Light Me Up

by McKenna, Shannon

  Awww. She went all hot and soft inside, melting against him. He looked so pleased with himself right now, which wasn’t an expression that she saw on his face often.

  “You’re sweet,” she told him, stroking his cheek.

  “I was hoping you’d say sexy.”

  “That, too.” She wriggled out of his embrace. “But since we won’t be coming back here, I want to get a close look at these paintings and statues. And take some photos.”

  That wasn’t all she wanted to do. But she needed to breathe. Until they got around to what she hoped he had in mind.

  “Sure. Have at.” Noah ran a hand over one of the bull’s long, curved horns. The bull’s head was lowered aggressively, as if defending its prize.

  “That’s worth a photo.” She reached into her evening bag for her phone. “He looks like he’s about to charge.”

  “Nah. Not with Europa riding him.”

  Click. Click. “You have a point,” she murmured. “She seems to be having a good time.”

  Noah studied the marble figure of Europa, perched on the bull’s back. The clenched muscles of her thighs, the sensual arch of her back, her heavy-lidded eyes, her parted lips.

  “Yeah,” he said. “She’s doing just fine.”

  In the charged silence that followed, their hands came together, fingers twining. Gazes locking. Her own thighs clenched. Her heart raced.

  But this was her one chance to look at this incredible art. Oooh, the conflict.

  She towed him along with her as she circled the vast round space, studying each image and taking innumerable photos. When she got to the staircase that led up to the narrow gallery above, she rattled it gently with her hand. “The wood looks fragile and rotten,” she said regretfully. “I bet no one’s done any maintenance on this for centuries.”

  “Please tell me I don’t need to talk you out of trying to climb up on that,” Noah said.

  “No, it looks dangerous. But I’d love to see those statues up close.” She gazed wistfully up at the marble figures high above and then made another slow pass to photograph them. Then another, this time to capture the mosaic images on the floor.

  She turned her attention back to Noah, who paced next to her without saying a word.

  “You’re not looking at the art,” she said, just to break the silence.

  “I prefer looking at you.”

  Caro felt her face get hot. He was very obviously aroused. So was she.

  “I love it when you and the pictures start vibrating at the same frequency,” Noah told her. “It’s like you tune yourself to them. You almost…glow. Your sig intensifies. It’s so beautiful. It just knocks me out.”

  Caro was moved. “Ah…I’ll have to get used to that, I guess. I spent my whole life trying to hide this weird thing my mind does from everyone. Especially boyfriends.”

  “Not me,” he said. “Bring it on.”

  “OK. I will.” Caro’s eyes wandered up and down his big, powerful body. He looked amazing in his elegant tux. She glanced up at a painting of Zeus, naked and magnificently erect, poised over a voluptuous nymph on a red-curtained bed.

  A rush of lust made her knees weak.

  She steadied herself with the edge of the marble table as Noah’s lusty gaze raked her up and down. “So…are you up for some divine misbehavior?” he asked.

  “Ravished by a god,” she whispered. “What a proposition.”

  The air between them practically hummed. Noah’s luminous golden eyes lit up the way they did when his augmented senses were fired up.

  Not a word passed between them, but she was so tuned to him now. She circled him slowly, lifting the beaded strap of her evening bag off her shoulder and dropping it in the middle of the marble table. She came close to him…and ran her finger down the lapel of his tux.

  “Noah Gallagher, you are my hottest fantasy,” she said.

  He stood absolutely still, generating a sense of power that made her tremble. “Tell me what you want,” he said. “You got it.”

  Caro let her hand drop down, and stroked the stiff, hot bulge of his tux pants ever so lightly. “Well,” she said. “This. Eventually.”

  “All yours.”

  “We don’t have much time,” she reminded him.

  “Then we better get to it.” He moved around behind her, sliding his arm around her waist and pulling her back tightly against him as he kissed her neck, her shoulder. His hot mouth nuzzled her while he lifted her dress, slid his hand between her legs…

  And stopped short, looking up with a grin. “Bare-assed? Here?”

