Her anger at full flood and the adrenaline spiking in her system, Livia punched and kicked the mugger until, still groaning, he took off. Yelling “Bitch!” at her as he ran, she unleashed a litany of curse words at him, beyond caring who heard her. Finally, she caught her breath and picked up her bag, turning to go to the restaurant.
She stopped. Nox Renaud was looking at her, astonished admiration in his eyes. Livia’s breath caught in her throat.
“Well,” he said finally, a grin slowly spreading across his face. “Hello again.”
Chapter Four
“I’m absolutely fine,” Livia complained as Marcel fussed over her, making her drink the bourbon he offered. Nox Renaud sat across from her, a small smile playing around his lips. It was as if they shared a secret now, and Livia couldn’t help but grin.
“I heard you holler,” Nox told her, “and came to help, but you’d pretty much wrecked the guy by the time I got there. Pretty badass, if you ask me.”
“A girl’s got to look after herself,” Livia said. She couldn’t stop looking at him—she hadn’t imagined how gorgeous he was. Those green eyes, that dark hair and messy curls, they were all as beautiful as she remembered. The way he was looking at her sent thrills through her entire body.
Marcel and Moriko seemed to notice the charged atmosphere and, after making sure Livia really was okay after the shock of her mugging, they discreetly disappeared. The restaurant was closed now, only a couple of lamps still on, and in the gloom, Nox took her hands in his.
“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you,” he said honestly. “I admit, my friend and I came to the Quarter for drinks and I deliberately chose the bar across the street from here … I hoped to see you.”
“Which friend?”
“Sandor? You might have met him at the party.”
Livia nodded. “I did. He seemed lovely.”
Nox smiled. “He is. But as lovely as he is, I don’t want to talk about Sandor. Liv, those few moments we spent together in the garden … I don’t want to presume, but to me, there was something there.”
“I felt it too.” She began to tremble as he got out of his seat and stepped closer to her. He was so tall, she felt tiny next to him. He pulled her out of her chair and slid his hands onto her waist—tentative, a question in his eyes.
“Is this okay?”
Livia nodded and Nox smiled. He bent his head and Livia felt—at last—his lips against hers. The first kiss was brief, hesitant. But it didn’t stop at one, and went on, becoming more passionate, his fingers tangling in her long hair, pulling her closer. Livia could feel his heart beating in his chest as her own arms snaked around him, her hands feeling the taut muscles of his back.
Kissing him was like taking a shot of pure heroin, she imagined. Heady, overwhelming, electric. His lips shaped themselves perfectly to hers, his tongue caressing, massaging hers, his breathing ragged. Finally, desperate for air, they broke apart.
“Wow.” Livia breathed. “Wow.”
Nox brushed his fingertips across her face. “Livia, may I please take you on a date?”
His words seemed so formal after that breathtaking kiss that she giggled. Nox grinned. “I’m sorry, I’m out of practice. What I mean is, I would like to see you again. And again. And again.”
His words made her melt, and she leaned into his embrace. She gazed up at him. “I would like that too, Nox, very much. But … what will your family, your friends think? I’m just a waitress. Well, a grad student, but I’m clearly not of your social circle. Won’t they think badly of me?”
“I really don’t care. There is no ‘just’ a waitress or a student. Both of those things are honorable, genuine things. But who cares what our jobs are? You’re Livia, I’m Nox. The rest is just window dressing.”
Livia gave a soft moan of desire and he tightened his arms around her. “I’d just like to get to know you, Liv. We can work anything else out together. Let’s just try, that’s all I ask.”
He walked her back to her apartment, but didn’t ask to come in. He kissed her again and it was just as spine-tingling as their earlier kiss. She could feel the tension in his body, the way his huge erection pressed against her belly when he held her tightly, but Nox Renaud was clearly a gentleman. “May I see you tomorrow?”
So proper, so polite. She nodded, grinning. “Tomorrow is my day off, so yes.”
“Then would you spend the day with me?”
“I’d like that very much.”
