Page 10 of Heart's Masquerade

For a moment, they stood still. He lowered his gaze to her lips and noted how they parted, the slightest puff of breath expelling. After a quick glance at the house behind her, he claimed her lips in a kiss. Jaz allowed him to push his tongue into her mouth and drew her tight to his chest. His cock grew stiff, and he ached to raise her off her feet a little to push it between her legs. That would be going too far, so he restrained himself.

Moments later, he released her, but she stretched onto her tiptoes and kissed him again. He blinked in surprise and watched befuddled as she starting striding down the street. “Coming?” she called over her shoulder, and he hurried to catch up.

Tor had been with many different types of women in his thirty-four years. He enjoyed the pleasures of the flesh without reservation, and most of the time his choice was a woman who was somewhat demure, sweet with a hint of spice. Jaz was none of those things. Correction. She’s definitely sweet. Her confidence and sass threw him off center, and rather than being turned off by it, she drew him in to the point that he couldn’t resist. Analyzing the reaction, he considered whether it was because she seemed to have a big personality without being a bitch. Yes, that must be it.

“So,” she said as they strolled down the street and turned the corner, “did you have fun tonight?”

He smiled. “Yes, the best part was meeting you.”

She blushed and then grew serious. “Who are you?”

He tensed. “I told you. Tor.”

She side-eyed him. “No, I mean where are you from?”

He dodged the question. “What makes you think I’m not from around here?”

She smirked. “Because most guys from around here are all like ‘That Halloween party was sick,’ or ‘wicked pissa.’ You don’t add the ah sound to your words like any self-respecting Bostonian would do.”

He laughed. “So I’m a fraud?”

“No, you just make me curious.”

He scanned the area where they walked. “I grew up right around the corner from here.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“When I was thirteen, my cousin and I set off firecrackers in Saint Bridget’s parking lot.”

She raised a hand to her mouth. “Are you crazy?”

He shrugged. “I had no respect then and was always getting into trouble one way or another. Father Matthew made sure I repented of my sins, and I had to learn the complete history of the parish and write a report on it.”

“Ouch.” She laughed.

“I don’t feel your sympathy for my pain, Jaz.”

“You deserved your punishment.”

“You’re a cruel woman.”

She grinned and moved to link her arm with his. He felt the soft swell of her breasts through her coat, or imagined he did and liked it. If Father Matthew only knew his thoughts now, he might be in confession the rest of his life.

At last, they turned into a narrow tree-lined street with three-story houses on either side. Jaz’s apartment, in a gray-paneled building with white trimming around the windows and door, was located on the first floor. The door itself had been covered in red paper with green streamers hanging from the top to look like hair. Giant eyeballs had been placed just below the “hair,” and white strips of paper made up a mouth that had been stitched closed. He smiled, realizing when Jaz did something, she went all out. As for the house itself, he recalled he had lived in a similar place but not as nice as this one.

“This is me,” she announced. “Thanks for walking me home. Made it fun and helped me to forget about the chill.”

“Same here,” he said and pulled her close. The heat of her body seeped into his cold one, and he hungered to kiss her again, maybe even go inside with her. While he debated the wisdom of it, she kissed his lips and slipped away.

“Here, give me your phone,” she said. “I’ll put my number in.”

Tor didn’t hesitate. He produced his phone for her, and she created a new contact with her name then handed it back. Afterward, she jogged up the two steps leading to her apartment. “Call me.”

He nodded and watched her disappear inside.

When Tor reached the spot where he’d been dropped off, he couldn’t stop sneezing, and his nose kept running. He cursed early winters that seemed to start in October. Handling his cell phone was a chore, but he managed to dial his chauffeur. “Niles, I need a pickup, and please, make it quick.”

“Will do, sir. I’m glad to know you’re safe. I assume you enjoyed yourself?”

---