Page 21 of Patrick’s Seduction

As if he’d done it many times before, he wiped a tear off her cheek, the tender touch awakening something in her. Something she shouldn’t allow to rise to the surface. But she had no strength left, and simply let it happen.

“I could have done more yesterday, but—” He sighed. “I’m dealing with a big murder case… Time got away from me last night after I left your place.”

In light of this revelation, she pulled back. “A murder case? Why would you even deal with my little problem when you have a much larger one to investigate?”

He pinned her with his eyes, his arms still around her, and had he been any other man, she would have felt imprisoned, trapped, but Patrick’s arms around her made her feel cradled the way somebody cradled something precious.

“It’s not a little problem,” he said. “In a way, a case like yours is more important, because in your case I can still prevent something terrible from happening, whereas in a murder case, all I can do, is find the killer, but I can’t bring back the victim.”

She hung on his lips, hearing the passion he had for his job, and understood that he gave a hundred percent to everything he did. And she heard a promise echoing in his words, the promise to protect her.

“You’re a good man, Patrick.” There was no doubt about it. This man had integrity.

A half-hearted smile formed on his lips. “I wish it were true. But I’m just as selfish as everybody else.”

She didn’t understand what he meant by that. “Selfish?”

He leaned in closer, bringing his face to within inches of hers. Her breath hitched at the sudden nearness.

“Don’t you remember what I did yesterday?”

She knew very well what he was referring to. “You mean when I kissed you?”

He shook his head. “No, when I kissed you.” His eyes dilated, their green color shimmering seductively. “Just like I want to right now. And that makes me no better than your stalker.”

For a moment, her mind went blank, and she just stared at him, her heart suddenly pounding out of control. She was fully aware of the need that had risen inside her earlier. The need that urged her to take action.

“You shouldn’t have to deal with unwanted attention,” he continued. “It’s bad enough that Cameron is making your life hell. You don’t need any added trouble from me.”

She swallowed slowly, gathering all her courage. “You’re right, Cameron is making my life hell, but you’re no trouble…” She hesitated, not knowing how to proceed. “I enjoyed kissing you…”

The sunlight shining in through the windows made Patrick’s eyes shimmer almost golden now.

“You shouldn’t tell me that.”

“Why not, when it’s the truth?”

“Because you make it even harder for me to leave you in peace now.” He reached for a strand of her hair, and swept it out of her face, his finger brushing over her cheek in the process.

She’d never been so aware of another person’s touch.

“What if I don’t want you to leave me in peace?” she murmured.

From where she took the courage to utter such an obvious come-on, she didn’t know. Something inside her pushed her to go for what she wanted, what she craved. And she craved Patrick. Everything female in her was awakening fully for the first time in her life, and she’d never been so clear about what she needed. It was as if a veil had lifted from her eyes, allowing her to see the world with more clarity.

She inhaled Patrick’s masculine scent, letting it draw her closer. When had she turned into a woman who acted with such directness and without shame or embarrassment? She’d never been the kind of woman who found it easy to show her sexual interest in a man. She’d always been too shy for such an act, too worried that it would turn into an embarrassment. But with Patrick, it seemed different. In his presence, she felt powerful and more aware of her female attributes than ever before. Last night, she’d felt it sizzling between them, but now it was even more pronounced.

“Fallon,” he whispered, his breath ghosting over her face. “Please ask me to leave.”

“I can’t.”

Who bridged the last few inches between them, she would never be able to recollect later, because all she suddenly felt was Patrick gently kissing her, while he tilted his head to the side. He shifted her in his arms until she was sitting on his lap, her legs spread to either side of his hips, her breasts pressed to his chest. She returned his kiss with the same tenderness he lavished on her. Her fear and her tears were forgotten. Instead, heat spread inside her as if somebody had lit a match to her, setting her on fire. Yet this fire wasn’t destructive even though it engulfed her in its midst.

Patrick explored her with his tongue, stroking against hers, licking over her teeth, taking his time without rushing her. She heard his moans and felt the tender touch of his hands on her back, one sliding down to her bottom, the other cupping the back of her head. He held her there, while he deepened his kiss and nibbled on her lips. With every second, she became more aroused by his masterful kisses. And as her arousal rose, Patrick’s kisses became more demanding—as if he could feel that she was ready for more. Because she was.

Fallon suddenly shifted in his lap, pressing her core to his groin. A gasp coming from her confirmed that she felt the massive erection he sported. However, she didn’t withdraw, didn’t stop responding to his kisses, nor did she push away his hand that he now slipped onto her ass to rock her against his hard-on. Despite the layers of clothing between them, he relished the contact and feared that if they continued like this, he would climax without her even touching him. Yeah, that’s how badly he wanted her. That’s how hot she got him.

It was all his own fault. Had he not poured a good number of drops of his blood into her glass, it was doubtful that she would have responded to his advances. But with his vampire blood inside her, she was easily aroused, turning into putty in his arms. Fuck! This was bad. He knew he should stop this madness now before it went even further. But how could he stop this embrace, when it felt so good? When it helped him forget the fear he’d felt when he’d gotten the call from the hospital?