The Muse (Interracial Mystery Romance) (Dark Art Mystery Series) (20 page)

He laughed and grabbed the wine bottle next to him. “Close the door. We’ll talk about this when I’m done.”

“Fuck you!” Every part of me yearned to throw more things at him.

I’ll bet Michael had hoped I would throw more things at his head. I finally understood him after all these years. My trying to be a better me scared him. I saw improving myself as a benefit to us both. He considered it a threat. So he paraded his women around, called me names, and claimed I was the reason for his loss of enjoying art. But I finally knew that he was wrong.

“Have fun with her, Michael, because soon she’ll realize you’re nothing special.” I slammed the door and headed to the bedroom where my packed bags lay in the closet. I’d been waiting for months to get full access to my bank accounts. No matter how discreetly I tried, Michael’s lawyers wouldn’t allow it without his permission. I’d stupidly allowed him to put all of the accounts in his name. “Well, I’m done waiting. I’ll figure out the money thing later.”

Right as I got to my bedroom door, Michael screamed, “Don’t do anything too drastic, Ellie. You know you can’t live without me!”

“You’re wrong!”

I turned to Alvarez. “I’m going to stay.”

I would finish this job with Hex and show the world that I was still a good model, one who could work with any artist. Then I would continue to build my portfolio and eventually make a name for myself that was separate from Michael. If things worked out, I wouldn’t miss that hard earned money I’d saved in my bank accounts. I would save my own. Michael had opened those accounts for me, and like a fool I’d sat back and allowed it. That was something I would never do again.

From now on, I’ll handle my own money and career.

“The minute I think it is unsafe for you in any way, I’m going to fly you out of here.”

Alvarez guided me to my bedroom.

Feeling riled up by my thoughts of Michael, I shook my head at Alvarez. “I’m sorry, but you don’t get to make that decision for me. I will let you know if I need to be flown out of here.”

An odd sound left his lips that almost resembled a growl. “You and that mouth of yours.

You won’t just let me take care of you.”

“I’m not a child.”

“That doesn’t mean you don’t need my help.”

“I don’t need a protector. I need a good friend who understands that I don’t like to be coddled and protected like a delicate flower. I know a couple of fighting moves.”

He laughed. “What did you say?”

We arrived at the door.

“I took a few tae kwon do classes a few years ago.” I slashed at the air in front of him.

Instead of flinching, he laughed some more.

“Why did you stop?” He grabbed my hand and landed a peck on the fingertips.

“Michael ended it after I sprained my hand. He said if it had been worse I wouldn’t have been able to model for him.” It was always the modeling with Michael when he needed an excuse to limit my movements. That was the way he controlled me.

Not anymore.

“Hmmm. Did Michael do things like that a lot?”

“At times.”

“You were together?”

I leaned back on the wall next to my closed bedroom door. One of the guards opened my room and went inside to make sure everything was safe. At least that was what I assumed.

Alvarez made me aware of that before we left his office. They would be with me from now on, and before I entered a room, they would go in to check it out. Additionally, one would be near my window, two flanking my half opened door, and the fourth checking in me upon the hour until I woke up.

“Yes. While Michael and I were in a relationship, he tended to manage my life.”

“And now you’re not in a relationship with him?”

“Exactly.”

“And you’re not interested in anything else right now, due to Michael.”

“Yes. I need time to figure out who I am and what I want. I’d known Michael since I was ten and had a crush on him for about that long. I can’t get into anything too deep right now.”

“Hmmm.” He placed his hands on the space above my head. “That may be difficult for

me to deal with, if you’re certain you’re going to stay. Besides, I plan on buffing up on movies in the next couple of days. We’ll be going on many dates very soon.”

I grinned. “There’s no way you’ll stump me. Plus, friends don’t date so I’m sure you’ll be able to just be friends with me.”

“Friends?” He quirked his eyebrows.

“Yes. We’re
amigos
,” I proudly stated. “That does mean friends in Spanish. Right?”

