“The fucking irony,” I snarl.
“What do you mean?”
“He doesn’t want his kids taken, but he’s fine with laundering money for the men who do it to other people’s children. Fuckin’hypocrite!”
“Shh! Someone will hear you.”
“I didn’t see any guards watching you tonight.”
“They don’t come inside when we’re at Broussard’s place. I’m sure they’re waiting out in the parking area with the chauffeurs.”
As I try to process everything she’s telling me, I jump from wanting to know more about Broussard’s business operation to wanting to rescue her from a forced marriage. I’ve got to tackle one problem at a time.
“I will help you get out of the marriage,” I promise.“But I need your help first. We’ve got a little under three months before the wedding. What’s the actual date?”
“My birthday.”
“They aren’t even going to wait until the day after?” I scoff.
“Nope. If it were up to Broussard, he’d already have me in his bed. He’s already tried to get me to sleep with him.”
“That’s not fucking happening.” I grasp both of her hands and encapsulate them in mine. She’s so tiny that I easily cover her hands completely.“Listen to me. I don’t make promises I can’t keep. Trust me when I say I’m going to do everything in my power to stop the wedding.”
“Why?” she asks timidly.
“Because it’s the right thing to do.”
“Is that all?”
Time stands still as my heart thumps wildly in my chest. The hope in her expression guts me. I hate seeing her so terrified.
Her lips tremble, and suddenly that’s all I can see. Slowly, without even realizing it, I lower my mouth to hers. Brushing a soft kiss over her mouth, I inhale her perfume. It’s the same one she wore at the club, an intoxicating blend of sweet jasmine and warm vanilla. Hints of fresh bergamot and a whisper of musk create a fragrance that is both alluring and elegantly feminine. I want to bottle it up and take it with me.
“Vapor,” she murmurs.
As she reaches for my neck, I cup her cheeks between my palms. I glance at her eyes to make sure she wants me to kiss her again. Her smoldering half-lidded gaze is all the approval I need.
Gently caressing her lips once more, I linger, deepening the kiss. She moans against my mouth before gasping. The moment her lips part, I glide my tongue across hers. She whimpers and wiggles closer until her thigh is pressed against mine.
We’re not as close as we could be, so I wrap my arm around her hip and tug her into my lap. She freezes for a second, pulling away from the kiss to look at me, then she surrenders completely.
Molding her body to mine, she claims my mouth. Her tongue tangles with mine in the most passionate kiss I’ve ever experienced. I’ve kissed more than a few women, but never like this. It’s not just about being aroused, it’s something more. Something deeper.
I lose myself in the kiss long enough to forget where we’re at. Instead of strategizing how I’m going to get into Broussard’s study, I’m abandoning all thought of anything but her. She’s so soft and sweet. Her lips taste like strawberry slices floating in a glass of sweet tea. I can’t get enough.
My hands worship her curves while my cock throbs in my pants. I tear my mouth away from hers long enough to find the delicate column of her throat. Her throbbing pulse beats against my tongue. I taste her skin and it’s just as sweet as her mouth.
Skimming my hands down to her hips, I settle her ass firmly over my cock.
“Oh!” Her eyes go wide.
“See what you do to me?” I rumble like rolling thunder.
“Vapor…” she whispers.
Somewhere in the maze, a branch cracks. She nearly leaps off my lap before backing away a few steps.
“We should go back before someone realizes we’re gone,” she says as her eyes dart toward the entrance to the gazebo.
