Louisiana Moon (22 page)

Glancing around the room, she spied Darin. He moved from one person to the next, rubbing shoulders with a few who attended these types of events as often they changed their socks. He made her proud, and she smiled. Maybe the regulars would donate more with him making the rounds. It sounded greedy, she already had a lot, but the money went to a good cause.

“You have done such a wonderful job with this event, Ms. Knight.” An elderly lady on the other side of the table leaned forward as she spoke.

Kris turned her attention to the woman, who held out a fifty-dollar bill in her fragile hand.

“Thank you,” Kris said as she accepted the money. “This dinner means a lot to me. It’s my way of giving back to the community.” If only the woman knew how she’d lost her loved ones, then she’d have an idea of how much this event affected Kris.

The woman dug into her wallet, withdrawing a one hundred dollar bill. Then the lady stuffed both bills in the jar. Kris smiled. “Thank you so much. Would you like a receipt?”

Waving, the woman replied, “No dear, this comes from my heart too.” She nodded and ambled to the refreshment table.

Kris wrote the donation down to keep track of the funds. A wad of cash landed on the paper she worked over. She glanced at the pile and fought to keep her mouth from dropping open with shock. She looked up. With a divine smile that lit up his face, Ryant stood over her.

Handsome as ever, full of thriving life, his flushed face made her heart skip a beat. “This is the other half of the money, plus more. I thought you deserved it for putting together this great event.” He peered around the room, and turned slowly back to her. Tawny eyes with a sunburst center gazed at her with warmth and hunger before he shuttered the expression then stuffed both hands in his pants pockets.

“What are you doing here?” Even as her fingers itched to snatch up the money, she held fast.

“I’ve given you more than that woman who just gave you a couple of bills. I’m entitled to be here.”

Kris narrowed her eyes. “She gave from the heart.”

Ryant raised a brow and placed a hand over his heart. “As do I.”

“But you have an ulterior motive. And I never said I would help you.”

“Oh, I know you will. I want Stanley before the sheriff.”

How does he know I was contacted?

“I have my ways. You can’t hide anything from me.”

His arrogant response wouldn’t affect her. She knew he tried his best, looking devilishly handsome. A warm, cinnamon scent swirled around her. Was it from Ryant or the white chocolate cinnamon cookies? She preferred the cookies.

He chuckled and she flashed a glare at him. “I’m also here for the wine,” he continued as he obviously planned to ignore her thoughts. As he turned to look around the room, she noticed the exact moment he saw Darin. Ryant stiffened and his lips pressed into a thin line. He inhaled. “I see you brought the human.”

“Yes, I did. Is that a problem?” Tilting back her head, she studied Ryant and waited to see what he would do. “Don’t think you will ruin this event for me.”

“I plan to do nothing.”

Kris crossed her forearms beneath her breasts, resting her arms on the table. “If you do anything, anything at all, I will make sure you pay the price.”

Ryant leaned forward, closer, just inches from her. “I will not do such a thing.” His tawny eyes held a gleam. His stare deepened, turning a warm shade of gold which filled her with a burning fire of need.

Not bothering to ask what he had done, Kris only gazed into his eyes. She didn’t take her sight off him even when her mind went blank. A tranquilizing effect quivered slowly through her body, settling in her toes. The warm sensation took her to a beach with blue waves washing onto a brilliant white shoreline. The scent of coconut filled her senses.

When she leaned closer, she could see her eyes reflected in his dark gold ones and she watched her glassy blues slowly turn a glowing gold, mimicking his. How could her eyes turn a different color?

Darin cleared his throat.

A few seconds passed before she shook her head and looked in his direction. She hadn’t seen him come up next to her.

His eyes narrowed. “Are you all right, Kris?”

She smiled. “Sure. I’m fine. Why?”

Look at me, Kris
. She did. Ryant grinned. His stare was kind and his face relaxed.

“Kris, look at me,” Darin’s voice was low.

No, only look at me.
Ryant’s voice echoed once more. She did as he commanded and placed both hands on the table and leaned toward him, longing for the press of his mouth against hers.

She jumped at the touch of a hand covering hers. “Kris?”

Shaking her head clear from the fog, she looked at Darin. His brown eyes watched her with concern. “I’m fine. Come on. I think you need a break.” She stood. A waiter passed just then. With a frown at Ryant, she snagged a drink from the tray. “Here. You need a drink.”

Ignoring the hurt in his eyes, she got her own drink then grabbed Darin’s hand, pulling him with her to the terrace. The fresh, crisp night blew away the cobwebs in her mind, pushing aside Ryant’s affect on her. What the hell had happened? He’d never been able to mesmerize her like that.

“Kris, are you okay?”

She gave Darin a slight grin and inhaled long, even draws of air deep into her lungs as she kneaded her temples. “I believe so.”

“What was that all about?”

“I really don’t know. One minute I’m warning Ryant and the next, I’m drooling over him.” She swallowed hard. Her loss of control freaked her out. What else could the bastard do?

“Do you need to go home?”

“No. I have to be here to see the fundraiser through. It’s important to me.”

