dampened leather seat. Then he shoved her down onto her back and folded her legs up over her chest so that his thrusts had his whole weight behind them.
The world focused down to this cramped seat and Seth's heaving body. He blotted out all the light and sealed her into a tumultuous velvet darkness. Cars passed occasionally, their lights dancing erratically across Seth’s rigid face. She barely noticed, and did not care. All she knew was his weight, his breath, his strong hands, the plunge and slide of his thick shaft inside her. The fire he had unleashed stormed and raged inside her, driving her higher and deeper into herself. She was glowing, molten, hotter with every stroke.
He took all she had to give, but he was generous too, pouring a current of sexual electricity into her body, transforming her with his magic. It was ravishing, perfect. She wanted it to last forever, but they were already speeding over the brink together, crashing to the finish.
As soon as Raine could form a coherent thought, she realized that her throat hurt. She had been yelling and screaming. She wondered if anyone had heard, and realized that she didn't give a damn.
They clutched each other for a long time, damp and panting. “God,” Seth finally said. “I'm soaked.”
She kissed his forehead, tasting his salty sweat against her lips. “Should have taken off your jacket, silly.”
“Didn't think of it”
She tightened her arms and legs around him, cuddling him against her breasts and stroked Ms damp hair. He heaved a sigh of contentment, and she squeezed her eyes shut, trying to impress the moment of perfect intimacy upon her memory. She wished she could extend it to infinity, but reality was encroaching, the way cold air crept under even the warmest blanket.
He dropped a kiss on her shoulder and raised his head. “Go pack a suitcase. I'll take you to a hotel for now, but I'll rent something for you as soon as real estate agencies open. What part of town do you prefer?”
She stiffened. “Wait, Seth. Hold on. I don't think—”
“Don't think what?” His voice was sharp.
“I don't think I'm cut out to be a mistress.”
“OK, fine. Forget about being my mistress. Come with me anyway. Be whatever the hell you want. You can find your own apartment. And you can find a better job in ten minutes. Pack your bags now, though. It'll be dawn soon, and this neighborhood is about to wake up.”
His words indicated that her decision was foregone, but his watchful stillness said otherwise. He waited, his penis still shoved deep inside her. She wiggled beneath him. She could barely move.
If she went with him now, and let him claim her, protect her, define her whole existence, she would be just as pinned. Just as helpless. He was overwhelming.
It was so tempting. She wanted to laugh at the irony. From a famine to a glutton's feast. Frontwards, backwards, sideways, up against the wall, in the shower. She saw herself sprawled beneath Seth's big, beautiful body, having multiple orgasms until she was lost in bliss. What a day job that would be. She could tell the ghosts of her past that she'd had no choice. Sorry, guys. Never mind the quest for truth and justice. She'd been swept off her feet and right onto her back.
No, she couldn't get off that easily. Seth couldn't protect her against what was inside her own head. Her nightmares, her past, her destiny. Nobody could save her but herself.
She looked into his narrowed eyes, sensing how badly he wanted to protect her. It brought hot tears to her eyes. She tightened her arms around his neck and kissed him in silent gratitude.
“I'm sorry, Seth. I can't go with you,” she said. Tension gathered in his body as he readied to do battle. “No,” she said, more sharply. “No means no, Seth. I can't quit my job right now. And I can't go with you. Thank you for offering to help me, but no.”
The tenderness on his face had vanished. It was taut and angry. “Why not?”
She touched his cheek, wishing with all her heart that she dared to confide in him. “I have my reasons “ she said quietly.
He flinched away from her hand and withdrew himself from her body. He closed his jeans and rummaged around, gathering her things. He tossed the tangled wad of clothing at her. “Get decent”
She clutched them to her chest, chilled at the biting tone in his voice. “Is that all you have to say?”
“If I beg like a dog, will it change your mind?”
She shook her head.
“Then get to it. I have work to do.”
“At three in the morning?”
“Yeah.” He offered no further explanation.
She began to turn her clothes right-side out and pull them on. Sweat was cooling on her body, making it harder. He waited, grim and silent, until the laces were tied and the zippers zipped. He snapped the locks open and got out of the car. “Out you go.”
“Seth—-”
He reached in, grabbing her arm and pulling her after him. “You've got your house keys?” he demanded. “Let me see them.”
She fished them out of her pocket, shivering in the cold.
“Go on inside. I want to see the door locked before I leave.”
He got into the car, and she stood there on the street, frozen in place. Her legs shook so hard that she didn't dare move. She was afraid she would fall on her face. The motor hummed to life. His window rolled down. “Get your ass into the house, Raine.”
His harsh tone jarred her nerves. “Don't order me around, Seth.”
“If I have to carry you in there, I will, but be aware that it is going to seriously piss me off.”
She backed away, holding up her hands, unable to bear the cold look on his face any longer. She scurried into the house, locked the door behind herself, and peeked out the window. He saw her, nodded, and pulled away. She watched his taillights disappear down the street.
She sank down onto the carpet. Her shoulders shook, but with what emotion she wasn't sure. The situation seemed to call for tears, but she had cried so much recently, she was all cried out
Then it occurred to her that after all the passion and intensity of that encounter, he still hadn't given her his phone number.
She had to laugh after all.
Chapter 10
Victor took a sip of his brandy and stared up at the sky. The moon emerged, making a brief appearance in the ragged window in the clouds. It illuminated the water for a few seconds, and vanished again.
It was long after midnight, but he could seldom sleep when the moon was this close to full. The wind had an icy nip, but he felt so exultant, he didn't care. His niece wasn't a rabbit, after all. She needed work, but the raw material was there. Maybe she really was his daughter. She certainly didn't get her spirit from poor Peter, and Alix was all noise and bluster, not spirit or strength.
His campaign to toughen her up appeared to be working splendidly. The encounter with Mackey had done her a world of good. She had actually defied him, the naughty girl. She had thrown him out of her place. How marvelous. His whole body was pleasantly wide awake, humming with excitement Tonight was a night to celebrate.
He tossed back the last of his brandy and went inside, handing the glass to the hovering attendant. “Send Mara to my suite in ten minutes,” he said briskly.
Her soft knock sounded before he had finished undressing. He let her wait outside the door as he donned his robe and sat down in his favorite chair, positioned for a clear view of both the window and the mirror. “Come in.”
She stole into the room, barefoot, her long dark hair tousled around her shoulders. She was wearing a short robe of crimson silk, belted at the waist. She walked towards him slowly, a sultry, expectant smile on her face, and stopped a few feet from his chair, awaiting further instructions. His staff was very well trained.
