Cursed (19 page)

     Abel smiled thinly
and nodded. “Not at all. I’m a generous man. To a point.” A thread of warning
laced Abel’s words.

     Cullinan looked back
at Tess. “Good, it’s settled then. I won’t be long.”

     Tess watched
Cullinan leave and wondered what he was thinking. How could he just walk up to
them like that and blatantly throw the gauntlet at Abel’s feet? Why had she
agreed to dance with him? He’d already fanned the flames of her attraction to
him with his mere presence. What would happen when they danced and she found
herself back in his arms again? Would she fall as helplessly in love with him
as she had before?

     “Well, your friend
certainly has balls, I’ll give him that.”

     Abel’s unusually
crass statement drew Tess from her thoughts. She touched Abel’s arm. “I’m
sorry, Abel. If you’d rather I didn’t dance with him.”

     Abel shrugged. “No,
of course not.” He took her empty glass. “I’ll go get us some more drinks.”

     Tess debated her
decision to dance with Cullinan while he made his announcement and instructed
the guests how to bid on the jewelry. Before she could think of a plausible
excuse to back out of it, he returned to her side and swept her out onto the
dance floor. They moved slowly among the clusters of other dancers while the
music flowed around them in a melodic stream.

     Being in Cullinan’s
arms made her heart pant like a wild thing in her chest trying to break free
from its cage. Tingles raced over her skin and dipped into her stomach. Her
hand felt small and delicate in Cullinan’s large palm, but his touch was
different from Abel’s, more self-assured and confident. His caress stroked the
knot of uncertainty she held inside silently and asked her to trust him.
Feeling his gaze on her, she looked up at him and nearly drowned in his golden
eyes. The corners of his lips tipped upward. “Why are you looking at me like
that?”

     “Because you’re
still so beautiful.”

     No way would she let
his words get to her. Her gaze stayed fixed on his while her anger slowly built
like a winter storm simmering over the mountains. “Cullinan, don’t.” His smile
faded at her sharp tone. “I heard about the shooting in Washington Park on the
news. My heart stopped while I listened and watched your picture and Hope’s
flash on the screen. You were damn lucky neither of you were harmed.” She
remembered sinking to the sofa in relief. “But you could have been.
Both
of
you could be dead. Given your past inclinations toward rescuing damsels in
distress, at least
you
for sure.” Seething, she squeezed his hand,
letting her nails bite into his skin. “Did you play hero and push Hope out of
harm’s way?”

     He frowned at her.
“So what if I did? She’s my sister.”

     Her fury spewed
inside her like a raging blizzard. “You could have been killed.” Her voice
grated with icy fear.

     When several people
glanced in their direction, Cullinan pulled her closer to him until his mouth
hovered next to her ear. She tried to shift away but he wouldn’t let her. “Take
it easy. The murderer wasn’t after either of us.” His voice was low and gentle.

     She’d heard that
tone whenever he lowered his head to kiss her or when he nestled her next to
his body after they’d made love. The memory of it made her heart ache to let
him hold her like that again, but she refused to give into it.

     He raised his head
and gave her an appraising look. “Would you have cared if I had died that day?”

     Shock rolled over
her anger and she blinked in surprise. “How can you ask such a thing? Of course
I would care.”

     He caressed her
cheek with the tip of his finger. “Because I’m Hope’s brother or because you
still care for me, Cullinan, the man?” His voice was soft and controlled but
tinged with desire.

     Her emotions were
such a jumble. He pulled her one way and Abel yanked her in the opposite
direction. One represented safety and the other excitement. Didn’t women want
both? What did she want? There was nothing safe about Cullinan. Yet he always
summoned emotion from the depths of her soul.

     In the periphery of
her vision, she saw Abel dancing with a woman from his office. Tess had been
out to lunch once and had drinks another night with Abel, but she’d felt
nothing except friendship and warmth. He never drew such emotion from her—not
like Cullinan did.

     “Answer my
question.” Cullinan’s voice drew her out of her thoughts and back to him.

     She looked at him,
knowing she could deny it no longer.

She’d love him for the rest of her life. The
wall of denial she’d worked years to construct around her vulnerable heart
suddenly toppled. “I care about you, Cullinan, the man.” Saying the words aloud
permeated her with emotional strength she never knew she had, a strength that
only Cullinan could give her.

     To her utter
surprise, she watched tears pool in his eyes. “Thank God.” He murmured the
words, drew her close to him and kissed her lightly on the cheek.

     She listened to his
deep sigh.

     “I have something to
show you.”

     Tess looked up at
him and arched a brow as a delicious sensation of desire curled through her.
“Really.”

     Almost unbearable
anticipation glinted in his eyes. “Yes, really, but that’s not what I mean. At
least not now.” He paused for a moment. “I have your necklace.”

     His tone was so soft
she almost didn’t hear him. When his words finally penetrated her brain, she
stiffened a moment in his arms before they continued to dance. “Here? Now?”

     “Yes.”

     She looked him over,
half expecting to see the pendant hanging from a pocket. “Why don’t you give it
to me?”

     He grinned. “I’d
like to, believe me.”

     Tess knew he wasn’t
referring to her necklace. Wet heat gathered between her thighs.

     “It’s strapped to my
inner thigh at the moment.”

     “It’s strapped to
your—” Right next to his... Tess felt the blush burn over her neck as if he
knew the sensuality he stirred to life within her body.

     A smile curved his
lips. “That’s right.” His amusement at her discomfort morphed into a more
serious expression. “I have something to tell you and I need you to listen.
Your necklace is part of a bigger picture.”

     Tess frowned.
“Bigger picture? What do you mean?” Her heart skipped a beat.

     “I’ve never told
anyone this. I swore to my father I would keep his secret, but I have to tell
you now.” The urgency in his voice silenced her.