Nox brushed his lips against hers, his hands gently cradling her face. “Then shall we say ten a.m.?”
“Perfect.”
The kiss deepened, once again leaving Livia breathless. Nox smiled at her. “Goodnight, lovely Liv.”
“Goodnight, Nox.”
She felt bereft as she saw him walk away, turning to look at her once more before he turned the corner. His grin made her heart swell. For a moment or two, she stood out in the cool night, blinking. “Did that actually just happen?”
She chuckled and went inside. As she opened the door to the apartment, Moriko, dressed in Hello Kitty pajamas, held up a bag of potato chips and said, “You, on the couch, now. You’re not going to bed until you’ve told me everything.”
He had watched Nox and the girl, Livia, walk back to her apartment, following at a safe distance. They were obviously smitten with each other, and he guessed they must have met at the party. The party where she was a waitress, and Nox was the billionaire party host. He couldn’t fault Nox on his taste. Livia was beautiful, all sumptuous curves and softness. But still, a waitress … The scandal would be great indeed, especially amongst their cohorts, but that wasn’t what was making him smile. No, it was the thought of Nox and Livia possibly falling deeply in love, so deeply in love that when she was taken from him, Nox would finally be destroyed.
And that was all he had ever dreamed of …
Chapter Five
Moriko was sitting on the bathroom cabinet, watching Livia apply her makeup. “I cannot believe you didn’t sleep with him.”
Livia rolled her eyes. “Dude, we haven’t even been on a date yet.”
“Prude.”
Livia grinned. Moriko was a seize-the-moment kind of girl; Livia preferred the slow-burn. “Besides, if we’d had sex in the restaurant, Health and Human Services would have been outraged.” God, just thinking about sex with Nox was making her hot, but she brushed the thought aside before Moriko could pick up on it. “Look, we’re going on one date. Don’t jump the gun.”
“Where’s he taking you?”
Livia sighed. “We’re taking each other … I don’t know. We haven’t discussed that yet.”
“Too busy sucking face.”
Livia laughed aloud. “Well, do you blame me? Have you seen him? Now, go away, I need to finish up here and you’re distracting me.”
Moriko hopped down, grinning, and tapped a closed drawer. “Plenty of condoms in there. Take a handful. Better safe than sorry.”
Livia pointed out at the door and, grumbling but grinning, Moriko left her alone. Livia shut the door behind her and sighed, leaning against it. Her whole body felt as if she were wired up to the National Grid. If Nox even touched her once, she would jump him. “Calm the fuck down,” she muttered to herself. Still, when she’d finished getting ready, she grabbed some condoms from the drawer and shoved them deep into her purse.
Nox was five minutes early. “Sorry, couldn’t wait.”
Livia saw Moriko make a crude gesture behind Nox’s back and glared at her. “Do excuse Moriko; she was raised by wolves.”
“All the best people are,” Nox grinned at Livia’s friend, who smiled back at him.
“Look after her,” she said. “Later, lovers.” She disappeared back into her bedroom while Livia’s face burned red.
“So,” she said, trying not to look flustered in his presence, “what’s the plan?”
“Well, last night your roommate told me you hadn’t been in New Orleans for long, so I thought
maybe we could take a steamboat trip. We could see the city and talk at the same time. What do you think?”
Livia smiled at him. “I think that sounds perfect.”
The Steamboat Natchez was full of tourists as it began to float down the Mississippi River, but neither Nox nor Livia cared. They sat out on the deck, the weather still very warm despite it being November, breathing in the fresh air. Nox asked Livia about where she had come from.
“Southern California, so I’m used to hot weather,” she grinned. “It is different heat here, more humidity. Sultrier. New Orleans is a very sexy city.”
Nox laughed. “If you say so. I’m NOLA born and bred, but I have to admit, sometimes the heat during the day gets to me. So why did you leave SoCal?”
Livia looked away from his gaze. “No family to speak of, and Moriko was here. I managed to get a scholarship to the University, so that made it official. I haven’t regretted it once. Especially now.”
