Page 15 of Empire of Ache & Ruin

“Who are you talking to? Your girlfriend?” Paloma’s cheeks turn bright red.

“My girlfriend?” My gaze drops to the barely-there chemise under her corset. The rest of her dress is at her feet. “Busy night? So many unsuspecting men to take advantage of.”

“That’s none of your business.” She sidesteps the pile of fabric as she eyes the door.

“Don’t run.” I prowl to her.

Her breath catches. She understands. The guests are two stories below us. No one can hear her scream. And as far as the Senator is concerned, I’m up here tending to his drunk son.

“You made it my business. Remember?” My palm itches to soothe the pebbled peaks pushing through her top.

She shakes her head once, and then, makes a run for the door. In two long strides, I catch up to her and wrap my arms around her waist. Her petticoat shoots in front of her as I press my body to her back. Fuck, she feels good in my arms.

“Let me go.” She struggles against my hold. But she’s no match for my strength.

“Or you’ll what?” I bury my face behind her ear. “You’ll scream?”

When she stops fighting me, I pull on the string of her petticoat and let it collapse at her feet. I pick her up and walk her toward the bed. I want nothing more than to lay her on soft bedding and take what I already paid for. The heat of her body is an aphrodisiac. But if I succumb to her charms all over again, I’m no better than the assholes downstairs. Her back presses against my front, as if she’s melting into me. For the love of God, she’s too good at this. I let her win for a moment and kiss her neck with all the urgency surging through me.

“Don’t.” She pants as her breasts swell up and down.

“Don’t what?” I kiss her cheek. “I already paid, remember?”

“My father is downstairs. He will kill you if he finds you in my room.” She labors to catch her breath.

I chuckle at her words, running my teeth along the cord of her neck. “You mean he chooses for you? He gets to say who pays for the pleasure of climbing into your bed.”

“How dare you?” She squirms but stops when I cup her full breast and turn her face toward me. “You can’t…” Her words die on my lips.

And then we’re back in my hotel room kissing. Her mouth is soft, pliable, and she gives into the kiss with the same innocence she did during our first encounter. And fuck, if that’s not exactly the thing that does me in. I claim her mouth, thrusting my tongue to meet hers, while cupping her sex. The cotton fabric of her chemise is the only thing between my palm and her wet pussy. She’s wet for me.

A knock on the door brings me back to reality. I hover my lips over hers while I hold her in my arms. “Did you invite someone up?”

“No.”

“Who is it then?”

“I don’t know.” She shakes her head, still laboring to catch her breath.

I turn my earpiece on. Before I say a word, Gardenia utters a string of curse words. “You can’t be seriously in there with her. Have you lost your mind? I’m coming in.”

“No,” I say to Paloma’s eyes.

As if saying the word out loud would make it easier for me to walk away from her. But then I see my mother’s diamond hanging from her neck and lucidity finds me again. I unclasp the necklace and let go of her breast in time to catch the chain in my palm. Paloma’s gaze is zeroed in on my mouth as if she doesn’t understand why we have to stop.

“You can drop the act, Little Dove.” I repeat my words from last week. “We’ll have to leave our unfinished business for another night.” I press my lips to her ear. “You can keep the Rolex.”

“What?” She blinks at me as if in a daze.

I release her and quietly dart to the door. Out in the hallway, Gardenia paces up and down, fuming. As soon as she sees me, she opens her mouth, but I muffle her words with my hand. “We have to go before she finds her clothes and decides to come after me.”

“What?” The look of horror on her face is almost funny.

“I’ll explain in the limo.” I grip her elbow and rush toward the grand staircase.

By the time I reach the second level, I’m sure Paloma is not chasing after me. I slow the pace and then stop by the gallery to look at the items up for auction tonight. As luck would have it, the poster board to my right has a picture of the pink diamond mounted on a platinum chain with a string of small brilliant diamonds surrounding the setting. The piece of jewelry is valued at five million dollars.

I tap on the iPad placed in front of it and place a bid of four million. The auction doesn’t close until next week.

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