Page 36 of Secrets & Desires
Inside, she dropped the straps of her dress down her shoulders and wiggled out of it as Nox sat on the edge of the bed and watched her. She turned around slowly in her underwear and looked back over her shoulder at him. “You wantthis,baby?”
Nox grinned. “You know I do. Strip for me,gorgeous.”
Livia chuckled and slowly began to take her underwear off, unclasping her bra, and sliding her panties down her legs. When she was naked she came to him, kissing him then nuzzling his neck. “Fuck me, Nox, but keep yourclotheson.”
Nox grinned and laid her back on the bed, standing to unzip his fly and take out his cock. Fisting the root of it, he gazed down at her as she spread her legs wide for him. “God, you’re so fucking beautiful, LiviaChatelaine.”
His cock, huge and throbbing, stood proud against his belly as he tugged her legs around him waist. Livia arched her back up as he plunged into her, moaning at the feel of him. They made love fast and furiously, primal in their desire for each other. As they came, Livia pulled him onto the bed and tore at his clothes, biting at his chest and his nipples before straddling him and taking him deep inside her. He cupped her breasts, his thumbs strumming a beat over her nipples until they hardened. They made each other come again and again until, exhausted, they fell asleep in eachother’sarms.
It was dawnwhen Sandor arrived with the police, looking pale and shaken. They had found Pia’s body. A shocked and horrified Nox and Livia listened as he told them she had been found laid upon Ariel’s grave with a message scrawled in her blood across the coldmarble.
“What did it say?” Nox’s voice sounded tight. Sandor winced and put his hand on his friend’sshoulder.
“I’m sorry, Nox. It said, ‘EveryoneYouLove’.”
“Jesus.”
A worried Livia hugged Nox as he dropped his head into his hands. The lead homicide detective cleared his throat. “I’m sorry to do this at what is obviously a very distressing time, but Mr. Renaud, I do have to ask. Where were you the nightbeforelast?”
ChapterFifteen
Moriko listenedas Livia filled her in on what had been happening. “God, how awful. So theyarrestedNox?”
Livia shook her head. “No, they just wanted to ask him questions. He offered to go with them to the station for a formal interview but they said he didn’t need to…yet. God, what a mess.PoorPia.”
“Were youclose?”
“No, but we met a few times. She was onlynineteen.”
“Jesus.”
Livia nodded, miserable. “Horrific.”
Marcel came into the kitchen. “Hey, you okay?” He frowned at Livia. “You’re really pale. Are you sure you’re okaytowork?”
“I am, thanks Marcel. I’d rather be here, it will take my mind off the otherstuff.”
The restaurant was busy in the run up to Christmas. Although the weather outside was still mild, people were wearing coats and trying to get into a winter mind set. Livia wondered aloud if it ever snowed in NewOrleans.
“Sure it does,” Marcel told her. “Last time was Christmas Day, appropriately enough, back in ’04, before that in ’89. It doesn’t happen often, but we’re lucky sometimes. We’re due some this year, I believe, some weather phenomenon to do with global warming. I don’t know, but yeah, you might have a white Christmas if you’re lucky, just don’t count on it being severalfeetdeep.”
Livia was daydreaming about sharing a white Christmas with Nox at his mansion when Moriko nudged her. “One of your rich friendsisin.”
Livia saw Odelle Griffongy seated in her section, her back ramrod straight, and groaned inwardly. The woman creeped her out a little, she had to admit. She went over to her. “Hey,Odelle.”
Odelle blinked at her as if she only just remembered Livia worked there. “Oh,hello.It’s…”
“Livia.”
“Of course. Hello again,Livia.”
There was a small smile playing around Odelle’s lips and Livia couldn’t work out if Odelle was mocking her or not. She decided to give her the benefit of the doubt. “What can I get for youtoday?”
Odelle was studying her. “An egg white and spinach omelet, please.” The smile was back and Livia realized Odelle was attempting to make a joke with her. She smiled back,tentatively.
“Ofcourse.”
“And your company, if that’s possible. Just for a fewminutes.”
