Читать книгу Single Girl Abroad: Untameable Rogue - Kelly Hunter - Страница 10

‘HAD enough?’ asked Luke as he materialised by Madeline’s side some half an hour later.

‘More than enough.’ The paintings weren’t to her taste, Bruce Yi’s partners had grilled her to within an inch of incineration about her future business plans, the Delacourte diamonds hung heavy around her neck, and, above all, she was hungry.

They found their hosts and said their goodbyes. Elena looked pale and anxious. Luke looked grim. Madeline badly wanted to be outside where there was warmth and air, or back at the dojo where there was honesty and care. Not this. She didn’t like the strain inherent in this interaction, even if everyone was on their best behaviour.

Madeline unclasped her necklace and slipped off her earrings as they descended the escalator. ‘Got an inside pocket in that jacket of yours?’ she asked Luke.

Luke unbuttoned his jacket silently as she turned towards him. He did have one, and it even had a button to keep it closed. Fiddly thing.

‘You get the button, I’ll hold the rocks,’ he murmured, so she dumped them in his palm and set to work easing that stubborn little button through its buttonhole. The jacket felt warm to the touch, Luke’s formal white shirt—as the backs of her fingers brushed over it—felt even warmer. Plenty of heat inside this jacket. Plenty of hard and corded muscle beneath that fine white shirt.

They stepped off the escalator and stepped to one side of it while Luke slipped the jewellery in the pocket and Madeline buttoned it back up, before pressing his jacket closed and buttoning that up.

There. Those jewels were as safe as they were going to get, and for now, Madeline was free of their weight.

‘Care to tell me why the jewellery had to come off now?’ he murmured, watching her through guarded golden eyes.

‘There’s a tapas bar around the corner,’ she said. Misdirection being by far the better option than confessing how truly undeserving the Delacourte diamonds made her feel. ‘It’s not exactly classy but the food is good and the atmosphere’s relaxed and I need both of those elements right now. It’s not the place for diamonds.’ She tried a smile.

Luke didn’t return it.

‘Or we could head straight home if you’d rather get back and talk to Jacob. He’s probably waiting to hear from you. I’m sorry. I didn’t think—’

‘It’s okay,’ he muttered. ‘I haven’t said anything to Jake about meeting Bruce Yi. Yet. Jake’s big on inner harmony and peace. I figured I’d wait until I had something concrete to offer by way of information before I shattered the calm.’

‘Protective,’ she murmured.

‘When it comes to my family’s well-being, yes. You have a problem with that?’

‘No.’

The tapas bar was darkly sexy and deliberately intimate. Neckwear seemed optional, and, given that Maddy had already ditched hers, Luke loosened his tie and undid the buttons of his shirt collar so that a man might breathe in comfort. Madeline smiled wry approval at him as they found a couple of seats at the bar. Madeline took a perch. Luke elected to stand.

‘You wear black tie extremely well, don’t get me wrong,’ she said. ‘But you wear informality better.’

‘Says the woman who wears diamonds as if she were born to them and then ditches them the minute she can. Personally, I prefer you without,’ he countered. ‘Did you get what you wanted from Bruce Yi?’

‘I’ve no idea.’ The barman headed their way and they ordered drinks and tapas. The drinks came fast and the food order went in. ‘Did Elena say what Ji wanted of Jacob?’ Madeline asked him.

‘No, but she did say what she wanted of Jake. She seems to want him back in Ji’s life. Says it’s for Ji’s protection.’ Luke studied her intently. ‘How many months after you bought the vase did William die?’

‘A year or so,’ said Madeline, blinking at the rapid change of topic. ‘What is it with you and William’s funeral vase? I assure you, the funeral and the cremation—everything happened as it should. It’s not as if I torched him.’

‘Never mind,’ said Luke with a shake of his head as he took to his beer and drank deeply. ‘It’s nothing. I’m over it.’ Mostly. Could Madeline really have it in her to arrange her husband’s demise? He thought not. Definitely not. Probably just a coincidence, her purchase of a funeral vase …

Curators like Arthur sold antique funeral vases to wealthy collectors all the time.

