Ghostwalker 03 - Night Game

have.”

    She laughed. “I doubt there’s a single other person who would think that. I’m not all that nice, Raoul, and you know I’m not. I have a very low tolerance for certain things.”

    “You look so beautiful with the candlelight playing over your skin. I’m getting a little uncomfortable sitting in this chair.”

    She put down her fork and raised her eyebrow. “Uncomfortable?”

    “Damned uncomfortable.”

    “And just how are you uncomfortable?” Flame leaned her chin on the heel of her hand, looking into his eyes. She loved the way his eyes went dark with need and desire. She loved the stark hunger on his face and the raw sexuality that he exuded. Mostly she loved the way he d told her, straight out, honestly, that he wanted her.

    “Im so hard, cher , I might not be able to walk.”

    Laughter rose up again. Happiness. She felt it burst through her, bright and powerful, driving out worries of a future and leaving her basking in the here and now. Her heart did some fluttering and her muscles clenched in the most delicious way, but most of all, she loved him. Really loved him. And that was a priceless gift. “I’m not even wearing a knife,” she teased. “I’m not wearing anything at all but this towel.”

    He groaned. “That wasn’t nice, Flame. You know I’ve been sittin’ here imagining all sorts of things and then you go and say a thing like that.”

    “It’s rather obvious.”

    “Knowin’ and sayin’ it aloud are two different things.”

    “I want to see.”

    “See?” he echoed, his voice turning hoarse. “You want to see me hard and ready for you?”

    She nodded. “If I’m going to put aside the chance at this great meal for something else, I think I should see what I’m getting.”

    “I’m hearing a bit of a challenge in your voice, femme . You can’t be thinkin’ I’m not up for the task?”

    Flame loved him for that, the playfulness in his voice, the teasing in his eyes. He stood up, shrugging out of his shirt and she drew her breath in sharply at the sight of his chest.
    His hands dropped to his waistband and the air left her lungs in a rush. His body was hard, muscular and compact, and she appreciated every inch of it. He slowly pushed the jeans over his narrow hips so that his thick erection sprang free.

    “I’m definitely up for the task, cher .” His hand circled the broad length of him.

    She moistened suddenly dry lips. There was something sexy about seeing his fist wrapped intimately around his erection. “I’ll need a closer inspection.” She moved around the table, nearly mesmerized by him. His broad shoulders and beautiful male body, the flash of his white teeth when he smiled, but most of all, by his eyes and the way he looked at her.

    There was raw lust. She wouldn’t deny that and in any case it simply added to her excitement. But more than that, there was love. And that was the most powerful aphrodisiac of all. Someone loved her. Not just anyone, but Raoul Fontenot. Her fingertips brushed over him, producing a visible shudder of pleasure.

    He tugged at the knot and her towel fell to the floor. At once he bent his head to her bruised breast. His tongue slipped over the dark smudges with extraordinary gentleness.
    “Does it hurt, Flame?”

    “No.” He continued to look at her steadily. She shrugged. “Well. Maybe a little. It doesn’t hurt when you do that.” He’d been so careful of her. His tongue felt like velvet, his touch light and soothing.

    “Good. I don’ want anything to hurt you tonight. I just want you to feel good.” He reached for her, drew her body against his, needing to feel the softness of her skin and the lush curves that were such a temptation to him. ‘I’m going to make you feel so good, cher
    ,” he murmured, kissing her ear, his mouth wandering down her neck. “No matter how angry you get with me, you’re going to want to forgive me.”

    Flame threw her head back to give him better access to her throat. “Really? You’re going to be so good in bed that every time we argue, I’m going to want to let you win? Or just forgive whatever macho, chauvinistic thing you do?”

    He kissed his way up her chin to the corner of her mouth. “I’m thinkin’ I might be a little on the macho side for a woman with your stubborn streak of independence and I might just get on your bad side occasionally.”

    “Occasionally?”

    He grinned at her. “So let’s just say, I’m goin’ to find other