Rue Toulouse (5 page)

“Thanks. I thought we’d never get it finished.”

Caterine glanced at all the guests. “How many people did you invite?”

Elaine chuckled. “Honestly, I lost track. Paul kept adding his cop friends and guys from his security company to my list, and I don’t know half of them.”

“But isn’t that what’s fun about a masked ball, not knowing who the mystery person is you’re talking to? What’s better yet, you can do and say things you’d never consider doing or saying because they also don’t know who you are. As the saying goes,
laissez les bons temps rouler
.”

Elaine coughed, almost choking on her champagne. “Wait a minute. Back up. Did I just hear you say,
let the good times roll
?”

Caterine nodded. “I can’t get what happened with Jonathan out of my mind, and I’ve decided that tonight the old Caterine doesn’t exist. Since I’m in disguise, this is the perfect opportunity to prove to myself that Jonathan and those other men are wrong.”

Elaine cocked her head. “Okay, what exactly do you have in mind?”

Caterine grinned. “If I meet someone who makes my pulse quicken and my toes curl . . .” She shrugged. “Who knows? Tonight the ice princess may melt away.”

A wide smile spread across Elaine’s face. “Good for you. If I’m not mistaken, your chance might be coming this way. Good luck.”

Chapter Four

Before Caterine could respond, Elaine disappeared into the crowd. She turned in the direction Elaine had been looking and caught her breath. The man dressed entirely in black coming toward her reminded her of a dangerous outlaw from a past century. Lean and muscular, he stood close to six foot. He wore a loose, long-sleeved, V-necked shirt, snug pants, and low boots. As he walked, his body language exuded confidence, power, and incredible sex appeal.

The closer he got, the harder her heart pounded.
Okay, take a deep breath. You can do this. He doesn’t know who you are; if you make an idiot out of yourself, it won’t matter.

“Hello, Princess. I believe this dance is ours,” he said, his bayou cadence low and sultry.

Bereft of speech, she could only stare into the thick-lashed, deep blue eyes behind the handsome stranger’s black bandit mask.

He flashed white teeth in a sensuous grin. “I’m not mistaken am I,
cher
? You looked so beautiful standing there glittering, I assumed you must be a fairy princess.”

She swallowed hard, hoping her voice was steady. “I’m sorry to disappoint you,
monsieur
, but I’m not a fairy princess. I’m known as an
ice
princess. But who knows, I still might be able to grant you a wish.”

“No,
cher
.” He stepped closer. Gently placing his fingers under her chin, he tilted her head back to gaze directly into her eyes. “Whoever said you were an ice princess wasn’t man enough to release your heat. Grant me my wish and I’ll do just that.”

When the meaning of his words managed to pierce her addled brain, her face flushed with embarrassment. How was she supposed to respond? This kind of flirtatious banter was way out of her league.

As their eyes locked and held, a gasp lodged in her throat. It couldn’t be. It had to be her imagination. But as a remembered thrill of excitement shot through her, she knew he was the same man who’d come to her rescue earlier. By the surprise in his eyes, clearly he’d recognized her as well. My God, had Elaine actually gone back and found him? Best friend or not, this was too much.

A slow smile spread across his face. “Well, it seems we meet again.”

Mortified from her head to her toes, Caterine opened and closed her mouth but nothing came out.

He chuckled. “This is one helluva coincidence.”

Caterine blinked. Could this truly be an incredible coincidence and Elaine had nothing to do with it? She had to know. She licked dry lips and asked, “Did you come on your own or did my friend from this morning invite you?” As she watched, confusion, then annoyance, filled his eyes.

“I’m not crashing the party, Princess. And I’ve never met your friend.”

At that moment, she wished the floor would open and swallow her whole. Not knowing what else to do, she put her hand on his arm. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. You see it was my friend, she . . .”

He took her hand in his and the contact ignited a spark that left her body trembling. Never in her life had she experienced such a reaction to a man’s touch. When his hand tightened over hers, she wondered if he could feel it as well.

“Come on, Princess, let’s dance.” Not waiting for her reply, he guided her onto the floor.

Her head spinning, Caterine wasn’t aware the band was playing a waltz until he put his strong arm around her waist, guiding her into the dance. As he twirled and dipped her around the crowded room, she felt as if she were floating across the polished wood floor.

“That was wonderful. Thank you,” she said when the dance came to an end.

“My pleasure, but we can’t stop now.” He held her tight against him as the band began to play a sexy blues number.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, losing herself in the music and the gentle sway of his body, banishing everyone else from the room. She laid her head against his chest, inhaling his spicy scent, wanting to bury her nose in the soft hair visible in the open collar of his shirt.

“You’re so sweet,
ma petite
,” he whispered into her ear as he held her tighter.

The sound of his voice and his warm breath sent a chill of delight dancing across her skin.

“I’m in luck. They’re playing another slow one. I get to hold you close a little longer.”

She smiled into his eyes. “I don’t mind.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

As their bodies touched, a kaleidoscope of emotions whirled through Caterine. The urge to abandon herself in this man’s arms both thrilled and terrified her. As if with minds of their own, her fingers ran through the silky hair at the base of his neck.

“
Vous vous sentez si bien
,” he murmured and lightly kissed the sensitive skin below her ear. “You feel so good.”
 

She thought about devouring his sexy lips with hers, but thankfully, the music came to an end before she disgraced herself in the middle of the dance floor.

“They’re picking up the tempo, and as much as I’d like to stand here with you in my arms, we’d better move or join in. Come on, Princess, let’s do it.”

“Wait. I’m not sure. I-I can’t.” Caterine squealed as he led her into a Cajun two-step.

Breathless as the music came to an end, she laughed delightedly. “You certainly dance well.”

