“Katherine.”
His accent made her name sound exotic, and he said it as if she was the most important person in his life. For a second, she basked in the illusion, enjoying the sensation of being at the center of Lann’s world, but then a woman’s voice sounded from behind the alcove in the center of the hall.
“Did you call for me, Lann?”
A brunette peered around the arch. It was the pretty librarian.
“Martina, you and Katherine know each other, don’t you?” Lann asked, not moving his gaze from Kat.
“Oh.” Martina seemed surprised. “Hi, Kat.” She waved with a little frown, and then disappeared again.
He rounded the table in his own time and walked to her with leopard-like steps. His strange eyes held hers as he removed his gloves and took her hand.
This time, he pressed his lips to her skin. “I didn’t expect you until six. You have no idea how happy this makes me.”
His words pulled her from her mesmerized state. “I came here to return this,” she said as she thrust the book at him, “and to tell you to stop sending me things. I can’t be bought.”
He took the book and left it with a lazy movement on the display cabinet next to them. Then, in the next minute, he bellowed, “Everyone out.”
Kat jumped. She took a step back, but he grabbed her hand.
“Not you.” He frowned at her. “You stay.”
A bewildered Martina and her five assistants appeared in the big hall. They shot curious glances her way before filing through the door.
When they were alone, he said, “I wanted you to have it.” The calmness was back in his voice, but his tone carried a note of steel. “I don’t buy women.”
“Well, I won’t have it. Stop sending me gifts.”
They challenged each other for a charged moment, until Kat realized she was all but gaping at him, transfixed by his latent strength and deceptive calm exterior.
“I’m leaving.” Dammit! That sounded breathless.
He crossed his arms. “You’re not.”
She blinked. “Excuse me?”
His gaze was steady. “This time, I’m not letting you get away so easily.”
Was he for real? “You can’t keep me here against my will.”
“That’s not my intention.” He took a step toward her.
“Then what is?” She refused to back up. She wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of knowing he intimidated her.
“This,” he said, reaching out to touch her hair. He rubbed the strands between his thumb and forefinger as if testing its texture.
She could only stare at him like a bird who knew the snake was going to strike, but was paralyzed with fear. Her fear wasn’t for the man who faced her. If he wanted to harm her he could’ve done so last night. There was nothing in the hundreds of social media fan pages dedicated to him that pointed at violent behavior. The fear was for herself, for her inability to resist someone who would only play with her and leave her broken when the game was over.
“Now, Katherine,” he said in a deep, soft voice, “I’m going to kiss you.”
She looked up at him dumbly, feeling like a doll, unable to get her mind to focus or to push words past her mouth.
He moved slowly enough so that she had ample time to pull away, to run for the door, but she stood frozen to the spot as he removed his glasses, holding them in one hand while the other went to the back of her neck. He cupped her nape gently and brought his lips inches from hers. He waited, and when she still didn’t move, his long lashes closed over his eyes as he gave himself over to an expression that said he was going to enjoy a rare and favorite treat.
When his lips touched hers, it wasn’t rough and wild as she expected, but tender. At first, he kept still, giving her time to get used to the sensation. She liked it. She more than liked it. Sparks detonated under her skin. Heat rushed through her body as he lightly brushed his mouth over hers, giving her only enough to make her want more. Yes, she desperately wanted to taste more.
The tenseness of her muscles melted. Just one little kiss, and her body softened and arched to his, needing a more intense caress. He reciprocated without hesitation. Pressing his mouth more firmly to hers, he took control of the kiss. Like he’d manipulated her hand to turn the pages of the book, he molded her lips with his, enticing her to mimic the movement. He teased her lips with his tongue until she opened for him.
Leaning her hands on his chest for support, she moaned under the skillful kiss. He infiltrated all of her senses. He smelled delicious, of citrus and cinnamon. He tasted of coffee and mint. Powerful chest muscles flexed under her palms as he pressed his body against hers. He was deliciously strong and lean, his hard-on pressing against her stomach.