Gift of Gold

nipple. Jonas’s groan of pleasure came from deep in his chest. His legs shifted under the sheet and his fingers tangled in her hair.
    Verity gave herself up to the joy of making love to him. She moved over him with growing delight, tasting him with the tip of her tongue, exploring him with fingers that were sensitive to every reaction they elicited.
    She slid down the length of him, dropping warm, damp kisses in her wake until she reached the rough, curly hair that framed his manhood. Her own red hair spilled across his flat stomach as she boldly brushed her mouth against the pulsing hardness of him. Jonas’s whole body seemed to clench in reaction. His hips lifted, silently pleading for more of the erotic attention.
    Verity obliged willingly, thrilled by his response. It was unbelievably exciting to be able to excite this man. It gave her a heady feeling of feminine power that was unlike anything she had known.
    “Jonas?” she whispered softly.
    He grunted and used his palm against the back of her head to hold her where he wanted her. She took him into her mouth and Jonas sucked in his breath.
    “That’s it, babe,” he gasped. “That’s it.”
    He tasted hot and male and musky. Verity sampled him carefully and then bravely experimented with her teeth.
    “
Verity!
”
    She freed him and scrambled up to sit astride his thighs. Her fingers splayed across his chest as she gripped him firmly with her legs. “How am I doing?” she asked throatily as she eased herself down until he was at the entrance of her small passage.
    Jonas opened his eyes, his expression taut with desire. “Don’t worry,” he muttered, “you have my vote for the Most Wicked Woman of the Year award. Stop tormenting me and get on with the job.”
    Verity laughed down at him and then gasped as he tightened his fingers around her legs and pushed her bent knees farther apart. The action forced her to sink quickly, more quickly than she had planned, and he rose to meet her. He thrust himself swiftly and deeply into her.
    “Talk about wicked seducers,” she complained in a thick, husky tone as she tried to adjust to the sudden intrusion.
    “Show me how much you want me, sweetheart.”
    She obeyed, glorying in the excitement they created between them, loving the feel of him deep inside her and the sense of possession she felt.
    When their tightly wound spring of passion came apart in a shattering release, Verity collapsed across Jonas, clinging to him as if he were a lifeline in a storm. His body shuddered heavily again and again as he poured himself into her, then he held her fiercely against his damp chest.
    When it was all over Verity opened her eyes and accepted the fact that she was in love with Jonas Quarrel. She was contemplating that when she happened to glance at the clock beside the bed.
    “Jonas, the auction! I almost forgot.” Verity lifted herself quickly, slithering to the side of the bed. “Hurry. It’s due to start in an hour.”
    “What the hell are you talking about?”
    She turned at the doorway of the bathroom. “Caitlin’s auction,” she explained impatiently. “Remember? As far as the bidders are concerned, nothing was canceled in spite of all the drama last night. It’s true they all got kicked out of the house, but my guess is they’ll be showing up at the appointed time this morning for the bidding. Those collectors aren’t the kind of people to let a little thing like death and violence get in the way of getting hold of Caitlin Evanger’s last painting. Heck, the story of what happened last night will only make
Bloodlust
more valuable. And when those bidders show up, I have a hunch Caitlin will go ahead with the auction.”
    “So what?” Jonas reluctantly swung his legs over the edge of the bed and winced. His hand went to the bandage on his arm. His expression was distinctly surly.
    Verity ignored his change of mood and went into the bathroom. “So I think Tavi might be right. I think Caitlin will fall apart if she actually sells
Bloodlust.
She’s obsessed with it.”
    “Personally, I do not give a damn.” Jonas appeared in the bathroom doorway.
    “Well, I do. Caitlin has been through too much to go under now.”
    Jonas lounged against the doorjamb. He folded his arms. “You’re going to save her?”
    “If I can.” Verity stepped into the shower just as Jonas swore and muttered something under his breath.
    “What was that?” she called over the roar of the water.
    “I said,” he