The Emperor: Secrets Bared (5 page)

She wanted to enjoy the moment. After all, wasn’t that the purpose of being spontaneous?

Determined not to punish herself for feeling pleasure, Lori turned away, pleased when Gideon wrapped one arm around her middle and pulled her in close so they were spoon fashion.

“This isn’t casual.”

Her heart nearly stopped. “What did you say?”

“I know you’re probably thinking this is routine for me, but it’s not. You’re different.

Remember that.”

24

Butterflies flitted through her stomach at his words. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For making this night so special.”

He smoothed his palm over her stomach. “Don’t start thinking I’m done with you.

I’ve got lots more planned, sweetheart.”

She giggled. “I know, you told me. The shower, the table, the stool.”

“Yeah, all that and more.” She felt his lips pressing into her hair. “Go to sleep, baby.

I’ve got you.”

As if he had so much command, her eyelids grew heavy. Her last thought was how good it felt to be held.

25

Gideon got up early, aching to get to the sketch. Lori grumbled about not being a morning person, but he won her over with a hot shower that lasted far longer than he intended. Afterwards, he helped her blow dry her hair. He loved her hair. He could spend hours playing with it.

He instructed her to wear the purple gown again. At first she refused, but he eventually talked her into it. Gideon suspected it had more to do with her enjoying the way she felt when she wore it and less about his coaxing. She turned into a confident sex goddess, and it was stunning to watch the transformation from shy wallflower to vixen.

They had a quick breakfast of bagels and juice, and now he stood in his studio savoring the sight of Lori’s womanly curves. He heard her thoughts inside his head as easily as if she’d spoken them aloud.

What if he finds me lacking, and he sends me on my merry way?

He responded impulsively. “You could never be found lacking, Lori, and you’re sure as hell not going anywhere.” Too late, he realized he had answered a question she hadn’t asked.

Her body stiffened as she grasped the enormity of what just happened. In an instant she shut down, and he could almost feel her withdrawing from him physically as well as mentally. She was leery of him now.

He cursed himself for a fool, but before he had a chance to cover his mistake, to ease her mind, the door to his studio was slung open and shut. Then it was a man’s thoughts invading his mind.

Yum-yum, Gideon old buddy. What have we here?

At once, Gideon’s entire body pulsated with a kind of rage he’d never before felt.

Every muscle tensed, and his nostrils flared as if sensing a rival. He looked over Lori’s head and saw his visitor come into the studio. As Gideon locked eyes with the newcomer, a smile spread over the man’s arrogant face. On instinct, Gideon moved from behind Lori and stepped directly in front of her, using his body as a shield.

Gideon crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m busy, go away.”

“Aw, Gideon, is that any way to talk to your oldest and dearest friend?”

He was being baited, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself from rising to it. The idea of another man seeing Lori clad in the tiny bit of purple silk, nearly nude, made him want to smash something. That something was walking closer to them, closer to Lori.

Gideon’s fury boiled over.

“If you don’t leave now, you’ll be my oldest and dearest dead friend, Gregory.”

Gregory tsked, not at all alarmed about the frenzy he was causing. “Introduce me. I know your mother raised you with proper manners.” He angled his head to the side in an effort to see around Gideon’s body.

“I’m not introducing you. Get out before I lose my temper and pound that pretty 26

face you’re so fucking proud of.”

Lori’s low husky voice stopped any reply Gregory would’ve made. “Uh, hello? I’m Lori Fontaine.”

Apparently, her good manners overrode her shyness. Gideon groaned. “Don’t bother with niceties, he’s not staying.”

Lori shoved him, and when that didn’t get him to move, she sidled around him.

Great, with him she’s a shy wallflower, but with Gregory she’s all smiles. To add fuel to his already out of control fury Gregory could now see her from head to toe. Gideon was forced to watch as the son-of-a-bitch got a good long look.

Gideon wanted desperately to twist his friend’s dick in a knot for the vulgar thoughts running rampant inside of his depraved head. Never mind they had just been running around in his head as well. He was allowed to think of Lori in various sexual positions; Gregory wasn’t.

Gregory moved dangerously close to Lori and reached a hand out to her. “It’s very nice to meet you, Lori Fontaine. I’m Gregory Kent.” His smile was flirtatious, and his silvery-blue eyes lit with delight. The damn rascal was flirting with her.

Fuck me, Gideon. She’s incredible!

Gideon stepped forward, ready to send his best friend to hell with one well placed fist, when Lori reached out as if to shake Gregory’s hand. He stopped her with one hand clasped around her wrist, then gently nudged her behind him again.

“Gideon, you’re embarrassing me,” she muttered.

He swung around and pinned her with a furious glare. “If you don’t want to see blood shed here today, then you’ll stay where I put you.”

Immediately he knew he’d made a mistake. She was good and pissed now. In her mind she envisioned strangling him.

“Look, you can stick your blasted easel and stool where the sun doesn’t shine!”

Gideon placed a finger to her lips. “Don’t forget what you’re wearing right now, sweetheart. You just gave a complete stranger a free show.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You may as well be a complete stranger, Gideon.”

That stopped him for a moment, but then he leaned in close and whispered, “We made love last night and this morning. You screamed my name. That sure as hell changes things, baby.”

A flush spread over her cheeks. Hell, he knew he was acting like a jealous lover, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself. When the same thought popped into her head, it compelled him to respond. “I’ve never been jealous with any other woman.” He spoke the words in a low tone, meant for her ears alone.

Her eyes held a thousand questions, and Gideon wanted to answer every single one of them, but first things first. Gideon deliberately raised his voice for Gregory. “Now, please stay where I put you and we’ll talk after I get rid of this asshole.”

