Page 10 of The Labyrinth
Deacon’s eyes narrowed.A tiny, salacious grin upturned one corner of his mouth.“I am sorry about that, but not sorry I kissed you.”
Words failed her.A little part of her was thrilled he was bold enough to take what he wanted, but that was a fantasy best left unsaid.
“Did you know minotaurs are passionate creatures?”he asked.“It stems from the rage that heats our blood.Bulls are stubborn.They’re angry.But all that fire makes us amazing lovers.”
“Conceited much?”
“Stating a fact.”He stepped closer, back into her sphere.“I’d be happy to prove it.”
Marion wanted to say yes, but sanity kept her silent.She’d just met this man, plus that little discovery that he wasn’t fully human.
“I don’t trust easily,” she said.
“You have trust issues at your tender age?”
“Not that tender.”
He cocked his head.“Really?You’re like, what, twenty-five?”
“Twenty-three.How old are you?”
“Thirty-eight, but don’t worry.I read that boys mature slower than girls, so that makes me about the same age as you.”
“Your understanding of biology astounds me.”
“Will you allow me to kiss you again?”
Her gaze flickered to his lips.“Why?”
“Because I liked kissing you, and I think you liked kissing me.”
She really,reallydidn’t want to admit that, so she bit her bottom lip in an effort to keep it closed.Deacon must’ve read her mind, however, because he cradled her face.There wasn’t a place to settle her hands, except against his chest.As she looked into his golden-amber eyes, she felt off-balance.Almost like standing on a rocking ship, trying desperately to stay on her feet but the sway kept knocking her down.As they stared into each other’s eyes, she grew nervous wondering what he saw.Maybe a small-town girl that had to drive twenty minutes to the next town to find a bed partner that made her feel something besides apathy?That she had no clue what to do with a man like him?
His gaze was penetrating, down past her confusion and disbelief.Then he bent and ran his nose up the column of her neck, breathing her in before he settled his mouth tenderly on hers.Unlike the one a moment ago, this time his lips were warm and gentle.Igniting a spark that wove intimacy and exploration, sensation and desire.Heartbeats merged, sharing something deeply significant.
A noise shattered that beautiful illusion.
Marion jerked back, eyes wide as she gulped in breaths.What was she doing, kissing this stranger?
“My place or yours?”he asked saucily.
Sex.She just kissed the hell out of him, so of course he must think she was easy, or naïve.Maybe both.Was he trying to make her feel cheap?Trying to humiliate her?
“I, uh, have to go.”
How quickly could she get away?Were minotaurs fast?She tried to remember if she ever saw a running bull.Wait, wasn’t there a famous chief named Running Bull?Or was that Sitting Bull?And why was she thinking that?
“I can hear your thoughts going a mile a minute.”
Marion blinked, snapping out of her internal monologue.
“Will you allow me to leave?I promise I won’t say anything about your ...you know.You.Not that anyone would ever believe me.”
Deacon’s world was fascinating, but it wasn’t hers.Now that she had a lead on Peter’s whereabouts, she had no reason to ever see him again.
“Of course,” he replied.
He held out his hand, waiting.Slowly, she took hold, and he led her out of the office and down the hallway.The roar of the crowd reached them before they set foot back on the betting floor.
