Three Fates

leeches.”
    “Malachi, the money doesn’t matter. It’s just—” Tia stopped when he cut her off.
    “So far it’s mostly been yours, hasn’t it? Well, that stops. We’ll have to get in touch with Ma, have her wire some funds over.”
    “You will not.”
    When Tia set her jaw, planted her feet, Gideon wagged a thumb toward the kitchen. Both he and Cleo slid silently out of the range of fire.
    “I’m not living off a woman under any circumstances, but I’m damned if I’ll live off one I’m sleeping with.”
    “We agreed you’ll pay me back. And if you’re so sensitive about me fronting the money while we’re sleeping together, then we can just stop sleeping together.”
    “You think so?” Riding on fury, he grabbed her arm and dragged her toward the bedroom.
    “You stop it. Stop it right now.” She tripped, came right out of her left shoe. “What’s wrong with you? You’re acting like a maniac.”
    “I feel like one.” He slammed the bedroom door behind them, shoved her back against it. “I’m not giving you up, and that’s that.” He crushed his mouth down on hers, and she could all but taste frustration and wounded pride. “And I’m not having you pay for every crust of bread I swallow.”
    She managed to catch a breath. “I bought potato salad, smoked turkey and cannolis. I forgot to pick up a crust of bread.”
    He opened his mouth, closed it again, then just laid his brow on hers. “This isn’t a joke to me.”
    “It should be. There’s a lot more at stake than a grocery bill, Malachi. If you have your mother wire money, it might be traced. It’s just foolish.”
    She ran her hands over his back, kneading the tense muscles through his shirt. “I have money. I’ve always had money. What I’ve never had is someone who cares enough about me to be embarrassed to take it.”
    “I couldn’t stand it if you thought I take you for granted.”
    “I don’t.” Wanting him to see, to know, she framed his face with her hands, lifted it. “You make me feel special.”
    “You were gone so long, I was half mad with worry.”
    “I’m sorry. It’s all so strange. All so strange and wonderful.” She touched her lips to his, lightly, then again when she felt his heart leap against hers.
    Power, she thought, was a lovely thing. She slid her arms around his neck, walked him backward toward the bed.
    “I’m going to seduce you.” She nipped lightly at his jaw. “It’s my first attempt, so you’ll have to forgive any missteps.” She angled her head, rubbing her lips teasingly over his. “How’m I doing so far?”
    “Spot on.”
    She nudged him down to sit on the bed, then straddled his lap. “About the money,” she whispered as she unbuttoned his shirt.
    “What money?”
    She laughed, spread his shirt open, then ran her hands possessively over his chest. “I can always charge you interest.”
    “All right. Whatever.”
    “And penalties,” she said, then scraped her teeth over his shoulder. She eased back, peeled off her jacket, but when he reached for the buttons of her blouse, she brushed his hands away.
    “No, let me. You just watch.”
    “I want to touch you.”
    “I know.” She loosened the blouse slowly. “I love knowing it.”
    She shrugged off the blouse, rose onto her knees to unhook her trousers. “Lie back,” she urged, nibbling at his lips once more.
    She let her mouth roam, imagining his body as a lovely, private feast. When her tongue slicked over his belly, she felt his muscles tremble.
    He was already hard, already desperate. And he knew she wanted to lead the way. He struggled to lie passive as she undressed him, not to simply grab and take as she slowly stripped him.
    When she used her mouth, he choked back a groan and fisted his hands in the bedspread.
    His mind emptied, then filled with her.
    Soft skin, hot mouth, eager hands, and that subtle, quiet scent he would always associate with her; the combination flooded him with need for her.
    At the sounds of pleasure that purred out of her throat as she nibbled on him, heat washed into his blood, dewed his skin. She slid over him, around him.
    He was drenched in her. Drowning.
    She could feel his heart galloping. Almost taste the frenzied beat as she skimmed her lips over his chest. It was a marvel to see how his body quivered even as he clung to control, as he held himself back so she could do the taking.
    It was a revelation to know she could take what she wanted, as she wanted. As long as she