever get to see.”

I hesitated, savoring the thrill that danced up my spine. “Where?”

“Someplace special,” he murmured, tugging on my hand.

My attraction to him was so intense it left me feeling vulnerable. I probably should have said no and kept my focus on my job. But his voice, his eyes, the sheer magnetism of him—I was already undone. So I simply nodded.

“Merci,petite miette.”

“De rien.”

His brows arched over wide eyes. “You speak French?”

“Non.” I shook my head with a soft laugh. “That’s about the extent of my knowledge, besides the usual phrases—like hello, goodbye, and excuse me.”

“I can teach you more if you’d like.”

“Thatprivateinstruction you mentioned during the gala?”

He nodded. “Consider it a standing offer.”

Accepting his offer meant spending more time with him, which was something I very much wanted. “S'il vous plaît.”

“Well played,miette.” The smile he flashed at me was blinding. “You’re quite good at wielding your own weapons, and they’re abundant.”

“While I appreciate the sentiment, I have no doubt that you have the advantage in this game, Aston.”

Being around a decade older than me, he was bound to have much more experience there than me. It was impossible for him not to when I had neglected my dating life to the point of it being nonexistent while I focused on my education.

“You’ll be safe with me, Kerrigan.”

There was a weight to his words that seemed out of place for our sexy banter, and I took it as a sign of how much he meant them. “I’ll hold you to that.”

He led me through the hushed museum halls and out a discreet staff exit where a sleek black car waited. Aston opened the passenger door for me, and I slid inside, the leather cool beneath my fingertips. It was a nice contrast to the heat of the day.

After he climbed into the driver’s seat and started the engine, he murmured, “This will be an evening you won't forget.”

I flashed him a teasing smile. “I’ll hold you to that as well.”

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