“Kind of. Remember. Cuban men are romantic. When we say friend it means friends that dance together and go to nice little restaurants with candles on the center of the table.”

“I didn’t hear that in my Spanish class during high school. Besides, that sounds like it’s verging toward a date.”

“And you don’t date your friends?”

“No.”

“I’m not sure if I’m enjoying your concept of friends.” His phone rang. He dug his hand into his pocket and turned it off.

“Am I keeping you from something?”

“Everything,” he whispered.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. That’s half the reason I’m certain I want to be more than friends. You,
mi
amiga,
end up
keeping my mind only on you whenever you’re around. I’m starting to like that very much.”

My heart beat faster.

He checked his watch. “For example, even though it’s now close to five in the morning and I have at least five difficult things to do right now due to this new death, all I can think of doing right at the moment is finishing that kiss we had on the dance floor. Is that weird?”

I forced myself to not lick my lips. “No. That’s not weird.”

“Did you enjoy our friendly kiss,
mi amiga
?”

“Ha,” I snorted. “
That
was not a friendly kiss.”

“No?” He leaned close to me, so near my nipples stiffened at the thought of him touching me. “Then what type of kiss was it,
amiga
?”

“Something more than I can put words or labels to.”

“Then how did it make you feel?” He brushed his lips against mine, but didn’t press them in for a kiss.

You’re such a tease.

I arched a little his way, knowing I shouldn’t. If I was going to demand that we be only friends, I would have to actually mean it with my body as well as my words. Yet there was that magnetic pull of pleasure, tugging me forward and energizing my flesh with need.

“What’s wrong? You don’t want to answer my question?” In a bold move, he dipped

down to my neck and nibbled the sensitive area. I moaned softly, but knew he heard it when a groan escaped his mouth. “How did my kiss make you feel, Elle?”

I turned to see if the guards were watching, but he captured my chin and brought my view back to him. “Answer me, please.”

“It made me feel. . . good.”

“Just good?” He nipped at my bottom lip. “I doubt that.”

“Why?”

“Because that kiss tonight made me hungry, and when you leaned away that same greedy little hunger showed all over your face.”

“You’re lying.”

“I want to kiss you again,
mi amiga
.”

I giggled. “I don’t think
amigos
should convince others to do things they shouldn’t.

You’re such a bad influence.”

“And you’re a little tease.” He seized my lips and took his time, gently nudging them open with his tongue, until I couldn’t help but part them and suck on that wet length myself. He was a master at kissing. My knees buckled under the pressure of him. Desire mounted within my chest.

God. How silly I must look, telling him I only want to be friends while relishing in his
mouth on mine.

It was clear he could kiss better than anyone I’d ever experienced. What else could he do with so much swift, panty-wetting perfection? How would it feel for him to touch me even more in those intimate places where only Michael had caressed? Michael’s face hit my brain, and just like that I stopped the kiss. It was the best way to gain control of the situation. Michael had done enough damage. I didn’t need another one, so passionate, coming into my life and stealing my heart, not until I was ready to be stronger in situations like this.

Alvarez leaned away. “What’s going through your mind?”

“I’m thinking I’m not that good at pushing your advances away.”

“That’s a great thing.”

“Actually, it’s not. I want to be more assertive and—”

“Trust me. You’re definitely assertive. You practically forced me to do everything you wanted outside tonight, and you threatened me, too. I can still feel the stab wounds in my back about you saying you would have a team of lawyers fighting me.”

“Oh, stop it.”

“It’s the truth.”

“Well.” I bit my lip. “I can’t jump into another situation with another man.”

“Then let’s not jump. Let’s take tiny little steps and see where that takes us. I for one don’t have the time for a relationship. I never even considered dating anyone until I met you yesterday.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“It’s true.” He tried to kiss me again, but I avoided those skilled lips.

“How long has it been since you’ve dated someone?”

“Over ten years.”

Hadn’t he said that he’d known Reece for the same amount of time?

“So you stopped dating when you hired your assistant?”

