Was I being naive? “Police catch jewel thieves. That’s not impossible.”
“Sometimes they do, but the people behind this theft make my family look like the Brady Bunch.”
I’d let myself be lured in by Lance’s charm. I’d started to believe in my fantasy, but this was real. I was under his control, and he wasn’t going to let me go. Maybe once we got to Remington’s house I’d have more options for escape.
What if he’s right? What if I am in danger? If he’d wanted to hurt me earlier, he could have. He had found me easily, and he was right, anyone else could too.
What the fuck was I going to do? “I really can’t afford to lose my job.”
12
Lancelot
The pain in Julian’s voice cut through me like a knife. I turned into an alley and slammed the car into park. I was ready to explode with a combination of fear, anger, and concern for Julian. I had to make Julian understand his life was in danger. The Carlottis would kill him, and they’d be happy to make him suffer before they did.
“Remington doesn’t live here,” Julian said.
The idea of my fastidious brother living in a dirty alley was so ludicrous I smiled despite the severity of the situation. “No. We need to talk.”
“There’s no point since you don’t listen.”
He had me there. “You’re right. I don’t. I never have.”
“So you’re not likely to start now?”
I shook my head.
“Then I’m done.” Julian reached for the door handle.
I seized his upper arm and yanked him toward me. He fell across the console and used his other hand to brace himself against my chest. When I looked into his eyes, what I saw there broke my self-control. I didn’t see fear or hurt; I saw excitement.
My hands slid into his hair and my lips crashed down on his. He struggled for a moment, then his lips parted, and he groaned, letting himself lean into me.
“Yes,” I whispered against his lips. “This is what you need.”
“Fuck you.” He looked furious now, but he didn’t try to push me away. Instead, he grabbed the front of my shirt and held me against him. I kissed him like I was dying and only he could save me.
I pulled him toward me, sliding my hand under his thighs and trying to get him to straddle me. The position was awkward. There really wasn’t room in the car, especially considering how long his legs were, but somehow he managed. When he looked down at me, I took his face in my hands. “I will not let anyone hurt you.”
“No one except you.”
I growled. “Never me.”
This time he initiated the kiss. I held his hips, dragging him against me, needing to feel his hardness against my own.
I’d been sure there was passion in him. I’d known if I kissed him, he would go up in flames, but this was even better than my fantasy. My hands went to the button of his jeans. I popped it open, then a crash in the alley startled us.
“Shit.” Julian pulled away from me, doing up his pants as he fell back into his seat. “What the hell are we doing?”
This had been inevitable since the moment I’d seen him, but I didn’t say that. I didn’t say anything at all.
I restarted the car as I assessed our surroundings. “I don’t see anyone, do you?”
“No.” His voice was still breathless, and that made me smile. The noise could have been made by a cat or a dog, but I wasn’t taking any chances. I needed to get us out of there and take a roundabout route to Remington’s house.
Julian didn’t say a word as I drove a winding path through the French Quarter. Finally, I pulled up to Remington’s and punched in the code to open the gate.
It would be best to hide my car on the slight chance anyone had followed us. I wished there was room in Remington’s garage, but it was tiny and only had room for his precious Ferrari. He wouldn’t dare park it outside. I cut the engine and reached for my door.
“Is this really Remington’s house?” Julian asked.
“It is. Come on. Let’s go inside.”
“I’m not going to be welcome here.”
“You are if I say you’re mine.”
He scowled at me. “Your what? Your prisoner?”
I scoffed. “No. You’re just… mine.” Initially, I’d used the word to push his buttons, but I realized I meant it. I’d put Julian in danger, and that was reason enough for me to protect him, but there was more than that between us. He was mine, and I had no intention of letting him go.
Julian didn’t say anything. He just looked at me like I was a bug. He was once again the aloof, stick-up-his-ass man he’d been the first time I’d met him, but he couldn’t fool me. Now that I’d kissed him and felt the passion he hid underneath his librarian persona, he wasn’t going to be able to hide who he was. Not from me.