Free Breaking His Rules by R.C. Matthews Page B

I’d dealt with plenty of his kind over the years. So the smile I gave Giovanni before my retort was genuine.
    “Freedom of choice,” I said and continued pouring glasses of champagne. “Last time I checked, prostitution is still against the law.”
    Giovanni’s laugh was deep and long, drawing the curious stares of nearby guests. “I’ve always loved your quick wit, