Page 9 of His to Claim

“You like that?” I ask huskily, and she makes an incoherent sound as I add another finger, scissoring them. “Damn, you’re tight, sweetheart. So tight and so wet.”

I begin to kiss the side of her neck and she drops her head back with a little moan. She’s so responsive and I’m loving it. Her legs try to squeeze closed, but I nudge them open with my knee, forcing them further apart.

“No time to be shy now, my masked beauty. Take what you need. Ride my hand until you come,” I encourage her.

Our eyes lock and her hips begin moving faster as I thrust my fingers in and out.

“Oh, God,” she rasps, nails digging into my arms. She’s clutching onto me for dear life.

I plunge my fingers a little deeper, then coat my thumb in her juices and circle her clit. With just the right amount of pressure, she fractures in my arms, a soft cry erupting from those pretty red lips.

With my fingers still inside her slick channel, I can feel her muscles spasming, and I kiss her hard. A sudden knock at the door startles us both and we jerk apart. The red haze of lust lifts fast as I stand up straight, pulling her dress back down with one hand and licking my fingers clean.

She hops off the table just as the door opens and a man in a devil mask appears. “Oh, sorry,” he says. “I didn’t realize anyone was in here.”

He makes a quick exit, dragging a giggling masked woman with him, and I let out a low breath, and turn back to my Queen of Hearts. Suddenly, I’m desperate to know her name. The urge to know everything about her fills me, but I also need to do what I came here to do—meet my potential new client and keep an eye on the Rossi family. So far, I’ve been a little preoccupied.

“I have a couple of things I need to do,” I tell her, glancing down at my watch. Holy hell, how has an hour gone by already? Reluctant to let her go, I grab her hand. “You aren’t leaving any time soon are you?”

“No,” she whispers.

“Good. Meet me outside at the fountain in a half an hour, okay?”

She nods. “Okay.”

I press a kiss to her knuckles.

“What’s your name?” she asks softly, tilting her head. Big, dark curls spill over her shoulder and a fresh wave of need pulses through me.

“I’ll tell you at the fountain,” I promise, suppressing my desire. Even though I don’t want to, I release her hand then turn and walk away from the most beautiful distraction I’ve ever had the good fortune of encountering. Pausing at the door, I glance over my shoulder and see her fixing her mask which is slightly crooked. “Half an hour.”

“Right.”

With a firm nod, I make my exit even though it pains me. And, yeah, I’m in a lot of discomfort so the first thing I do is head straight into the men’s bathroom and get my dick under some semblance of control. The last thing I want to do is walk back into the party with an erection the size of Texas. After mustering up the most unpleasant, least sexy thoughts possible, my dick simmers down.

After washing my hands, I straighten my skeleton mask then head out to track down Derek Travers who asked me for some help. Depending on the read I get and the vibes he gives off, I may or may not decide to take him on and help him out. I’m good at reading people and don’t like wasting my time on assholes.

With thoughts of meeting back up with my scorching Queen of Hearts in less than half an hour, I search out Travers and we end up having a good conversation. He’s former military and straightforward. A no bullshit kind of guy. We go over the specifics of what he needs and I agree to help him.

Okay, one thing done and one thing left on the agenda. My gaze sweeps the crowd for Miceli Rossi and I spot him and his wife near the dessert table where I ran into my mystery woman earlier. I also keep scanning the ballroom for her, but I don’t see her anywhere.

A flash of disappointment fills me, but I push it aside and stroll over and greet Miceli. I like being in his good graces for a number of reasons and maintaining a healthy, communicative relationship is mutually beneficial for the both of us. I don’t share a lot with him on the personal front, but that’s just me. While he is more of an open book, I’m definitely the closed book. Opening up isn’t something I know how to do. It’s probably why I didn’t reveal my name yet to my mystery woman.

But I’m going to tell her out at the fountain. In fact, a part of me is looking forward to discovering her name, too. Which is strange because normally I don’t care. I’ve slept with women and not known their names. Never even bothered to ask. Why would I, though? I don’t do relationships and I always make it perfectly clear upfront. I’m a loner. Giving more than a night or two of myself to a woman is unprecedented...and impossible.

However, for some inexplicable reason, I am absolutely entranced by a total stranger. It’s bizarre and I’m having a little trouble wrapping my head around it. I’m normally a level-headed kind of guy who normally doesn’t walk around with his head in the clouds, lusting after a particular woman. Yeah, it’s been a few months since I’ve had any action, so that could be it. Or, maybe it’s because she is the loveliest creature I’ve ever met and she intrigues me like no one else. The instant attraction is insane and like nothing I’ve ever experienced, and I need to find out more about her.

Miceli and I discuss Carmine Gallo and he’s becoming a bigger threat every day. I keep checking my watch, counting down the seconds, and he notices.

“Am I keeping you from something?” Miceli asks.

I give my head a shake. “Sorry. I’m just a little distracted tonight.”

“Anything I can help with?”

“No, just an upcoming meeting. But, thanks.”

“Well, don’t let me keep you. If you hear anything else about Gallo, let me know.”

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