Unbidden, an image of Luz Alana stole into Evan’s mind. Of her astride his lap in nothing but a bit of red satin. Her generous breasts just inches from his mouth. Her wild curls cascading over her neck and shoulders, a flush of pink staining her caramel skin. He’d take one of those curls and use it to tug her closer. Pull down the fabric until those lush mounds were exposed to him, and then he’d taste her. He’d pluck one nipple and suckle it until it hardened between his lips, then take the other and do the same. He’d let his hands explore until he reached the wetness between her thighs. He imagined the lusty sounds she’d make in that throaty voice of hers as he dipped his fingers into her heat.
She’d beg him for more, and he’d give her everything she desired.
“Are you quite all right?” Her irritated voice snatched him out of his filthy fantasy. He was hard as stone and certain he must’ve made some kind of distressed noise because Luz was looking at him like he was completely mad.
“I’m very well, thank you,” he said too brightly. But like the hardheaded prick he was, he went right back to needling her. “What’s your opinion on the lady’s breasts? I like them a bit heftier myself, but small and perky are quite all right, if you like to keep one hand free.”
Loud moans and slapping of skin were forthcoming from the stage by now, and their detrimental effect on Luz’s friend’s nerves was obvious. The poor woman was miserable. With a quiet “Luz, I can’t,” she fled from the theater.
Luz Alana stood, still looking longingly at the stage, likely trying to catch a glimpse of Seynabou. He had to admire her boldnessandher loyalty. She came into the theater to accomplish something but would not abandon her friend in order to do so.
“I could introduce you to Miss Cisse-Kelly,” he offered, to which she responded with a scoff.
“Right, in exchange for what? A grope?” She managed to sound extremely puritanical for a woman sitting merely feet from an admirably enthusiastic fellatio performance.
“I promise, that’s not what I had in mind.” She shot him a murderous look from under hooded eyes, and suddenly he wanted whatever it was she was holding in. He craved to see this woman magnificently unleashed. “On second thought, if you’re offering, I’d be more than happy—”
“Pendejo!”
That got the attention of one of the large men the Cisse-Kellys dispersed around their establishment. With impressive alacrity, both he and Luz Alana found themselves being dispatched from the small theater and out into a low-lit room.
Luz Alana’s cheeks were splotched with crimson, as was her neck, and she was mumbling a barrage of words in Spanish—most of which he was almost certain were threats aimed at his person. In this small space built for secrets and pleasure, it was hard to remember he was in pursuit of a business arrangement. Not when the swell of her bosom kept clouding his thoughts.
This woman could be the key to Evan’s future, and all he wanted was to take her mouth.
A reasonable man would get on a train to Edinburgh in the morning, where he’d have a dozen debutantes stumbling over themselves at the chance of marrying the Earl of Darnick. But reasonable men rarely ventured after treasures, and Luz Alana Heith-Benzan was much too intriguing to walk away from.
“A row at the exposition for our first meeting, and now we’ve been booted out of a live fellatio performance,” the bastard drawled, while Luz struggled to bring her temper to heel. “I’m curious to see where a third encounter with you will lead, Miss Caña Brava.”
“You know that’s not my name,” she snapped. She’d tried to maintain her composure, especially after Mr. Kapadia had offered her some help, but this man had a gift for getting under her skin. As things stood now she was a sweaty, heavy-breathing mess, with her back pressed to a wall while he was fresh and crisp as lettuce.
Cabrón.
“Luz Alana.”
The way he said her name wasindecent. She felt every syllable reverberate through her. The man was, frankly, too virile, too attractive, too everything. He had her nerves in absolute shambles.
“Lightandbeauty. Fitting.”
She knew he was probably having fun with her, getting her flustered for sport. Still her breath hitched when his gaze locked on her mouth as she ran her tongue over her dried lips.
Vamos, Luz Alana. Controlate.
“Miss Heith-Benzan, to you, sir,” she said haughtily, and his eyes crinkled like he found her infinitely delightful. “What do you want?”
“To make you a proposition.”
“Are you making some kind of point regarding my being at an establishment like this?” she demanded, both hands on her waist, not caring that her irritation was on full display. “Is that it? You think you can say anything you like because women who frequent brothels don’t deserve respect?”
His expression changed for a second, as if she’d caught him off guard, but before she could wield another recrimination, he was back to that lazy grin that flustered her so.
He took one step closer to her, and every muscle in her body clenched almost painfully.
“I assure you my opinions on what warrants respect have nothing to do with where a grown adult decides to spend their time.” He was so close now, and there wasso muchof him. Shoulders that looked as though they weathered any storm. His fine evening jacket was a perfect fit, and it strained as he moved. “In fact...” He brought his head down and pinned those hazelnut eyes on hers. “I tend to find that the qualities which polite society deems admirable differ quite drastically from whatoughtto be called so.” They were so close she could see flecks of gold in his irises. Luz fought the urge to press in closer. She should say something, but nothing, not a single word, could pass the knot in her throat.
When he spoke again, the teasing tone from before had completely evaporated. “I also don’t presume to know what the, uh...” he cleared his throat “...unattached, independent modern woman does in her leisure time.” By now the playfulness was gone from his voice. “Are youunattached?”
She did not like the way her skin tightened at the question. This was an excellent moment to walk away, to turn on her heels and run out of this hidden corner. Instead, for some unfathomable reason, she replied.
