Chapter 108

 

The air in the back seat was getting warmer by the second.

Outside the windows, the winter night was bitterly cold. Inside the car, the temperature seemed to be climbing with every breath.

Elena shifted beneath Richard's gaze.

"...What?" she muttered. "You're the one who told me to touch."

"I did."

Richard's hand settled at her waist.

"And now you're acting surprised by the consequences."

His palm followed the narrow curve of her waist as he leaned closer, brushing his nose lightly against the side of her neck.

Elena instinctively tensed beneath his touch.

Richard laughed softly.

"Still worried I'm cold?"

Their bodies were pressed close, their faces only inches apart.

"...Not really."

Her voice had gone noticeably softer.

Richard caught the hand that had been exploring his chest and pulled it away.

Before Elena could complain, his other arm circled her waist and lifted her easily onto his lap.

The pleats of her white skirt spread across his dark trousers.

Richard looked at her.

"So you think my stamina is a problem?"

Elena stared back at the unmistakable challenge in his eyes.

"You really can't take a joke, can you?"

Her voice was soft enough to sound almost innocent.

Richard knew better.

She could look perfectly sweet one second and sink her claws into him the next.

He kissed the corner of her mouth.

"You really don't know when to stop, do you?"

His lips moved along her jaw, then down the side of her neck in a trail of slow kisses.

Elena's fingers tightened against his shoulders.

"Who said I wanted to play like this...?"

But being thoroughly outmaneuvered only seemed to awaken her competitive streak.

A mischievous light returned to her eyes.

Elena suddenly wrapped both arms around his neck and pulled herself closer.

Before Richard could react, she bit lightly at the sharp line of his jaw.

Not hard enough to hurt.

Just enough to make a point.

Then the bite softened into a kiss.

One kiss became another as she followed the rough edge of his jaw toward his throat.

Richard went still.

Elena noticed.

Naturally, that encouraged her.

Her lips brushed the prominent line of his throat, and she felt him swallow.

She tucked her face against the open collar of his shirt, pressing a few playful kisses against the warm skin there.

Richard drew in a slow breath.

"Elena."

His hands closed around her waist.

She lifted her head.

"What?"

His eyes were dark.

"Careful, Ellie."

That only made her smile.

Before she could come up with another way to provoke him, Richard shifted their positions.

He leaned back against the wide seat and drew Elena with him until she was sitting in front of him, her back against his chest.

She inhaled sharply.

Richard's body was warm and solid behind her, one arm secure around her waist.

The change in position also gave Elena a clear view of the privacy partition separating them from the front seats.

Someone was still driving.

Of course someone was still driving.

The partition was already raised, but knowing the driver couldn't hear them did very little to make Elena less aware that someone was sitting only a few feet away.

Outside, city lights streamed past the windows.

Inside, the amber-lit cabin suddenly seemed much smaller.

Richard felt her breathing change.

"Nervous?"

His low laugh vibrated against her back.

Elena lifted her chin.

"No."

"Of course not."

His amusement was obvious.

"Stop laughing."

"I'm not."

"You are."

Richard lowered his face and kissed the edge of her ear.

Elena shivered.

Her hand immediately found his.

Richard threaded their fingers together.

His hand almost swallowed hers, his palm rougher and much larger than her own.

The Rolls-Royce turned smoothly through an intersection.

Elena shifted with the movement, and Richard's arm tightened around her automatically, keeping her steady against him.

Their joined hands tightened too.

"You know the partition is up," he murmured near her ear.

Elena glanced toward the front.

"They can't hear us."

"That is not helping."

Richard laughed softly.

The car turned again.

Elena gripped his hand harder.

Richard suddenly sucked in a breath.

She froze.

Then looked down.

His hand was still wrapped around hers, the tendons across the back standing out beneath the skin.

Had she squeezed too hard?

"...Did I hurt you?"

Richard didn't answer immediately.

Elena's expression softened.

She lowered their joined hands and inspected his carefully.

There were faint red marks where her fingers had pressed into his skin.

"Oh."

She bent her head and blew gently across the back of his hand.

Once.

Then again.

"There. That makes it better."

Richard stared at her.

For perhaps the first time that evening, he looked genuinely caught off guard.

The truth was, pain had nothing to do with the sound he had made.

But Elena was looking down at his hand with such sincere concern that something in his chest tightened unexpectedly.

Richard's eyes darkened.

Then, because he was apparently not above taking advantage of the situation, he frowned slightly.

"It does hurt a little."

Elena immediately looked up.

"Really?"

"Mm."

His voice was suspiciously restrained.

"Maybe do that again."

Elena obediently blew on his hand once more.

Then she paused.

Something wasn't right.

Their fingers were still intertwined.

She looked at his hand.

Then slowly raised her eyes.

Richard was watching her.

And there it was.

That tiny trace of amusement hiding in his eyes.

Elena narrowed hers.

"...You're lying."

Richard said nothing.

Her eyes widened.

"You are!"

His mouth twitched.

That was all the confirmation she needed.

"Richard Sterling!"

Elena's face went bright red.

"You liar!"

Before he could defend himself, she grabbed his hand, opened her mouth—

and bit him.