Page 26 of Devil's Claim

It was funny how none of the frou-frou women were heading for us with a skip in their step.

Except for one.

The young woman seemed intrigued and I could almost see her wheels turning as she tried to figure out what famous celebrity couple we were. Oh, why not? Pretending to be someone I could never be again wouldn’t be the worst thing I’d done in a couple of days.

I held my head high even though butterflies were swarming my stomach.

“Can I help you?” she asked. When she directed her question and lust-filled look toward Kruz, I was shocked an intense roar from the lioness inside almost popped from my mouth.

Holy shit. I was jealous.

Really?

Why and how? He didn’t belong to me. That would be insane.

But my muscles were tense and I leaned into him, visibly claiming my territory. She finally glanced in my direction, looking up and down at my attire with an upturned nose.

So much for celebrity status.

“Yes, anything and everythingmi pequeño pastelwants she will have. And I do mean anything. I plan on spending an exorbitant amount of money in this store. But only if you cater to her every need. Do you understand?” He was taking the bull by the horns.

I lifted my head, narrowing my eyes until they had to be beady. What the fuck was he doing?

“Yes, of course. Where would you like to begin?”

And there it was, just like in one of my favorite movies,Pretty Woman, the man had spoken. Only instead of pulling out a gold or black credit card, he used his strong jaw and extraordinary muscles as the perfect method of persuasion.

The man was a master, since I’d had no less than three clerks recommending clothes, offering advice when I’d been uncertain of the color or material. The entire time Kruz had positioned himself outside the dressing rooms, able to see the entrance while lording over what final selections were made.

With a simple nod of his head, everything from dresses and intimate wear, casual clothes and jeans were tossed in a pile ready for purchase.

The entire morning had become a whirlwind and I was exhausted. My idea of trying on clothes was holding the item in front of me while I glared into whatever store mirror I could find. So far, he’d been particularly picky about colors. Every outfit deemed acceptable had been bold in color. Was the man attempting to nourish the vixen in me?

When I finally had a moment to myself, I stood inside the dressing room, slumping against the pretty in pink wall. In my hand remained a half-finished flute of champagne. I had no clue whether it was company policy to appease their customer with expensive bubbly or whether Kruz had strongly suggested that one of the minions, as he’d called the clerks in my ear, had been sent to the grocery or wine store.

I slowly turned my head, staring at the face of the girl holding the perfectly cut crystal stem. She certainly wasn’t the same one who’d left work the day before with stains on her skirt and sweat under her armpits.

Somewhere along the way, the woman staring back at me had turned into Cinderella. Maybe she was a little tarnished, but this was befitting of a fairytale after all. I laughed and lifted my glass, giving myself a small gesture of celebration. Now, with my eyes closed, I licked the rim of the glass, trying to enjoy the moment.

However short lived it would be.

How many women could say they felt a crackle of electricity when their man walked into a room? Certainly, very powerful men commanded every location they walked into, which I suspected was something Kruz had accomplished at an early age. However, the sizzling sensations were something entirely different. I felt alive, even wanted.

And free.

Uninhibited.

That had never occurred before.

That crackle let me know Kruz had invaded my privacy. There was no sound, but I just knew, my instinct affirmed when strong fingers wrapped around mine before taking the glass away.

When I finally opened his eyes, he placed a single finger across his lips. For a hard man, they appeared far too soft. Kissable.

I didn’t notice that he’d set the flute down somewhere. I was too busy enjoying the extreme look in his eyes. He was different today, parading around his confidence and prowess like a goldshield. His dangerous persona certainly gave him permission to be anything he wanted to be.

He crowded my space even more, using his full body weight to push me against the wall.

With no words said, he captured my mouth. The way he kissed me was as if I was the air he needed to breathe. But for me, the rush of emotions and the crush of sensations were in response to another taste of the forbidden.

---