Peeping Tom (8 page)

“If you won’t tell me where you’re from, at least tell me what danger we might face,” he said finally.

Tomasine swallowed again. “Assassins.”

“Assassins?” Felix wanted to laugh because the idea was so outlandish. The idea of assassins wandering around New Zealand, let alone a small town like Middlemarch, was ludicrous. He turned to tell Tomasine so but held back the response when he saw the flash of horror—memories—flickering across her expressive face. Okay, so she perceived the threat as real. “Apart from the ball, the woolshed dances and the agricultural fair, we don’t have a lot of strangers coming through Middlemarch.”

“Tourists come on the train so they can see the gorge and to ride or walk the old rail track,” Tomasine countered.

“Well, yes, but it would be pretty easy to spot an assassin amongst a group of tourists.”

Tomasine bounded to her feet. “You think?” Her breasts rose and fell in agitation.

“Assassins come in all shapes and sizes. You don’t know until you come face to face with one and have a gun shoved in your face. You don’t know until you see the impassive face and eyes that see everything but are so icy you feel cold inside.”

Felix drew a sharp breath. The dread in her voice told him more than he wanted to know. The idea of his mate living in the face of such terror made his gut roil. He cast his mind back, trying to think of the shifter colonies throughout the world. Cats were secretive creatures. The colonies tended to keep to themselves rather than socialize as the canine groups did. He stood and pulled her into his arms despite the stiffness of her 54

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body. Gradually she softened but he felt her shake. His arms wrapped around her trembling body, trying to communicate by touch how safe she was with him. Finally the shuddering ceased and Tomasine glanced up at him. Felix pressed a slow kiss to her lips. “I promise,” he said. “You’re safe with me. You’re all safe in Middlemarch.”

Tomasine wanted to believe him. She really wanted to but the need for survival was too deeply ingrained. It had become second nature to hide in the shadows and trust no one. However, it was true she hadn’t seen any assassins since leaving Spain. They’d been lucky to escape that time. She still wondered who the woman was who’d appeared without warning and taken out the assassin. The dark-haired woman had disappeared before Tomasine could thank her. Since then she’d moved frequently, changing her name to Tomasine Brooks, acquiring false identities and passports in Europe, never staying in one place for longer than a few weeks, gradually distancing herself from Africa. New Zealand was about as far away from Africa as she could get. Maybe Felix was right and it was time to loosen up a little. She hadn’t sensed any danger from the shifters she’d met in Middlemarch. In truth, she hadn’t sensed danger in New Zealand but that didn’t stop the wariness.

“I let the girls go out with your brother, didn’t I?” she asked. Felix scoffed. “The café is ten minutes from here in the middle of the town. Emily works there and you know where Leo lives.”

“He could be a sleeper for the assassins.” Tomasine froze even as she verbalized the idea. It wasn’t safe. Nowhere was safe from that monster.

“All Leo is interested in is finding his mate. He’s as attached to the farm as Saber and I are, a farmer born and bred. Leo is no assassin. He’s never left New Zealand.”

Tomasine nodded. Shifters didn’t particularly like airplanes and flying, which was part of the reason she’d forced herself to board a plane again and again. It hadn’t been easy but she’d done it. And she’d do it again if she had to. Tomasine already had a contingency plan if she needed it.

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Felix swept his hand through her hair, rubbing her scalp gently. Tomasine let out a purr of pleasure, no longer needing to hide that part of herself. She tipped her head back, giving him better access. He tugged lightly on her hair and then used his thumbs to make small circles at her temples and gradually moving back toward the crown of her head.

Tomasine moaned deep in her throat. “That feels so good.”

“Good enough to move to the bedroom?” He scooped her off her feet and they were in the passage leading to the bedrooms before she had a chance to say either yes or no.

“Which door, sweetheart?”

“The one right at the end.” Although the house was small, it had three bedrooms, a luxury since the three of them had stayed in many places where they’d slept crammed in one room. It was good for Sylvie to have her own room and a little independence, even though it scared Tomasine to death. During the first few weeks they’d lived in this house she’d checked on both Sylvie and Gina several times during the night just to reassure herself they were safe.