“No. I stopped dating when Hex became a huge artist and my time became so absorbed in dealing with his fame and keeping him out of jail. My grandma presents her own special problems, plus there’s. . .”

“There’s what?”

“Nothing. All I’m trying to say is that with all that I had around me, I pretty much kept my. . . dating to one night stands or other things that were close to that.”

“Other things? You’re being very vague.”

“What I do in my off time isn’t the most endearing or gentlemanly thing about me. I would rather not look bad in your eyes. My point is that I never even considered anything more with a woman until I spent time around you today.”

“That can’t be true. With all the models that Hex invites, there had to be someone who caught your eye.”

“I usually stay away from Hex’s models and artsy friends. As you’ve seen tonight, I had no idea what the poor woman’s name was that died. With such tight security on the property, I pretty much spend my time absorbing myself in business and then leaving Hex to his friends.

Most of the time I avoided them.”

The guard who’d gone in my room earlier now stood in the hallway with an awkward

look on his face.

“Is everything okay in there?” Alvarez asked.

“Yes, sir. I checked the whole area. No one is in her room and there was no sign that a person came in there when she left.” He pointed to the small camera hanging from the ceiling.

“This one has been pointed on her room all night. I’ve been told that no person, not even a maid, entered her room.”

“Thank you. That’ll be all.”

The guard nodded and didn’t leave the hallway, but gave us a wide berth of space.

Alvarez looked at me. A sly smile crossed his face. “Can I walk you into your room?”

I tried not to laugh, but it came out just the same. “No, sir. As my guard informed us both, my room is secure. I won’t need your protection.”

I would need someone to help me stop his lips or my need to have them on me.

He leaned his head to the side. “Are you sure about that?”

“Definitely.” I ducked under his arms and walked into my bedroom. “Goodnight,

Alvarez.”

“Will we be hanging out tomorrow, as friends of course, just
amigos
?”

“You have a lot on your plate. Do you even have the time?”

“I’ll make it.”

“I guess so then. I do want to know any new details about these deaths—”

“No. I have the police dealing with that. When I see you tomorrow for our date, I want it to have nothing to do with that.”

“Date?”

“Sorry. A gathering among two
amigos
.”

I sighed. “Alvarez, I’m serious. I know I don’t seem that way when I’m allowing you to put your tongue down my throat—”

“Which I appreciate, by the way.”

“Stop it.” I blushed. “I just think we shouldn’t plan on anything coming out of this. We should just decide to have fun with no weird strings attached or any plans for anything more than hanging out.”

“And a few kisses?”

I looked away. “Maybe.”

“So spending time together and the possibility of a kiss?”

“Yes.”
He’s ridiculous
. “Just two friends hanging out who may or may not kiss. Nothing else.”

“I’m okay with that.”

“Good.”

“Then this will be an interesting summer.” He inhaled and closed his eyes for a few seconds before opening them. “That perfume is amazing. I’m still going to have a box of it sent to your room.”

“You don’t need to.”

“But I will.”

Instead of spending time with him, if I definitely stay, I’ll spend the rest of the time
avoiding him. This property is so huge; I’ll bet I could do it.

As if he could read my thoughts, he tried to stump me for the last time that night. “Okay.

I’ve got it. ‘Take a chance on me, baby. Give me the opportunity to show you that I’m your future, and he’s your past. Run off with me, Lacy.’”

“You know I recognize that. It’s probably the most famous line in the world. Even if I wasn’t from America and had just learned English in the past five years, I would know that line.

It’s from
New York to New York
. The top-grossing movie in the history of the film industry.”

He revealed a wicked smile. “Maybe I’m just really that bad at this.”

“Or maybe you’re trying to tell me something.”

“Maybe.”

“Goodnight, Alvarez.” I closed the door behind me.

“Goodnight, my new friend,” he said from the outside.

Chapter 16

~Alvarez

One more thing and I’ll go to sleep, just one more thing.
I checked my watch.
Two in the
afternoon. Finishing that goddamn list had taken all this time?