And delivered them empty.

Tapas, champagne, and Luke Bennett’s company made for an easy combination, and Madeline let herself relax into the evening and bask in the warmth of those gleaming tiger eyes. He’d surprised Madeline tonight with his ability to move comfortably through Bruce Yi’s world of high finance and high-priced art but there was no mistaking that he was more at home here. So was she, truth being told. She’d never courted high society, for all that she’d experienced her fair share of it at William’s side. She’d never returned to it after his death.

An orphan’s sensitivity for knowing she would find little welcome there.

A woman’s dislike of moving through such a world unprotected.

She hadn’t been unprotected tonight. Bruce Yi, in the making of important introductions and staying on to guide the conversation, had extended his protection and made sure others noticed it.

And Luke, with his watchful warrior presence, had offered his.

It was enough to send a sensible woman’s thoughts tripping down roads they really shouldn’t go. A short-term light-hearted relationship was the only way to travel when it came to dealing with this man. To consider even that much was risky.

‘Tell me,’ she said lightly. ‘If you had a family of your own one day—a wife and children—would you still disarm weapons for a living?’

‘It’s what I do,’ he said. ‘What else would I do?’

‘I don’t know. Ship salvage work? Return to your deep-diving roots? Something safer.’

‘Neither of the occupations you just suggested are particularly safe, Maddy.’

‘Maybe not, but I really can’t see you in an office. I was extrapolating backwards just a step or two.’

‘Thanks,’ he said dryly. ‘The salvage work I could do. It just wouldn’t have quite the bite of what I do now.’

‘What do your siblings think about your choice of career and the dangers involved?’

‘You mean the brother who pilots air-sea rescue Seahawks or the one who runs black ops for Interpol? Or are you asking me what Jake thinks?’

Madeline wasn’t sure she wanted to know what any of them thought. ‘What does your sister think?’

‘She thinks we’re all guts and glory. She retaliated by marrying a computer whiz with brains instead.’ Luke’s grin came wide and wicked. ‘He does a little creative programming for Interpol on the side these days.’

‘Bet that went down a bomb.’

‘You have no idea,’ said Luke with a shudder. ‘Carnage.’

‘Are your other brothers married?’

Luke nodded. ‘And before you ask, Tris removed himself voluntarily from fieldwork and took a desk job once he got married but Pete still flies air-sea rescue missions. Pete had a habit of not phoning Serena the minute he set foot back on land. Serena broke that particular habit by getting her own helicopter licence so she could have better access to remote photographic locations. She accidentally lost radio contact one day when she went up alone. She was in a dead zone and she knew it, but she stuck around for a twilight shot and didn’t get home until well after dark.’

‘Simple yet effective,’ said Madeline. ‘I like it.’

‘Absolutely ruthless,’ said Luke. ‘The man was a wreck.’

‘And what do you do when the woman you’re with has trouble accepting your work?’ she asked.

‘Move on.’ His eyes grew shuttered. ‘Nothing else I can do.’

Except give up the work. A concept he clearly had trouble with. ‘Don’t you ever get sick of living so close to the edge of death?’ she asked quietly. ‘Don’t you ever look at a situation sometimes and wish you could just walk away and leave it to someone else?’

‘No,’ he said, but the shadows in his eyes told a deeper, darker story. ‘Not if I’m the best person for the job. I’m not in the phone book, Maddy. My name is on half a dozen lists worldwide. When someone contacts me it means that they need my particular skill set and they need it fast.

There’s no defence against that. I can’t just say, “Sorry, I don’t feel like working today.” I can’t.’

A warrior’s honour, soul deep and absolute. Duty-bound, forsaking all else.

Hard not to admire such a man.

Madness to love him.

He looked at her in silent enquiry. ‘Another drink?’

‘No, I’m driving.’

‘Ready to head home?’

‘I think I am,’ she said solemnly. ‘I can drop you on the way.’