“Okay, well, I’m here for you. Don’t forget that.”

I’m here for you too.
Ryant’s low voice weaved through her mind like a cool, shallow brook after a spring rainfall.

She closed her eyes and took in a shuddering breath.

Do you feel me, Kris? Over you, in you?

She did and didn’t know what to do. Her body hummed with sensation of his hands moving over her body, almost as if he were there in front of her.

There you go. Feel me, let me touch you. Become mine once again.

His once again? What did he try to pull? She could never allow him to know she had emotions for him. Or about the love that had crept back into her heart.

You love me?

Great.

I can now hear you no matter what, my love.

Kris looked at Darin. “We have to go back inside. I need to auction off the raffle for a free service before the last dance begins.”
Ryant, stay out of my head,
she growled.

I can’t promise that.

Back inside, she raffled off the prize for a private investigation and the winner accepted with pride and asked for a picture. Through the camera flashes from the local press, Darin stood to the right of the room by the exit, and Ryant stood to the left by the DJ.

Applause filled the room after the last photo. A familiar song played over the loud speakers—
You’re Still the One.
Couples poured onto the dance floor for the slow dance.

As she moved away from the winner, Ryant was at the bottom of the stage, his hand outstretched. The wicked smile on his lips told her he knew she couldn’t refuse in a room full of people. She placed her hand in his and smiled back. Could the crowd see the fakeness?

He twirled her to the middle of the floor as if they were the only ones left in the whole room. He mouthed the words,
You’re still the one that I love, the only one I dream of.
Leaning down, he placed a light kiss on her lips.

She pulled back her head and stared at him in amazement. A public display of affection? From Ryant? He’d never done so before, believing that what went on between two people needed to stay private. But the kiss? Why would he want witnesses? The realization dawned on her. Not
them
, he wanted to make
Darin
witness the display. A freaking show of ownership; not anything real.

“Are you sure about that?”

“What do you mean?”

“I can feel the love surrounding you. You’re so hardheaded. I know you love me.”

“I sure as hell don’t want to show or say it.”

They continued swaying as other couples moved around them.

“Just admit it.”

“No.” The song slowed, neared the end, meaning she’d have her freedom.

Admit it.
His low voice rumbled through her mind.

Kris glared at him. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

“I won’t lose you. Come stay at my place tonight. The human will be fine on his own.”

The song ended. Thank the gods. She didn’t care that he heard her. She slipped out of Ryant’s hold. “Ryant, you have to leave now. I can’t have you here. You’re distracting me, and it isn’t doing me any good.”

“You’re not safe without me. The human can’t do anything to protect you. He can do nothing for you.”

The scent of charcoal fluttered in the air with the southern breeze. Kris glanced around, trying to locate the point of the smell. Her nerves would never rest until the last Soulscape was banished into their cozy boxes under the ground where they belonged.

“You smell them too,” he said. “I’m sure they’re close, keeping a watchful eye on you. Waiting to snag you.”

“The event is winding down, and I need you to leave. I’ll be okay for the remainder of the evening. They are not going to do anything with this many people around. They don’t want humans knowing about the preternatural anymore than we do.”

Ryant took hold of one of her brown locks, smoothed his fingers over the strands to the ends. His gaze moved up to the barrette. “Is that the piece I bought you many decades ago?”

She bit her bottom lip. “Yes.”

“You treasure the piece as much as I treasure you?”

“I like the piece. It’s a touch of the past.”

“The past that involved me?”

How could she answer that question? She threw her hands up in the air and gazed off to the left of the statues. She didn’t have time for this reunion, rehashing their past. There were other things at stake, big things.

Ryant tugged her curl until she faced him. His expression held love, how he felt for her now very clear. Even though she didn’t want to read more into it, she couldn’t help but study his face. At the familiar planes and strong lines and the sunburst lighting up already bright eyes. His gaze held concern as he asked, “You really want me to leave?”

“Yes.”

“Kiss me.”

Hunger flowed through her as she stared at his mouth. Resistance waned and she licked her lips. The beast stirred. If she kissed him, what would happen next?

Ah hell. Like she had with Darin, but with an entirely different reason and purpose, she grabbed Ryant’s hand and pulled him after her. Once on the terrace, she made sure no one was around then clasped his shoulders and dragged him against her until her lips captured his.

He cupped her ass, lifted and gripped her against his body, into the very obvious hunger he had for her. He swept deep into her mouth and she sucked on his tongue, satisfied when he moaned. A mind-numbing haze took over when he lowered his mouth to her neck, lightly pricked her skin with his teeth then the warm moistness of his tongue glided over the punctures. This was the first time since their current reunion she had let him taste her blood. The feeling was erotic. He brought out her old self, young and free to be with him. Unchained, and able to release the beast inside her.

What was she thinking?

Moving her neck from the intoxication of his lips, Kris pushed him. “There’s your kiss. Please leave.”

He leaned down to give the wound a final lick, and she stepped back. His head hung low over the now vacant spot he’d been devouring. He licked the last essence of her from his lips.

“I’ve got to go count the money.” Not saying goodbye, she turned and walked away.

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