  She shrugged. “Because panty lines.”

  “God forbid.” He continued what he started, stroking skillfully between her legs. “Oh yeah. You’re already wet,” he murmured. “So silky and sweet. I love it.”

  She moved against his strong hand, rubbing wantonly. Arousing herself for her own pleasure, fully aware of how intensely that turned him on.

  She began to tremble. Something about him just undid her. The way he seemed to read her thoughts, her feelings. So tuned in.

  This forgotten room was a hothouse of erotic imagery. It was overwhelming.

  She shook with pleasure at the slow, pulsing thrusts of his hand, the sensual skill of his thumb caressing her clit. She melted around him, silken and wet.

  Her legs squeezed around his hand as a sudden, startling orgasm unraveled her.

  Her head fell back onto his shoulder. He held her up effortlessly, until she could stand on her feet again.

  She twisted around to look up at him. “And?” she said breathlessly. “So?”

  “You tell me,” Noah murmured, kissing her neck. “I love making you come. And I’m holding back until you’re completely satisfied.”

  “You’re on,” she murmured. “Here?”

  “Anywhere you want. We can go straight back to the hotel right now. I’ll lick your pussy all night long.”

  Caro was silent for a moment. His slow, coaxing kisses against her nape made her shiver and sigh. “You’re sure no one will walk in on us here?”

  “I’m sure,” he said. “I can hear footsteps before anyone else can. I would never let anyone see us. Not in a million years. Trust me.”

  “I do,” she said. “I told you.” She flung her head back, moving sinuously against him. “Well, then. You brought me to the ultimate playroom. So…play.”

  Noah pushed her forward against the round marble table. “Legs apart.”

  She did as he asked. Not lifting her dress. Saving that pleasure for him.

  Her hair tumbled down across the gleaming dark marble. She bent forward, bracing herself on the table, shaking with anticipation. She couldn’t reach the edges. It was too big, smooth and hard and inlaid with lapis and ivory images of stars, constellations, zodiac signs, and a mother-of-pearl moon.

  As usual, he took his time. The cool silk dress he slid up over her bare skin was no protection against his scorching gaze. She couldn’t see it but she could literally feel it. Her bare behind warmed as he looked his fill, and then began caressing her. Very slowly

  The first teasing stroke of his cock against her pussy made her gasp with need, but he still held back, petting her with it, rubbing it tenderly over her clit. Until she pushed back against him with a whimpering moan. “Stop teasing.”

  His strong fingers dug into her hips as his whole body pushed forward.

  That slow penetration was delicious. His arm slid down to protect her from the hard edge of the table, his fingers reaching down to caress her clit while he fucked her. Deep, sliding, heavy thrusts. Filling her up. Rocking strongly, all the way in. And out. The sensual thrust inside again. An erotic, relentless rhythm that made her wild with need.

  “You’re so hot,” he muttered. “You take all of me. Like you were made for me.”

  She never wanted i
t to stop. The momentum was beyond their control. Each stroke of his cock made her wildly eager for the next one.

  More. And more. Right on the edge of ultimate erotic bliss….

  And over it. They came simultaneously, hitting the ultimate high together.

  Her eyes fluttered open. She became conscious of the hard inlaid tabletop, her own hair strewn across it.

  They were both still panting. Hearts thudding. His arm wound tight around her waist. His cock still deep inside her. Motionless. Both unwilling to break the connection.

  But the total silence that had enfolded them before was gone. The distant hum of a party in progress on the lower floors had grown louder.

  “Damn,” he muttered. “I didn’t mean to come inside you.”

  She rose up halfway, resting on her forearms. “I let you,” she informed him.

  “Ah. Guess you’re the boss, then.”

  “We can take turns,” she conceded.

  “OK.” He pulled out of her with a groan. And whipped a gentleman’s handkerchief between her legs, which made her smile. A timely gesture, considering.