But he shook his head. ‘That’s not how it works, Maddy. Not with me. I’ll see you home. I’ll see you to your door. And then I’ll find my own way back to Jake’s.’

Chivalry. Cousin to honour. She should have guessed he’d have his share of that too.

The trip home was largely silent after that, as if Luke sensed her withdrawal or her conflict, or both. They made it to the apartment car park and headed for the lift.

Last time in this lift, Luke had been the one to hold back.

This time she hoped to God she would be the one to walk away. They entered the lift and she stared at the ground. If she didn’t look at him, didn’t touch him, and didn’t talk to him, she’d probably be just fine.

The lift rose quickly and then slid to a halt. The doors slid open.

Time to end this madness.

Some sort of farewell comment seemed in order. ‘Goodbye, Luke. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you.’ She hoped she’d made it sound final enough.

‘You forgot something,’ he said.

‘No.’ She risked a glance and cursed her foolishness as warmth suffused her body. ‘No, I haven’t.’

‘Your diamonds,’ he said as he unbuttoned his jacket. ‘Unless you’d like me to send Po round with them tomorrow? Probably not a good idea, though.’

Oh. Right. The diamonds. The ones in his inside coat pocket. Madeline hesitated. Luke shook his head, his eyes dark and knowing. He shrugged out of his jacket and handed it to her whole. ‘I know you’ve decided not to see me again, Maddy. I can see it in your eyes. It’s okay. I’m used to it.’

‘All that honour,’ she said raggedly as she battled with the recalcitrant button and buttonhole. ‘Where did you get it?’

He shrugged and his lips tilted towards a wry smile. ‘Beats me.’

‘We wouldn’t be any good together, you and me.’ The button was stuck. The pocket stayed closed. Where was Po when you needed him? ‘We’re too different.’

‘Who are you trying to convince, Maddy? Me? Or yourself?’

She gave up on the button. ‘I mean, look at you.’ She made the mistake of doing just that and the need inside her soared. ‘You need a woman whose honour can equal your own. A woman with strength enough to let you go when you have to go and do what you need to do. I can’t even manage honour, let alone the strength I’d need to love you.’

‘Tell me something, Maddy,’ he said in that quiet, deadly voice. ‘Tonight, when you and Bruce Yi stopped to talk, just before you reached his business partners. What did you say to him?’

‘Not a lot.’

‘You told him you couldn’t guarantee my or Jake’s co-operation, didn’t you? And you elected out of the deal he was setting up.’

‘It didn’t feel right.’

‘You want to know why?’

Madeline shrugged. ‘An aversion to debt?’

A tiny shake of his head while his golden gaze kept her frozen to the spot. ‘Honour.’

‘It could have gone either way,’ she said raggedly. ‘If it was honour you thought you saw, then I almost abandoned it.’

‘But you didn’t. I don’t see weakness when I look at you,’ he said softly. ‘I see generosity and grace, and I see strength and survival.’ He came towards her then. He came to stand within an inch of her. ‘And I want it.’

The jacked slipped through suddenly nerveless fingers to land on the floor beside her.

‘Trouble is, you have to want me too,’ he said. ‘And seeing as you don’t—’

She didn’t let him finish. Instead she found his mouth with her own, frantic need ruling her as she took what she wanted and drank deeply of this man. All that devastating integrity wrapped within a reckless smile … she wanted it all and to hell with tomorrow.

Luke knew only one response to attack, be it sensual or otherwise. Counter-attack, using whatever weapons he had at hand. He didn’t seek to quell Madeline’s need for his kisses, he grew it until her breath came in gasps between open-mouthed kisses and her hands were buried in his hair. His hands roved where they would. One hand cradling her head and the other at her back, gathering her close, snaking down her spine.

The sweet curve of her buttocks deserved two hands, but by then she’d entwined her arms around his neck and his lips were at her throat, passion riding them both hard as he lifted her up and she wound her legs around his waist.

Her back met the wall, the handrail providing a tiny ledge on which to balance her while her fingers worked frantically to undo the buttons of his shirt and he hiked her dress up to her waist. Luke’s shirt came off, he damn near ripped it off in his effort to accommodate her.

