He lounged in his bathwater, head reclined against the rim, dark hair in disarray about his shoulders. How utterly masculine he was. How beautiful.
When he saw her, he unabashedly eased to his feet. Her gaze traveled the length of him, all golden muscle and virile hardness. Rivulets of water trickled down the ridges of his abdomen, pooled in his navel, then caught in the dark curls surrounding his growing cock. He smelled of elsment, an aphrodisiac to their people, and she tried to hold her breath against his allure.
“What do you here?” he demanded with a calmness that belied the luminance in his eyes. He stepped from the opal tub and toward the bed, where his robe draped the bottom ledge.
Before he reached it, she closed the distance between them and gripped his shoulder. He spun around and faced her. Without a word, she pushed him backward until his knees hit the edge of his bed. And he let her. Though he possessed the physical strength to stop her, he allowed her the final push. He fell, naked, splayed atop the silkiness of the black furs.
Her legs suddenly felt heavy, and she wanted to sink into him. She fought past the urge and glared down at him. “You promised to help me. I demand that you do so.”
“My vow was not offered with a time constraint. I will aid you when I decide, not a moment before.”
“Arr!” she screeched. “You are worse than your father, always trying to thwart me.”
“Why must everything be about you?” Romulis crossed his arms under his head, his expression still relaxed, almost impassive. “What if I collect your debt to me now? What if I demand you forget Tristan and pleasure me?”
“Have you no pride?” she said, the words somehow foul in her mouth. “You would welcome my touch while I imagine you to be another man?”
His nostrils flared and his lips strained over the whiteness of his teeth. “Leave. Now. You are a greater fool than I, and I find I am tired of dealing with you.”
She stormed from the room. If she could not go to Tristan this night, she would just have to find a way to remind him of her ownership.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Never Ask Your Mistress For Anything. Instead,
Await Her Commands.
ON MONDAY, JULIA opened up the shop one hour and ten minutes late, which wasn’t bad in her estimation, considering she’d forgotten all about her business. Of course, she blamed Tristan for that. The man consumed her mind, body and heart. In bed and out.
Perhaps some of her preoccupation with him stemmed from the fact that she’d almost lost him. That she’d realized just how far Zirra would go to get him back.
Perhaps the same worries lingered in Tristan’s mind, because he remained mere inches away at all times, his eyes glued to the store safe, where she’d locked his box. Neither of them had wanted to leave the house without it.
No matter how much time passed without incident, he remained tense and guarded. Which she understood. But his mood continued to darken, and she couldn’t reason out why.
Why was she letting this darken her mood? She should be singing Disney songs. She was in love! Her. Julia Anderson. And she’d gotten laid. She’d had so many glorious orgasms she’d lost count.
Practically skipping now, she went to the register, lifted the candy canister and selected several pieces, all of them chocolate. A celebration treat. One bite teased and tantalized her taste buds, reminding her of Tristan.
Moments later, she felt Tristan come up behind her. Awareness rustled along her skin as his decadent scent enveloped her.
“Stop moaning,” he said fiercely, his warm breath tickling her ear. “You’re giving me ideas.”
Well, well. His mood had lightened.
“And if I don’t?” She faced him, fighting a rush of sensations between her legs. “You’ll spank me?” Where had this playful, flirty wanton come from? Awkward Julia had finally become a tease!
Gone was the intense guardian of the day. In his place was a man who only responded to the sensual. His heat bored into her, sending tingles of delight along her nerve endings.
“Aye,” he said. “I will spank you most soundly.”
He looked so beautiful, seething with sensuality, life and carnal intent. Huskily she said, “Not if I spank you first.”
He clasped a tendril of her hair between his fingers and smoothed it from her cheek. “Whatever happened to the shy maiden who tried to defend her honor with karate?”
“She took lessons from the master of seduction.” Laughing throatily, she ran her hands up his chest. “It’s too bad those lessons are completed.”
“How dare you say such a thing,” he replied with mock ire. “The lessons will never be complete. There is so much more I must teach you, it will take years. Decades!”
“Oh, really?” Dare she hope he craved decades with her? She teased the waist of his jeans, then dipped lower to cup him. “What else do you need to teach me, hmm?”
He hissed in a breath. “That there is a penalty for teasing your man to start. That you are mine to end.”
Tremors plagued her.
“Now, if we do not change the subject,” he added, “I cannot be responsible for my actions.”
Though it required all of her strength, Julia pulled away from him. Her store was no place for a seduction. Not during working hours, at least. With a sigh, she glanced at the wall clock. “My landlord’s son is supposed to fix the bathroom pipes today, and he’s late. Big surprise. Since your knowledge is so advanced—” she almost choked on that one “—would you mind taking a look?”
“I do not mind.” He looked her over and licked his lips with wicked intent. “That is to say, I do not mind…if you will agree to pay me for my services.”
Still thrumming