They smiled at each other and Nox leaned in to kiss her again. “Livia, that night at the party … I haven’t felt a connection like that in years.”
“Really?” She was delighted, then frowned. “No, I mean, really? Look at you, you could have anyone.”
“I’m fussy,” he said lightly with a grin, but she could see something behind his eyes.
“You don’t give away a lot, do you? I mean, I could see the sadness in your eyes when we met … You can talk to me, you know?”
Nox’s expression changed for a split second—fear?—but he shook his head. “I’m a firm believer in the past staying in the past. What I want now is for us to get to know each other. Is that something you’d like, Livvy?”
She studied him, leaning on the railing of the steamboat. “Charvi was right about you. You are an enigma.”
“Charvi? Charvi Sood?” Nox’s eyes lit up and Livia nodded.
“Yes, she knew your mother?”
“I’ll say. Charvi was my mom’s best friend.” He looked so excited, like a little boy. “I had no idea she was back in New Orleans.”
“She is. She’s my tutor, my mentor, really. I’m sure she’d love to see you.”
Nox gave a short laugh. “Why wouldn’t she come to see me herself?” He frowned to himself, obviously deep in thought, and Livia wondered if she had made a mistake mentioning Charvi to him.
Nox shook himself. “Well, yes, I’d love to see her.” He smiled at Livia. “So, you’re a master pianist?”
She laughed. “Oh, no, I’m really just a beginner, at least when you consider the scope of the craft. My focus is on jazz piano, for this program at least. But, really, I love all classical music. And rock, and blues, and on and on …”
“I’m afraid my music knowledge extends as far as Pearl Jam and Tom Petty. That kind of music.”
“I adore both,” Livia encouraged him. “For my undergraduate thesis, for the recital, I did a slowed down piano version of “Rearviewmirror.””
“I gather speed, from you fucking with me …” Nox quoted and their gazes locked. Livia felt breathless.
“Anticipation is a marvelous thing,” she said softly and Nox nodded.
“Oh, I agree.” He grinned and swept her hair back over her shoulder, stroking the back of his finger down her neck. “Your skin is so soft.”
Tingling sensations were racing through her body at his touch. God, I want you, she thought. But as she’d said, the anticipation of making love with this man was electrifying. Her eyes dropped to his groin, his erection obvious in his denim jeans. She looked up at him from underneath her lashes. “I wonder how long we can hold out.”
Nox grinned. “Personally speaking, and to be blunt, I think it would be amazing to be inside you right now … But yes, let’s keep this going until we don’t have a choice. Why bow to society’s pressure to rush into anything?”
Livia suddenly crushed her lips to his, sliding her hand over his groin and squeezing. God, he was huge. Nox gave a moan. “God, Livvy, try to make it easy on me, why don’t you?”
She chuckled, loving that he’d used her nickname so soon. “Listen, you have all the cards here, Mr. Billionaire. This, at least, is on my terms.”
Nox laughed, burying his face in her neck. “You smell so good, it’s intoxicating.”
She stroked his dark curls. “How is it I feel like I’ve known you forever?”
Nox sat up and studied her. She stroked the thick dark eyelashes she had been dreaming about, and he leaned into her touch. “I know, I feel that too.”
She grinned at him. “Nox Renaud, we’re going to have a lot of fun together.”
And she meant it. She wanted to erase the haunted look in his eyes forever, even if this thing between them was only fleeting. The thought caused an unexpected shock of pain—already she felt so comfortable with him, they were so in tune with each other. A small voice inside her whispered, you don’t know him yet, but she pushed it away. For now, they would have fun, and that was enough.
They spent a blissful two hours on the riverboat, and then took a cab back to the French Quarter to an upscale burger joint that Livia suggested. Nox didn’t seem the type to turn his nose up at everyday fare and she was right, he practically swooned over the juicy burger, which was smothered in sautéed mushrooms and melted cheese. Livia grinned at him.
