Page 9 of Savannah Royals
He pins me against a soot-speckled brick wall and presses his lips to mine. My resistance melts.
Nobody in the whole world kisses like Paul. Women could spend their entire lives searching, and they’d never find a kiss like his. Pure, undiluted molten fire.
“It’s been four days,” Paul rumbles, pressing his hard crotch into me.
“Maybe it wouldn’t”—I move my lips over his—“have been four days”—more kisses—“if you didn’t have us running stakeouts…every other night.”
“Stay with me tonight.”
“I can’t.”
“Yes. You can.” He moves his lips to the hollow spot on my neck, just beneath my ear.
“Paul,” I murmur, “I’m worn slap out. I’msleepingtonight.”
“With me. You’re sleepingwithmetonight.”
I lean back and laugh, resting my head on the warm bricks. “You’re incorrigible.”
His grin is wolfish and endearing. “Would you really have me any other way?”
“No,” I admit.
Because I love how impulsive he is. How he always finds me. How he sees what he wants, whatever he wants, and he takes it. No second thoughts. No hesitation.
“I need to go to work,” I tell him. “You know, so I can moveyourcontraband.”
“It’s a dirty job, doll.” He sneaks in one more kiss at the side of my mouth as I drift toward the street. “But somebody’s gotta do it.”
When I glance back, he’s already gone.
“Ray?”
I bang open the back door of the shop. My gaze sweeps the workroom, passing over Ray’s empty station and mine. The desk and overhead lights are off.
He must be out on the floor.
Moving from the back room to the front is like crossing worlds through a magic portal. The lighting turns brilliant, the walls stark, crisp white. Glass cases run the length of the room, surfaces warm from the heat of overhead spotlights. Black velvet abounds. Gemstones sparkle.
When I poke my head out, Ray is with a customer. He waves me over. “Perfect timing, kid.”
I hate working the floor, but I answer his summons. The buyer, a brunette in her late forties, ogles my uniform with delight. “Oh, you’re an Academy girl? My Mabel just started there last month.”
I smile politely.
“Is this your apprenticeship?” She needs no encouragement and looks around the jewelry shop with interest. “Certainly a prestigious one.”
“Yes, I’m very lucky. Raymond’s work is truly a cut above the rest.”
“Oh, indeed. He’s simply premier, in a league of his own.” She positively trills with excitement. “I can only hope to see Mabel doing something like this in a few years.”
“I’m sure she will,” I murmur, glancing down at the glass case. I blink twice when I notice the marquise-cut emerald earrings laid out before us.
Ray meets my eyes, a knowing flicker passing between us.
“Well now, aren’t these divine?” I gesture at the earrings.
“Do you think so?” The woman considers them. “I simply can’t make up my mind between these two pairs.”
