She thinks we’re kidding.
“Hmm. It’s a fact.” Daemon takes her by the shoulders and nudges her back into Erik’s arms, and she falls willingly. He takes her weight, tipping her chin claiming her mouth before she spills all the questions I know she has ready. She’s the same in our classes. First to give an answer and the first to ask questions none of the rest of our students have the wherewithal to think of. Her beautiful brain is a marvel but right now we don’t want her thinking too hard or she might run out of here and never look back.
“Every chance we get. On the plane, in the hotel, in the middle of dinner. We didn’t get to where we are in life by letting prime opportunities slip us by.”
“Plane? Hotel? What are you guys talking about?”
I cup her face and feel the soul-deep power of her draw on me the second our eyes connect. Her lips part like she wants me to kiss her.
So I do. Slow at first, but she’s hungry. Starving and only a couple of strokes of my tongue over hers and she’s winding her arms around my neck, taking things deeper. I pull her close, loving how her perfect, curvy body molds into mine so easily. Almost a muscle at a time I can feel her relax in my arms and I like to believe it’s her instincts telling her she’s safe with me. With us.
She breaks the kiss and reaches for Daemon and Erik, consciously or not, I don’t know but it looks almost natural.
“Meet us at the private hangars at the airport tomorrow evening at six.”
“Better yet.” Erik tilts Jemma’s lips toward him and claims her mouth before passing her to Daemon who does the same, only he takes his time to really taste her sweetness before releasing her.
“I have a better idea. Why shouldn’t we leave now? Call in a flight change. Move it up a day. Don’t give her time to run.”
“Flight? What are you guys talking about?”
Jemma’s hands are buried in my shirt. “You’re coming to Europe with us.”
She breaks away and backs up. But there’s no way we are taking no for an answer. I can tell she wants to take us up on our offer, but the second her brain clicks on the brakes get pumped.
“I can’t go anywhere. I have class.”
“Not for two weeks. Besides, I thought you wanted to work with Thurston and Black Tech? When we passed around a student questionnaire, yours was on the top of the pile.”
“I do. That’s no secret. Are you blackmailing me?”
“Not at all.” Erik skims a finger around the edges of her nipples, plucking them.
She sighs.
“Walk away. That is if you can. Or stay and find out more about all those dark cravings we’ve stirred awake inside you.”
She’s breathing heavily now and looking between us. “Why me?”
I cock my head to the side at her question. “Come with us and let us show you.”
“I can’t just up and leave. I have responsibilities. Rent to pay. Tuition. A job.”
“Ones we can easily take care of.”
“I can’t just be bought. I’m not some hooker. I have limits.” Hurt crawls over her face and stabs me in the heart.
Unleashed rage flares to life deep in my gut. Whoever hurt this woman so deeply she can’t see what a brilliant, beautiful woman she is needs his ass kicked. “Don’t ever degrade yourself like that. We’re simply cutting through any obstacles that will keep you here.”
I take her hands between mine. “Please don’t say no. Come with us. We have clients to see during our break. Paris, London.”
Her green eyes swim with curiosity and I swear I see them shift and sway like molten emeralds. “How the hell do you expect someone to think when you do all...these...these things to them? I can barely get my brain to work.” Her knees are visibly shaking and I notice Erik take more of her weight in his arms.
As usual, Daemon takes the more direct approach. “Don’t you want to know what all three of your professors would feel like? The party was just a sample, baby girl.” He hauls her into his arms and her legs wrap around his waist. She’s comfortable in his embrace, his mouth on her neck whether she wants to admit to it or not.
I smile to myself. She might be putting up a bit of a fight, but Jemma has already made up her mind. Or her body has at least.
“As long as the dean doesn’t find out…” she draws out, looking at each of us for a long moment. “One week. That’s all I can give.”