‘This isn’t going to work,’ she whispered, and then her hands were at his chest, and her lips were at his throat and he surrendered completely to his desperate need for more. ‘Not in the long run.’

‘I’m hearing you. I’m agreeing with you.’ He edged her panties aside and showed her exactly where he wanted in. ‘Damned if I know what to do with you.’

There, right there, thought Madeline with a whimper, and his touch was slow and sure and devastatingly effective. She moved on him then, onto his hand, with the fleshy base of his thumb to her nub and his finger easing inside her.

The woman she glimpsed in the side mirror was an abandoned stranger, her eyes glazed, her lips swollen, and her hair in disarray as she rocked slowly back and forth against the hand of a man she’d met less than a week ago.

Dark edged and warrior savage, Luke took her hand and dragged it down and over his trousers. So hard and huge as she shaped her hand around him and followed his long length down to the source and back to where belt met buckle and head nestled beneath. She managed to get the belt undone, and then the button and zip, which gave her all the access she needed as he claimed her mouth again.

There was no finesse in him as he lifted her high and brought her down onto him and held her tight. Madeline gasped and buried her face in his shoulder as she adjusted to his possession.

Tight. She was so warm and tight. One arm at her back and one in her hair as need pushed Luke further and harder into her, too far in thrall to be a gentleman. Too far gone to care that they were in an elevator. And then she bit down hard on the cord of his neck, not gentle but ravenous, and the wildness he carried deep down inside him rose up and finally broke free.

Raw power and desperation, as she matched him need for need.

White heat and exaltation as she cried out her release.

Red haze and incantation as he rode her hard and exploded deep inside her.

That they’d remained upright when they’d lost their minds seemed something of a miracle to Luke. That Madeline still clung to him seemed even more of a miracle. He put his forehead to hers, breathing hard as he closed his eyes and tried to remember how they’d come to this.

‘Maddy,’ he murmured, when he had the words for speech. ‘Maddy, I’m sorr—’

‘Don’t,’ she said, and covered his mouth with trembling fingers. Her lips replaced her fingers, softer still and even more vulnerable. ‘Don’t be.’

So he kissed her again, as gently as he could, and even then the bite of hunger raised its head and threatened to overpower him.

He pulled out of the kiss, and put his lips to her temple instead.

He looked in the mirror at what he’d done and closed his eyes, not ready to face the truth of it.

‘I wish …’ What did he wish? That the last five minutes hadn’t happened? No, he didn’t wish that. ‘I should have taken better care of you.’ He shouldn’t have lost control.

‘I’ve no complaints.’ He tasted the truth in her words. He opened his eyes to find her watching him solemnly.

‘None,’ she said with a shrug. ‘I wanted this. Wanted you, in spite of all those very good reasons to stay away from you. I may not know where all this is heading, but I’m big girl enough to take plenty of responsibility for how we got here.’

Even as Madeline finished her speech, body parts rippled and twitched. Madeline’s lashes came down to cover her eyes and she caught at her swollen lower lip with her teeth.

‘Aftershock?’ he murmured, in that dark knowing voice.

‘Mmm.’

‘More?’

‘Please.’

Madeline whimpered as her legs closed vicelike around him and she ground down hard. A not so gentle thrust, the brush of his thumb, and she tilted her head back, and came for him again.

Hot colour stained her cheeks when finally she deigned to open her eyes.

‘Would you like me to kiss it better?’ he murmured silkily. ‘Because, trust me, all you have to do is ask.’

Inner muscles jumped for him again and Luke hardened, feeling invincible. Half a dozen slow and rocking strokes, an open-mouthed kiss that imprinted itself somewhere in the vicinity of his heart, and he came deep inside her again.

Madeline emerged from Luke’s latest possession boneless, and damn near mindless. By some miracle they were still standing, but Luke’s chest heaved with the effort of drawing breath and he stood shoulder slumped to the mirrored wall in what she suspected was a valiant attempt not to crush her.