“It’s good, right?”
“Damn good.” He took a swig from his bottle of beer and she grinned, picking a stray mushroom from his cheek.
“I like a man who enjoys his burgers.”
Nox muffled a belch in his fist and apologized. Livia chuckled. “Excuse me,” he said and she kissed his cheek. There was already such a change in him now from when they had met. He was relaxed and laidback, and even the sadness in his eyes was less apparent. She couldn’t believe it was because of her.
“Tell me more about yourself, Nox.” Her smile faded a little and she looked at him steadily. “I’m so sorry about your family.”
There it was, the wariness in his eyes, and he looked away from her for a moment. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“No, it’s okay,” he said. He wound his fingers through hers. “I can’t pretend it didn’t happen and I want to be honest with you from the start. Yeah, it was rough. That doesn’t begin to cover it, but for now I’ll just say … it took some getting over.”
“Can you get over something like that?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know.”
Livia stroked the back of his hand with her finger. “I think society places too much pressure on someone to ‘get over’ things. Why? Why should we get over things? Can’t we just acknowledge that the pain will always hurt like hell, no matter how much time has passed? We just go on, live our lives, pretending we’re okay when we’re not.” She cupped his face in her hand, her eyes locked on his. “That night in the garden, you were so honest with me. I asked you if you were okay and you said you weren’t. Let’s always be that honest with each other, whatever happens, wherever this goes. Deal?”
Nox’s eyes were intense on hers. “How old are you, Livia Chatelaine? Because you have the wisdom of someone much, much older. Yes, of course, deal.” He leaned over and kissed her. “We have so much to learn about each other, and I can’t wait. One question … I’ll be forty in two years and you’re what, twenty-three, twenty-four?”
“Twenty-seven.”
“Does the age gap bother you?”
Livia shifted around and sat on his lap, not caring if the other diners were watching them. She hooked her arms around his neck and nuzzled his nose. “You just said I was much older,” she whispered to him. “So … what age gap?”
Nox slid his hand under her shirt and stroked her belly as she kissed him. The feel of his big fingers against her skin made her weak. “God, I want you.” She gave a small moan.
Nox grinned wickedly. “Anticipation, remember?”
She wriggled against his groin, feeling his cock harden almost instantly, and he groaned.
/>
“You are a very bad girl, Livia Chatelaine. The moment I’m inside you can’t come—excuse the pun—soon enough.”
She hopped off his lap and smirked. “Anticipation …”
“Devil woman.” And they both laughed.
Amber sighed as she saw Odelle approaching her. It was late afternoon at the salon and Amber had just had a blissful massage. The last thing she wanted was for Odelle to ruin her buzz. The blonde woman smiled tentatively at her but it didn’t reach her eyes. That wasn’t anything new with Odelle
“Always good to see you, Odelle,” Amber said smoothly, and indicated the tea tray in front of her. “Won’t you join me?”
Odelle nodded. “Thank you.” She sat and Amber poured her some herbal tea.
“Did you enjoy Nox’s party this year?” Amber was being facetious—she knew Odelle hated public gatherings. Odelle, despite her beauty, didn’t mingle well with people and Amber had always wondered why. Odelle’s famed iciness aside, she rarely made the effort to get to know other people, almost as if she were protecting herself from something. Odelle, Amber, Nox, and Roan had known each other since they were teenagers, but still Amber felt as if she had never really known Odelle. All she knew was that Roan had pursued the blonde woman, and that Odelle had only ever opened up to Nox, who she regarded as an older brother.
She studied Odelle now. The other woman looked tired. “Is everything okay with you, Odelle?”
“Of course. Roan and I are thinking of getting engaged.”
Amber tried not to spit out her tea. “Really?” She couldn’t help the tone of cynicism that crept into her voice, but she regretted it when Odelle flushed red with annoyance.
“Is it so hard to believe?”
“No, of course not, I’m sorry. It’s just Roan never mentioned it. Are you sure you want to be tied to, let’s just say, to a man who …”
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