Chapter 78
"Babe, that dress, that smile, your perfume, your hand on me, knowin' I can get right to your nipple just sliding a hand inside that slit because I can tell you're not wearing a bra, you want this done tonight, you best go get your bag too. You don't do that and fast, you're gonna be bent over the sink, Jo is gonna get an earful and we're gonna be way f.u.c.kin' late," he growled.
I felt a lovely tingle as my eyelids lowered and my smile changed, but, wisely, I moved away from him to enter the bedroom where my reticule was on the bed.
I did this deciding to share with him that I'd very much like to engage in the activity he'd threatened me with.
However, I'd do that later too.
I was making sure I had everything I needed, s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g the cap shut firmly and sliding the lip gloss I still held into a side pocket of the little clutch when Noc spoke again.
I looked to him as he did so and saw he'd turned my way and was leaning his shoulder into the doorjamb, watching me.
"You wanna tell me why Valentine has all but disappeared?"
I did.
Yet I didn't.
"She's seeing to business, Noc. She'd been in my old world training me for some time. Being home, there's much she needs to catch up on."
This was not a complete lie for Valentine had told me that same thing.
I watched Noc's regard turn penetrating.
"Just to say, gorgeous," he started in a low tone, "anytime you keep somethin' from me, no matter what it's about, you better have a really f.u.c.kin' good reason."
"She's lost a lover," I whispered.
I saw Noc's body come alert as he bit out, "f.u.c.k. Breakup? Or...lost?"
"I don't believe he's lost lost," I answered. "Just lost to her. She's quite heartsick."
That, he looked like he didn't believe. "Valentine? Heartsick?"
I nodded.
"f.u.c.k," he repeated, quieter this time.
"I, well, women tend to-"
He shook his head, pus.h.i.+ng away from the jamb and coming to me. "Say no more, Frannie." He made it to me and put a hand to my waist. "That's you lookin' after your girl. I don't need to know her business. In other words, you keepin' her situation to yourself is a really good reason."
He understood.
And I loved that.
I smiled up at him again.
He looked to my smile then he dipped his head and put his lips to it.
When he lifted away, he asked, "You ready to go?"
"I have been for several days now, my dearest." I tipped my head to the side. "Are you?"
He gave a slight shrug, stepped away but grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the door stating, "As ready as I'll ever be."
We collected Josette.
Noc helped us both into his SUV (for Josette was wearing heels as well this night and she actually needed his a.s.sistance as she didn't have near as much practice as me).
Then he drove us to the restaurant where Dax Lahn would meet his Circe.
I sat mostly in silence as we rode, listening with half an ear to Josette chattering and Noc interjecting every once in a while.
I did this because I was relis.h.i.+ng my antic.i.p.ation for what was to come and tamping down my impatience that it would not come faster.
There was nothing better than the time before your carefully laid plans played out.
In other words, I could not wait.
I aimed my behind toward the seat as Noc held out my chair for me.
Drinks and final explanations to Dax out of the way, my generous donation would be anonymously forwarded to First Mother House in the next week.
We'd met Patricia, and a check Noc showed me how to write for fifty thousand dollars that I'd be presenting to her that night was in my bag.
All seemed to be going well.
Dax was being friendly and respectful.
And after
I wasn't certain if Dax had worn him down and gained his trust with his manner, but Noc was no longer eyeing him with unhidden intensity. This was something that Dax, at first, seemed to take as his due (likely as he'd expect I would share the awkwardness of our first meeting with Noc and Noc would react to that). When his friendliness to Josette and myself didn't diminish Noc's focus, it caused Dax's alertness to increase until the sheer maleness wafting around us felt like it might cause me to choke.
Josette did very well at hiding it (from all but me, then again, neither man was paying much mind to Josette considering they were using so much of their own to size each other up) but I saw she found this amusing.
I did not.
Although it was attractive, from both men, especially Noc because I knew why he was behaving in such a way, it went on so long, it was also trying.
Fortunately, Patricia arrived. We met her. She was lovely. Her addition to our party meant the men were forced to be outwardly civil to each other. And not long after we were told our table was ready.
The problem was, Circe had not yet arrived and she was supposed to do just that ten minutes ago.
I sat but tipped my head back to look up at Noc who was standing behind me with his hand on my chair.
"I think I may need to text someone, darling," I murmured.
"Leave it," he said.
"Noc-"
He bent toward me.
"Circe got a crystal ball too?" he asked in a voice only I could hear.
Oh b.a.l.l.s.
Would she look into it to see us, or where we were to have dinner to ascertain what she should wear (something I would do), or for any reason, therefore see Dax and decide not to come?
"Perhaps," I answered.
"Then leave it," Noc repeated. "If she figured out what you're up to, we'll put that fire out later. Now, I'm hungry. I want to eat. I want this night done. And I want you in that dress at my house, just you and me."
I pressed my lips together.
He touched his to my jaw, straightened, pushed my chair to the table and then took his seat beside me.
I set my purse on the table beside my place setting, noting that as Noc and I spoke Dax had helped Josette and Patricia to their seats. Now he was watching Noc and me both closely.
When his regard finally settled only on me, he did not look alert and attuned to any action of the other alpha in his proximity.
His look was kind and warm, clearly communicating he was pleased I had such a protector after all he'd a.s.sumed I'd suffered.
Taking in that look, I gave him a small smile, hiding the triumph I felt inside for he was just perfect for Circe at the same time hiding a far more irritable thought.
This being...where the b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l was Circe?
"We seem to have an extra chair," Patricia noted.
"Yes, we do," Josette said quickly. "I forgot to mention, we invited a friend of ours. I hope you don't mind. We thought she, too, would be interested in the work you do."
Patricia smiled at Josette. "I don't mind. I'd shout about the First Mother House from the rooftops if I could."
I smiled at her benignly as she spoke.
Then I felt something. Something sudden and something fierce. It made me look away from Patricia and cut my eyes to Dax.
When I did, I felt my insides seize.
"s.h.i.+t, f.u.c.k," Noc muttered under his breath.
He felt it too.
Or saw it.
Or both.
Dax had been in the process of flipping open his menu.
He was no longer in this process.
Indeed, I didn't think he even knew he held a menu in his hand.
Indeed, I didn't think he even knew he was seated at a table in an eating establishment with company.
His eyes were locked at a point across the room.
And his expression was...
Well it was...
Savage.
I felt another tingle as I tore my gaze from him and looked across the room.
At what I saw, I nearly crowed aloud with delight.
Circe was wearing a champagne-colored dress with a tiered skirt made of the most extraordinary lace, an unusual embroidered bodice and very thin straps. It was delicate, chic, but flirty.
And obviously expensive.
Someone had been using their treasure well and it wasn't just me.
Her hair was down in a tousled riot of curls that fell over her shoulders and even in her face.
Which was what she was seeing to as she moved toward our table, flipping her hair out of her eyes in a manner I'd seen several times from women espousing hair products during what Noc explained were "commercials" on the television.
Her makeup glinted with peachy-bronze beauty.
She was divine.
That was, she was divine until she got her hair out of her face, started to drop her hand, looked fully at our table with a smile, and obviously just then noticed one particular member of our party.
Thus she tripped.
Badly.
Her bag held in one hand went flying, her other hand went out to find purchase to save herself from falling and caught on a seated, elderly man's shoulder.
He cried out in surprise as he took some of her weight.
Noc grunted, "s.h.i.+t, f.u.c.k," and I felt his movements.
I looked his way to see he was pus.h.i.+ng his chair back, preparing to go in aid of Circe.
He was too late.