  “Thanks,” she murmured, swiftly cleaning up before she let her dress tumble down again. She straightened up, trying to fix the ratio of breasts to bodice as she admired his body. “Shame to put that big gorgeous cock away so soon,” she murmured.

  He gripped it in one hand, taking the handkerchief from her and using it on himself. “You’re so beautiful right now, I’d fuck you again this instant.”

  She’d be up for that.

  Except that minutes from now they would be formally arriving at a major event for international glitterati. Sporting that radiant, unmistakable we-just-had-sex glow on their faces.

  “I need to wash up better before we face the world,” she told him.

  “There should be a bathroom off the next room.”

  She was grateful for his arm as he swept her along. The bathroom door was creaky with age, but one good yank from Noah got it open. It was gloriously antique, complete with painted cherubs sporting ribbons, and an ancient tub that was just about big enough to swim in.

  Noah ran the faucet and tugged the pull chain dangling from the tank over the toilet. Water gurgled. “It’s functional.” He washed his hands swiftly, wiping them on a fossilized towel that hung near the sink. “I’ll wait for you right outside.”

  Caro cleaned up as best she could and fixed her makeup. Not much she could do about the high color in her cheeks or the dazzled gleam in her eyes, except hope it would mellow out. Even her hair looked sexually excited. She tossed it back, letting it swing. She felt like a wild woman. Might as well look like one, too.

  Her eye makeup had melted to a smoky, smudgy look, somewhere between glamorous and feral. Every time her thighs brushed together, sexual awareness pumped right to her toes. Yes oh yes. She loved the feeling.

  A fresh slick of red lipstick, a final tug to keep her boobs in the low-cut bodice, and that would have to do. She scrabbled in her evening bag and pulled out the teensiest thong ever. Continuing to go au naturel was not in the cards tonight. Not after that interlude.

  Final detail. The stiletto heels. The flats went back into the bag. She perched on the edge of the bathtub and buckled her sandals back on.

  There. Best she could do.

  Noah looked her up and down when she came out the bathroom door. He offered her his arm. “You look great,” he said. “Like I never touched you. Makes me want to do it all again. Let’s skip the party. We’ll stay here and fuck madly all evening.”

  “No, I don’t think so. But thanks, it’s a lovely thought.”

  “Later then. Is it a date?”

  She batted him gently with her evening bag. “You have to be single to date,” she told him. “We’re married. That ship has sailed, buddy.”

  “Right.” Noah opened the door onto a long hall that ended in yet another marble staircase. The party suddenly sounded a lot louder.

  Caro felt the exact moment that the battle tension seized him. “Ready?” she asked.

  “I have no idea,” he muttered, as they started down the echoing stairs.

  Chapter 10

  Noah hated the Sala dell’Annunziata. Hated every single thing about it.

  The venue was too damn small for this crowd. Only three exits. Guaranteed to create a dangerous bottleneck if something happened and the guests panicked. Overly narrow doors opened out of the gallery into a broad central corridor. And the Sala was on the second floor. The French doors on the other side of the hall opened onto high stone balconies over an inner courtyard paved with cobblestones.

  He scanned the room and did a lightning-fast head count. The Sala was at full capacity already, with people still crowding in. He’d already data-dived every name on the guest list. So far, everyone was in the clear. But the number of people packed into that room triggered an AVP surge.

  It was hard to think when his body kept urging him to act.

  Lella must have suffered serious brain damage during his captivity. Noah couldn’t imagine any other reason why the Sala dell’Annunziata had been chosen. In no way was it the safest place for internationally renowned invitees to a glittering party.