“Hey, I resent that!”

A headache began to make itself known. As he rubbed his temples, Gideon turned 27

back around and faced his best friend. Maybe his only friend.

“For the love of God, Gregory, go away. I’ll call you tomorrow. We can talk then.”

Gregory heaved a huge and exaggerated sigh. “Okay, okay, I know when I’m not wanted.” But in his mind Gregory said, you’d damn well better call me though. I want to know where you found this beauty. I just may give you a run for this one, old friend.

Gideon frowned as he heard Gregory’s final thought. No way in hell would he get his hands on Lori. She was his. She just didn’t know it yet.

After he watched to be sure Gregory left, he turned around and faced Lori. She was standing with her arms crossed, a gesture that pushed her breasts high, and her cheeks were flushed. She’d worked herself up good, the truth of which lay in all the four letter words she was calling him inside her head.

Gideon thought she’d never looked more adorable or more fuckable.

“First of all, you don’t tell me what to do, Gideon Adrian. I’m here for one reason and one reason only; you wanted to sculpt me remember? But don’t think for one minute that just because we slept together you have some kind of rights over me.” When he thought it was safe to defend himself, she went on, “And how is it possible for you to know what I’m thinking? How do you know what I’m going to say before I say it?”

Her eyes darkened a fraction, turning them jade. His first thought was to give her some song and dance about seeing it written all over her face, something to the affect that she didn’t hide her emotions very well. He’d never told his secret to a woman he was involved with before. But as he stared down at her, he realized he wanted to be honest with her. He wanted it all out in the open.

Gideon didn’t want to think of the reason why he was willing to share such a huge part of himself with her. For the time being, the only thing that mattered was seeing her smile at him again.

“First off, I’m sorry for acting like an ass. Please, forgive me?”

“You’re trying to charm me so I’ll forgive you. But it won’t work. I want answers or we’re done here.”

“Don’t leave. I’m sorry I went all macho on you. I’m not sure what came over me.”

He pulled her hand up and placed a gentle kiss to her soft palm, then whispered, “But, you aren’t just any woman, baby. I wanted you the moment I saw you. You took my breath away.” He looked at her tempting body and growled. “You look beautiful, and I didn’t like the idea of Gregory seeing you.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Now, tell me how you are able to answer a question I hadn’t asked.”

“I’ll tell you the truth. All of it. First, I need something from you.”

She stepped back. “What?”

“This,” he murmured, then leaned down and took her mouth with a wildness that surprised them both. He slipped his arms around her and pulled her close, then angled his head for better access. Gideon felt the connection all the way through; it’d been the 28

same the first time he’d touched her. It was electrifying, and he never wanted to let her go.

Her body began to melt against him; her arms wrapped around his neck. Her moan set him off. He licked her lips and eased her mouth open, gently tasting her dark secrets.

Suddenly she stiffened.

She pushed against him, and he forced his arms to loosen. “You sneak! You can’t kiss your way out of this talk.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it, baby.”

“Then stop trying to change the subject.”

He sighed. “Let’s sit down. It’s a long story.” He gave her his hand, all too pleased when she took it and allowed him to walk them to the couch. They sat side by side, but Lori deliberately put space between them. She was apprehensive, and until he explained everything, she would allow no further contact. She kept thinking inane thoughts, trying to free her mind of the images that had been there only moments ago. She didn’t want him eavesdropping on anymore of her private thoughts. Gideon knew what she was doing and immediately felt the loss. He only hoped she would understand.

“Would you like something to drink?” He was stalling, but he wasn’t sure where to start.

“No, thank you.”

With her hands clasped in her lap and her back ramrod straight, she waited for him to begin.

“All right then.” He took a fortifying breath. “I’m not sure where to start, except at the beginning.”

29

“When I was eight years old, I was struck by lightning. I don’t remember much about that day. One minute I was splashing through a mud puddle like any other eight-year-old boy, making a mess of myself, and the next thing I knew I was laying in a hospital bed with my mother hanging over me crying and frantic. I’d almost died the doctors said.”

He paused, remembering the day as if it were yesterday. “I was able to leave the hospital about two weeks later, after a few tests showed all was normal. The only remnant of the incident was the scar you saw on my back. There was a recovery period and some pain, but nothing horrible. Kids are tough. The worst was bedtime. I’d start out on my stomach, but eventually in my sleep I’d turn over. Stung like a bitch, to be honest.”

Lori laid her hand on his arm then whispered, “Gideon, I’m so sorry. It must have been terrible for you.”

Her touch was like a healing balm, and her voice stroked his spine in a gentle caress.

He moved out of her reach. He’d never be able to concentrate otherwise. Lori misunderstood his movement and thought he was pulling away. He’d inadvertently hurt her feelings.

“If you start touching me, I’ll lose my train of thought.”

She nodded and he continued. “After a month out of the hospital, I started getting headaches. Excruciating migraines no drug could fix. They were constant. My mother was beside herself with worry.” He raked his fingers through his hair and said, “Somehow, and to this day I still don’t know the how’s and why’s of it all, when the lightning struck me, it did something to my brain and nervous system. Almost immediately I started hearing voices. I was confused at first, but I soon realized I was hearing other people’s thoughts. Their private feelings and emotions were as clear to me as if they’d spoken them.” He looked at her, trying to judge her reaction. She was quiet, listening. He didn’t delve inside her mind. This time he didn’t want to know her thoughts.

“My mom noticed it the first day in the hospital. I hadn’t. She told me I’d answered a question she’d never voiced. She knew something was wrong but didn’t want to worry me. When she realized what I could do, she explained that it needed to be our secret.

Later, she helped me learn how to block other’s thoughts.”