Felix strode down the passage and opened the door to her bedroom with one hand. She savored the play of muscles as he held her easily, navigating the pair of shoes she’d tossed on the blue floral mat that covered the plain wooden floorboards. He placed her on the double bed and followed her down onto the plain navy blue quilt. It bore remnants of the perfume he’d asked her not to wear and she had to agree the stuff honked. It would be good to leave the house without wearing it even though she didn’t notice it as much now.

“I like your hair, the color. In some lights it looks like you have streaks of sunset in it. When it’s dry.”

“It will smell better now that it’s washed.” Tomasine certainly enjoyed having sweet-smelling hair again.

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Felix kissed the corner of her mouth and the tip of her nose. He sucked on her bottom lip and threaded his hands through her damp hair. Each kiss made her heart thump louder, her anticipation rise.

“We can shower together next time,” he whispered, “but right now I want ordinary lovemaking in a bed.” Felix punctuated his words with another kiss on the corner of her mouth. His whiskers rasped across her delicate skin, eliciting a tremor of delight. She imagined the same sensation on her inner thighs and bit down on her lower lip to stop a mortifying groan escaping. “Simple stuff with no kink, just my body sliding into yours. Face to face in the missionary position.”

Her breath hissed out. Tomasine shivered, her breathing ragged with longing but also a touch of caution. “What sort of kink?”

His dark brows rose in a teasing manner and a tiny smile played around his sensual lips. “Why is it you zeroed in on that particular part of the conversation?”

How could she explain her sex life had consisted of degradation and embarrassment? She’d never known what Bernard would do next, what extraordinary lengths he would go to so he could climax. He’d blamed her. “My husband was into…ah, extreme stuff. It wasn’t pretty or enjoyable.”

Felix sat up and took her hands in his. “I would never do anything to hurt you. When we are together, if there’s anything that bothers you or makes you feel uncomfortable, all you need to do is tell me to stop.” He kissed the tender skin on her inner wrist, his green eyes glowing with honesty. “But we can still explore our sexuality together. We’ll have lots of fun.”

“Yes,” Tomasine breathed.

“Stand up for me. I’d like to undress you. You know I rather liked you in the towel. Easy access. Stunning view.”

“But your brother was looking,” Tomasine protested.

Felix scowled. “He’s male, but he won’t look in future. I hope his mate turns up soon.”

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“His mate?”

Felix’s eyes narrowed in a sign of impatience. “I don’t want to talk about Leo. We don’t have much time. We should make the most of it. Stand up for me, sweetheart.”

Tomasine stood, her belly quivering with sudden nerves. She stared at him and he smiled, his face losing its fierceness as soon as his lips slanted up in a grin.

“Remember, all you need to do is tell me to stop and I will.”

Somehow, Tomasine didn’t think she’d ever want him to stop. Her stomach sucked in at the thought, her imagination dancing ahead. She visualized the slow slide of their bodies together, the sound of flesh slapping against flesh. The sensation of his mouth sliding across her skin and the feel of his silken shaft forging into her moist pussy. Her breathing was unsteady when she studied him, his dark good looks, glittering green eyes and wind-rustled hair. He wasn’t as pretty as his brother Leo. The angles of his face were harsh and sometimes stern, but she’d seen the kindness in him, experienced it. She could hardly believe this was happening, that he was looking at her as if he wanted to eat her up when only a week earlier he’d avoided her like the rest of the residents of Middlemarch. Like the black plague. A primitive throb pumped through her veins while she studied him, desire curling through her. He wanted
her—
Tomasine Brooks. A fine tremor took her as he reached out, intending to take this to a more personal level.

First, he cupped her face with his hands. He kissed her eyelids and her cheeks, slowly working his way toward her mouth. Some of his kisses were soft, like the flit of a butterfly, while others were slower, lingering and made her pulse jump to a crazy beat. Tomasine pursed her lips ready for his kiss but he chuckled and bypassed her mouth. He nibbled her chin before moving lower to kiss her neck. A sigh whispered from Tomasine. She was sure he’d remedy the neglect soon. Felix sucked lightly on the side of her neck and the sensation writhed through her like an out-of-control wildfire. Tomasine shifted her weight, the move abrading her nipples against the cups of her cotton bra. Hurry. Her heart pounded an urgent beat.

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She wished he’d hurry.

Almost as if he could read her impatience, he reached for the hem of her T-shirt and drew it upward. Their gazes met and held. Tomasine’s heart seemed to stop under his intense regard. The tips of her breasts tingled and she swallowed when a raft of sudden nerves hit her.