With a wicked grin, he whispered, “When it comes to pleasing a lovely lady, I try to do everything well.”

Caterine couldn’t hold back a smile. “Oh, I’ll bet you do.”
 

They had stepped away from the dancers and accepted glasses of water from a passing waiter. “Now,
monsieur
, shouldn’t you introduce yourself?”

“My apologies for being so remiss.” He stepped back and gave her a gallant bow. “Jean Lafitte at your service.”

She grinned. “A pirate. I should have known.”

“Do you not like pirates?”

“I can’t say I’ve ever met one, but I’ve heard they can be rather dangerous.”

A slow smile spread across his face. “A little danger can be exciting, Princess.”

Again he was standing close, filling her senses with his seductive voice and spicy cologne. The heat from his body had Caterine imagining being held in his arms on a sun-drenched beach while turquoise water lapped around their feet. His mouth was now inches from hers.
 

“Come away with me and I’ll show you.”

Come away with him.
Oh, yes, how she’d love to run away with this pirate. Caterine’s fevered imagination now had them in each other’s arms on the deck of a gently rocking ship under a star-strewn sky. When his lips brushed across hers, the image changed to show him lowering her onto a bed of soft down. At the sound of his low chuckle, she blinked rapidly to wipe away the erotic scene.

“I’m sorry, what did you say?”

He smiled at her as if he could read her mind. “I said you look a little flushed. Would you like to go out onto the gallery where it’s cooler?”

She took a nervous step back. “It is rather warm in here, isn’t it?”

His knowing smile widened. “Exceedingly so. Shall we?” He took her hand and led her through the nearest open door.

The sultry night, the perfume of flowers, and the soft light from the candles placed along the gallery all heightened Caterine’s sense of fantasy. He led them away from the circle of light spilling from the open door and took her into his arms.

“I hope you won’t mind, Princess, but I have to do something I’ve wanted to do since I first laid eyes on you.”

When his lips touched hers, desire as she’d never imagined shot through her. Up on her toes, she clasped her arms tightly around his neck and kissed him back with all the passion she had buried deep inside. As his kiss became more demanding, she tried to keep her shaking knees from crumpling beneath her.

He gentled the kiss. “
Je te désirer
.” He placed soft kisses along her cheek. “I want you, Princess.”

Caterine let out a low moan. The sound of his words sent liquid heat pooling between her thighs. When he reclaimed her lips, he slid his tongue deep into her welcoming mouth. She clutched the fabric of his shirt. She burned hotter and hotter with a need she yearned to release.

As he slid his hand down her back, her body tingled deliciously. When he cupped her bottom and pressed her against his hard arousal, she thought she’d come apart in his arms. With her pulse racing and her mind full of erotic fantasies of this incredibly sexy man, she ignored the nagging voice in her head telling her to slow down.

To hell with being proper Caterine Doucette. She didn’t know where this side of her had come from, but she wasn’t stopping now. There was something about her pirate that made it all seem right. She’d waited all her life for a night such as this, and by God she was going to prove she wasn’t frigid. Entwining her fingers in the thick black hair at the base of his neck, Caterine tugged in frustration. She met his hot kisses stroke for stroke.

“No,” she groaned as he broke their kiss.

“Princess, let me take you home where I can finish this properly.”

Not wanting to break the spell this man had her under, she whispered, “I want you now, Pirate.”

“Are you sure?” He ran his finger along her kiss-swollen lower lip.

She hesitated for only a second. “Oh yes, I’m sure.”

His teeth flashed. “Your wish is my command,
mademoiselle
.”

Caterine laughed and took his hand in hers. “Then come with me.”

Hand-in-hand they hurried down the outer stairs and deep into the garden until they came upon a fragrant vine-covered arbor. He gathered her in his arms and lowered them both onto a padded bench.

The night was quiet except for the rustling of the trumpet vines which encircled them in their own world of fantasy and desire.

“
Ma jolie fille,
my pretty girl.” He began to trail hot kisses along her neck.
“
J’aime te faire l’amour avec toi
. I want to make love to you.”

She guided her hands over the fabric covering his muscular shoulders and sighed. “That’s exactly what I want you to do, Pirate.”

His warm lips stopped when he reached the top of her full breasts showing above her gown. He ran his tongue across her taut nipple, which strained against the smooth silk.

“You’re the most enchanting woman I’ve ever seen. I want to taste all of you.”

His words washed over her like a gentle caress and she smiled. “Yes, please.”

“I intend on pleasing you,
cher
.” He fumbled with the gown’s tiny satin buttons, before cupping her breasts.

Caterine shivered with delight as he licked and suckled first one tight nipple then the other. As his tongue flicked over the swollen peak, the throbbing ache between her legs grew until she squirmed beneath him. As the pressure built, any coherent thoughts she might have had fled. “Oh, sweet heaven,” she cried as the first orgasm she’d ever experienced slammed through her body.

He gave her a wicked grin. “Like that, did you?”

“That was incredible,” she said a little breathlessly.

“That’s only the first one, Princess. I’m going to take my time and enjoy every inch of you.”

The heat glowing in his eyes sent flames of desire soaring from the top of her head to her curled toes. “Oh my, yes.”

His hand moved over her hip and down her leg. He lifted the hem of her gown and slowly ran his fingers along her inner thigh. “How’s this, Princess?”

She moaned aloud when his talented fingers gently began to stroke her. Wave after wave of exquisite pleasure flowed through her body, leaving her panting, struggling to breathe. Mindless of what she was doing, her nails dug into his back while she writhed against his hand.

“Oh, God, I’m going to again.”

“
Mais yeah
.” His mouth covered hers, muffling her scream as her next orgasm sent her spiraling into ecstasy.