     Tess listened as
Cullinan related a fantastic story about the pendant’s curse and belonging to a
saint and how his father was a member of a mysterious Order of the Dove. Her
mind reeled at his words. “Are you saying you believe Quinn died that day
because of a curse?” She shook her head. “That’s ridiculous. I don’t believe
it.” Despite her protest, deep inside she
almost
believed him. “He died
because of a bunch of terrorists. Nothing more.” She pulled away from him. “Why
would you make up such a story?”

     He pressed his lips
together and stared into her eyes. “Listen to me. It’s not a story. It’s the
truth. I promised my father I would continue to search for the pendant until
the day I died. If I found it, I would return it to the church of Saint Columba
in Scotland. I traced some of the previous owners. They all came to a violent
end. Even Marie Antoinette.”

     Tess cocked her head
to the side. “What has she got to do with it?”

     “She was one of the
owners and you know what happened to her.”

     Tess lifted her hand
and laid it at the base of her throat.

     Cullinan smiled.
“Don’t worry. The curse only affects those who purchase the necklace.” His
smile faded. “Hope and I are leaving tonight for Scotland. We have a private
plane waiting at Centennial airport. I want you to come with us.”

* * *

     Nick walked slowly
along the perimeter of the ballroom, trying to keep an eye on the jewels and
yet mix with the partygoers. His rented tuxedo might as well have been a
straightjacket. He wanted to loosen the bow tie at his throat but he resisted.
Damn, he wanted to be anywhere but here. Then he saw Hope.

     She looked gorgeous
in a red form-fitting gown with her hair twisted up and earrings dangling from
her ears. He remembered the taste of those ears, the texture and scent she’d
dabbed behind them to tease him. He watched her chatting with an older woman.
She took a sip of her drink and laughed at something the lady said. Hope’s gaze
locked onto his. He saw a flash of surprise followed by heat. Even from a
distance, she drew him as though she’d tied a golden rope of desire around his
heart. When she moved even slightly her gown glittered and her earrings
shimmied seductively. Her curves called to him. Memories of the incredible sex
they’d shared in the conservatory while overhead meteors showered the night sky
almost overwhelmed him. All sparkle and light.

     She temptingly
licked her lips then excused herself from the woman. As she walked toward him,
she stared at him. Her hips shifted with each step, making him grow hard. Her
low-cut dress revealed a generous amount of cleavage. Her skin looked rosy
under the lights. He knew that it was soft like heated silk. When she stopped
next to him, he had to ball his hands into fists at his sides to keep from
crushing her against his chest.

     “Nick, I’m surprised
to see you here.” Her voice was a low purr.

     “I’m part of the
security detail. The department had a tip that the Dove might strike again.
There’s a lot of bling here tonight not only on the carousel but around many
necks. With your brother here anything could happen.”

     She seemed to devour
him with her eyes. “Cullinan hosts this event every year. If he were the
Dove—which he isn’t—there’s no way he would steal from a charity that’s
dedicated to helping children.” A bite of irritation colored her voice and
fueled his arousal.

     “Maybe, maybe not.”
He took her hand and threaded his fingers through hers, pressing their palms
firmly together, letting the need he felt for her rise in his blood. “But I
don’t want to talk about your brother right now. I want you in my arms. Let’s
dance.”

     When Nick curved his
arm around her waist he felt his skin grow tight and a sense of restlessness
he’d felt for years settled inside him. He wanted to bring her hand to his
mouth and kiss her fingers the way he had the other night but he wouldn’t. He
was a cop trying to catch her brother and she was an A.D.A. For the benefit of
the people around them, they had to appear as acquaintances, or friends at
most. There was no reason why he couldn’t tell her what he was thinking and
feeling or what he wanted. He rubbed his thumb over the top of her hand. “Have
I told you yet how gorgeous you look?”

     She smiled slightly.
“No, but thank you. You look damn pretty yourself.”

     “Pretty? No way.
Cops don’t look pretty.”

     “Sorry, pretty boy,
how about handsome.” She reached out and fingered the lapel of his  
jacket. “Even delicious.”

     The sound of her
voice reminded him of her husky pleading tones as she begged him for release on
the banyan platform. He shifted closer to her and arched a brow. “Good enough
to eat?”

     A cute blush burned
over her cheeks. “Nick, please someone might hear you.”

     Her scent drove him
crazy. She wore the same one the other night. He saw the desire bloom in her
eyes, the heat. She remembered and she was aroused.

     He pulled her even
closer. Her eyes widened and her lips parted. “Don’t worry; I’m not  
going to kiss you in the middle of the dance floor. If I did I’d strip that
dress off of you and I wouldn’t stop until every inch of me was buried inside
you.”

     Her eyes darkened
and her chest heaved slightly, tempting him with her cleavage, but she remained
silent.

     “I won’t put my
tongue in your mouth and taste you the way I’m dying to right now. Smile like I
just said something funny or the people dancing around us might think we’re
more than just friends.”

     “We aren’t more than
just friends. We had sex. Big deal. People have sex all the time.”

     Husky and slightly
tremulous, her voice mocked her words.

     Nick laughed when he
saw the lie in her eyes. “Baby,” he said in a voice intended only for her ears,
“do you lick all of your male friends’ cocks the way you licked mine?”

     The blush on her
cheeks deepened. Her nipples puckered invitingly beneath the silky material of
her gown. Her lips parted on a quick indrawn breath. “Stop it.” Her whisper
held little conviction.

     “I didn’t think so.”

     Hope nodded at a
couple who danced past them.

     Something occurred
to him, a fact he hadn’t considered until that moment and it made him want to
hold her and make love to her again even more. “You’ve never been that bold
with a man, have you?”