Page 32 of Obsessed in Blood
He looked like he wanted to strangle me. “The phone.”
I snorted. “I don’t have a cellphone or a tablet.” I spread my arms wide. “But feel free to search the place.”
“Then who were you talking to?”
I considered the last half hour. “I wasn’t speaking to anyone.”
“I heard laughter.”
Wow. All this because I laughed. My early childhood days of avoiding trouble or making excuses for any I caused rushed back, and a lie came easily to my lips. “I stumbled when I got out of bed, over-corrected, and stubbed my toe. I hit the end table so hard the lamp fell over, and I barely caught it before it crashed on the floor. I don’t know about you, and I really don’t care to know, but it made me laugh. I suppose that’s something a proper lady isn’t allowed to do.”
“You have a sharp tongue on you. Perhaps Lorenzo needs to increase your treatments.” He turned away, his gaze falling to the floor. He must have realized he’d said too much.
I wasn’t aware I was on any treatments unless he was talking about the mesmerizing.
“Take a shower. I can smell your stink from here. It’s almost time for breakfast.”
What a charmer.
He all but slammed the door behind him. Did Lorenzo know how he treated me? Maybe it was expected in order to keep me in line. One thing was a given, I didn’t want to face the master’s wrath this morning. I took a quick shower, and when I came out of the bathroom, Millie was laying out my clothes—this time a knee-length skirt with a matching blouse and blazer. She barely glanced at me until I startled her by exerting what little control I had.
“No. That color won’t do. Bring me something in sage green.”
“I should have mentioned howlovely that shade of green looks on you.” Lorenzo spread marmalade on his toast, his gaze more on me than his task. “I’ll have to commend Millie for her eye to detail. It seems to be improving.” He took a bite and chewed as he continued to study me.
It required all my self-control not to tell him I had chosen the color and that Millie might as well be color-blind for as much effort she put into her selections. But I played the noble card.
“It was helpful you asked her to assist me. I’m learning a lot.” I sipped the coffee rather than chug it as I preferred.
“I’m sorry our dinner guest wasn’t a very exciting conversationalist.”
Now, Lorenzo was playing the diplomat. His guest was as riveting as checkers on a Saturday night while listening to a documentary on the invention of toothpaste. The vampire kept talking numbers and probability analyses for something they were testing in a lab. Lorenzo continually steered him to other topics, but the man was singularly focused. But as much as Lorenzo feigned disinterest, his eyes glowed for an instant when the man said the formula was almost complete. I had no idea what formula, and it seemed to be in my best interest to appear bored. It didn’t slip my awareness that I could simultaneously listen to every word, capture every emotion, and memorize anything worth stealing in the room while maintaining a disinterested posture.
I wasn’t sure where the last thought had come from other than the sheer tediousness of the evening. And I couldn’t have been happier when Asshole retrieved me after dessert.
Lorenzo touched my arm, pulling me out of my reverie as I picked at another egg-white omelet. He rubbed the edge of the linen jacket, then ran his hand higher, gently brushing the tip of my breast before caressing my cheek. “I’d hoped to come to your room last night to see how your day went.”
“I guess you had a lot to talk about.” I somehow managed to sound part agreeable and part hurt. Was that my own reaction, or was he pushing his feelings onto me?
“I’ll see if I can’t make it up to you this evening.” He took a last bite of his toast, swallowed it down with coffee, then wiped his lips. “But I’m afraid new business is going to take me away for the majority of the day again.”
I pouted, and he smiled with pleasure that made it all the way to his eyes.
“As much as I hate being away from you, it makes me yearn all the more with how much it equally displeases you.” He laid his napkin on the table, a sign I recognized as his last move before standing.
I placed my hand on his arm and squeezed, finding it interesting that his gaze heated when he met my eyes. “I’ve been here a few days and haven’t once been able to visit your gardens or feel the sun on my face.”
The intensity of his gaze grew, and he clutched my hand. It was probably foolish to poke the bear, but I felt myself lean in. He grabbed the back of my neck and pulled me to him, his lips on mine, his tongue plundering for whatever treasure he thought he’d find. I couldn’t prevent the enjoyment of the kiss or his possessiveness. Nor did I try to stop him when his hand reached under the table to squeeze my thigh before moving farther until his fingers scraped the edge of my panties.
I opened my mouth wider to accept his full passion as his kiss deepened.
“You are a temptress. I’m not sure which of us is caught in a snare.”
I found his words odd, and it was difficult to pull back.
“I’ll make sure Mrs. Newbridge allows for an hour in the sun. I like to see color on your cheeks.” His smile was all-knowing as a heated blush came over me.
He stood and straightened his suit, stuffed his phone in his pocket, then leaned down and gave me one last intense kiss. “Behave while I’m gone.”