  He and Caro had kept to the perimeter of the room, which fortunately had been left dim in order to create dramatic contrast for the cross at the showstopping reveal. Tall black panels stood in front of the central window and balcony that overlooked the courtyard. A black velvet curtain concealed the cross and its display mounting, providing a backdrop for a dais and lectern for the speakers. But the crowd’s size was well over the posted limit for the space. There was no moving through that room without pushing and shoving. The smell of sweat, deodorant, and perfume was suffocating and intense. The space was overly warm and short on oxygen, and the event had only just begun.

  And of course, dozens of smartphones were being held up, recording everything and everyone. No surprise, but the sight of them jacked up his paranoia to fresh heights.

  From what Noah and Caro had heard so far, English was the official language of this event. The speech in progress had started off with the usual ass-kissing and mutual congratulation. Everyone involved had to be mentioned by name and praised for his or her generosity and brilliance and vision for making this conference happen.

  Before that, there had been a lot of gushing about Folti, how thickly dipped in awesome sauce he was, how he’d spared no expense to bring the cross to light and tell the world the story of its creator, the visionary mystic Orazio. All of which Noah already knew, so he continued casing the room, doing quickie background checks on latecomers.

  Still no surprises, but the evening was young.

  There were blocks of chairs set up in the center of the room, though nowhere near enough for everyone. Noah had opted not to get near them. He and Caro needed to stay in the shadows, in the throng, on their feet and close to the exits at all times. He’d calculated the best possible spot for hiding in plain sight; out of the camera’s way, out of the spill of lights, but with a good, unobstructed view of the cross once they pulled back the curtain that concealed it.

  Noah had his back to the wall beside a cool marble pillar, his left arm wrapped around Caro’s supple waist. His right hand kept clenching, longing for a weapon.

  Caro leaned back against him and gave him an encouraging smile. He nodded back and gave her waist a squeeze. They’d get through this. So far, so good.

  And the time spent in the amorous count’s secret fuckpad had been very, very good.

  Stefano Morelli had spotted them the minute they walked in. Not much got past that guy. Noah wondered briefly about Asa’s history with Morelli, then focused in on the speech again. One of the organizers of the economic conference had the mic and was going on about how the unveiling of the cross was a journey from the storied past into a dazzling future of unlimited possibilitie
s for…something something.

  After crashing applause, Gianfranco Folti himself came up onto the dais, beaming. He bowed to the crowd and blew them all kisses, applauding back at them. “Ladies and gentlemen, signore e signori,” he said, in a big, booming voice. “You have been too kind, waiting so patiently for the highlight of the evening.”

  A swell of chattering. Murmurs of appreciation. Scattered applause. A loud, impatient sigh from a heavy-set dude checking his solid gold Rolex. Noah zeroed in on Folti, as much as he could through the shield contacts. He got nothing.

  After all he’d read, he was looking forward to seeing this cross for real. He was an amateur sculptor himself, so he could well appreciate the incredible investment of time and artistry that had gone into the legendary object which Orazio had then sheathed with pure gold and set with pearls and gems. He wanted a closer look at those carved roundels that depicted events in the life of Jesus in almost microscopic detail, but they weren’t likely to get one tonight. This place was a zoo.

  The things he did for love.

  Caro nudged him. Her inquisitive look asked if he’d picked anything up from Folti. Noah shook his head.

  “It is my delight to reveal to you, my honored and exclusive guests, this shining gem of artistic passion and religious faith which has at long last been unearthed from the rubble of history!”

  More applause.

  “For more than five hundred years it lay hidden, miraculously intact, preserved by divine providence.” Folti’s voice rose dramatically. “But its time has finally come! Ladies and gentlemen, signore e signori, I give you now… the Cross of Orazio di Coronna!”

  The black curtains swept open.

  * * * *

  Caro got no warning as the crowd’s collective gasp of admiration went up. The exclamations of awe and the swell of excited chatter suddenly distorted in her ears, as if it were underwater. Her body went ice cold. Her heart thundered, deafeningly loud.

  Folti’s eyes were gone. Like they’d been torn out of their bleeding sockets.

  Not real not real just a vision just a stress flashback not real not real