Was she doing the right thing?

Normally she followed her instincts. They were shouting—no, screaming—at her to grab this man and keep him, to trust him because he was her future. But her mind wasn’t so sure.

“Stop frowning,” Felix whispered, his warm breath tickling her ear and setting off a series of aftershocks. He tugged her T-shirt up higher to bare her stomach. Felix pressed a moist kiss to the tender skin just below her breasts. His thumb skated against the side of one breast and she waited anxiously for more.

Tomasine gripped the duvet cover, forcing herself to accept each of his seductive touches even though uneasiness assailed her because the T-shirt covered her face. Wanting someone led to vulnerability. She tensed, but suddenly he whipped the T-shirt over her head and she could see clearly—his sexy smile, his sparkling eyes and a cute dimple she hadn’t noticed before. Unbidden, she reached out, her finger teasing the tiny hollow to the left of his mouth.

A growl vibrated in his chest. “Every time you touch me, I get distracted. We’re going to play by some new rules. I want you to lie down and grip the wooden rails on the bed headboard.”

Tomasine narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. “I like the sound of you doing all the work but I want to touch too.”

“Next time,” Felix said. “You get to call the shots next time.”

Chocolate. She’d always wanted to experiment with chocolate body paint. That would work for starters and maybe she could think up something else that would push him from his smugness. Push. No, she’d think of something special to blast him from 59

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complacency. “Sounds good to me.” Tomasine couldn’t help the smug chirpiness in her voice when she gripped two of the wooden slats on the headboard and held tight. Felix leaned over her, his lips halting a fraction away from her lips. If she pursed her lips, their mouths would touch. “What are you thinking?” Both suspicion and amusement filled his words. “Should I regret my offer?” His lips brushed hers in the lightest of kisses with each word he uttered.

Sexual tension grabbed Tomasine and for an instant she was tempted to seize him by the ears and grind their mouths together, their bodies. Arousal dampened her bikini briefs and she stared up at him with bemusement.

How did he do this to her with barely a touch?

“Sweetheart, should I worry?”

Tomasine grinned sweetly. “Hell yes. Of course you should worry.”

“That’s what I thought.” Felix dipped his head and closed the distance between their lips. It was a slow mating of mouths. Just lips at first. Nibbling kisses that taunted and teased and made her want much more. Then he licked one corner of her mouth and pushed his tip of his tongue inside. Tomasine moaned, feeling echoes of his move low in her pussy. She stirred restlessly but didn’t let go of her fierce grip on the wooden bars that ran the length of her headboard. He repeated the move—a slow thrust of his tongue into her mouth, reminiscent of a cock pushing into her vagina. Urgent hunger clawed at Tomasine and her pulse raced as she waited to see what he’d do next. His mouth moved across to her ear. He blew softly, and when she didn’t move or protest, he nibbled on her earlobe and sucked it into his mouth. Not quite what she’d expected but interesting and strangely erotic. Felix swirled his tongue round the contours of her ear and flicked his tongue inside without warning. Tomasine jolted. Oh yes! Definitely erotic. She gasped and gripped the wooden slats a bit harder. Tomasine anxiously wondered where he’d kiss next. She watched him through lowered lashes but his face didn’t yield a single clue. He shifted his body weight, the 60

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mattress moving and the bed creaking. Tomasine breathed deeply and caught a hint of green and the outdoors along with the perfume she’d come to hate. He tugged at the top dome button of her jeans and unfastened the rest of the buttons with an ease that left her a trifle perturbed. She didn’t like the idea of other women in his life, which was unfair since she’d been married and had a child. She’d hate to think that Felix might resent Sylvie.

“Lift,” he ordered.

Tomasine raised her hips and he peeled the denim from her body, leaving her clad in pale blue panties and her white bra. She wondered briefly if he’d noticed her lingerie didn’t match before deciding it didn’t matter. Bernard was gone. She’d never have to match lingerie again. Unless that was what she wanted. Felix tossed the jeans aside and placed a kiss on her kneecap. If she’d thought things might progress from there, she was disappointed. He headed south. Way south to grip one of her feet in his workrough hands. He massaged lightly, stroking her feet until she relaxed into the mattress with a contented purr. Talented and sexy.