Assassin's Kiss by Kate Monroe Page B

kiss from Esther’s parted lips. She was his now as surely as he was hers. Bound to the chair with nothing left to hide from him, it was only a matter of time now until they shared everything that had been inevitable since he first caught sight of her – and he was determined she would willingly surrender it all to him.
    As the maid knocked again, he touched Esther’s face one more time before standing up straight and reluctantly leaving her side. With a wry smile, he fastened his trousers once more and opened the door wide enough to take the tray that the maid held out. “My thanks, little miss,” he said, balancing the tray on one hand and winking at her before he swiftly closed the door again.
    His heart gave a wild leap as he turned back to face Esther – something he dared not think upon for any longer than he had to. Seeking a distraction, he set the tray on the nearest table and then deftly unpicked the bonds around her wrists. “Perhaps you should go through to the bedroom and attend to yourself before we eat, sweetheart,” he said, his voice still hoarse. “In fact, whilst you are there I suggest you find a shirt of mine to wear, otherwise our breakfast will be entirely forgotten the moment you walk back through the door.”
    A thrill of lust flitted through her wide eyes with his words. Revelling in it, Seth took hold of her hands to guide her back to her feet and turned her to face the bedroom door, taking advantage by letting his hand dance down the full length of her back as she moved away from him. He traced out each and every tiny vertebra, caught up in such a spell of desire for the feminine curves she possessed in such abundance that it was all he could do not to snatch her into his arms when she glanced over her shoulder at him. He sensed there was something she wanted to say, but instead she sighed and disappeared into the bedroom as he slumped into a chair at the table.
    Breathing far too heavily once more, he set to attacking the hearty breakfast on the tray whilst he fought to regain the composure she seemed to drive away with the briefest of touches. He could not lose control, for Esther was finally within his grasp. The intimacies they had already shared, glorious though they were, would soon fade in comparison to all that awaited them, and with that thought in mind he poured them each a coffee and sat back in his chair to await her return.
    To his delight, she had taken him at his word. She had found a white shirt of his to wear – and that was all she wore. Each button was fastened and it reached halfway down her slender thighs, but the sight before him was a deeply tantalising one. The thin material clung to her breasts and hips, and when Seth knew all too well the glories that it covered, it was no wonder that his cock had already hardened again even before she warily lowered herself into the chair opposite his.
    It was impossible to think of his breakfast when she was before him. Resigned to that, he allowed her no more than a mouthful before he spoke to break the tense silence that had settled between them. “You realise that as soon as this meal is through I will be carrying you back to bed, Esther,” he said coolly.
    She ran her tongue across her lips in what could only have been a deliberate tease as she met his intent stare without flinching. “If I permit it, sir.”
    “Permit it? Sweetheart, you will be wholly powerless to deny me!” Leaning forward, Seth reached out one hand to flick open the buttons of his shirt that she wore, daring her to tell him to stop. She drew a sharp breath as his fingers brushed her bare skin, but it seemed that he was right. Her head rolled to the side, and she let loose a low sigh of supplication as his top lip curled back triumphantly.
    “You see?” he said. “It is very plain how much you want me. Why, one could almost imagine you have already forgotten I murdered your lover in cold blood, Esther.”
    “If you are trying to frighten me into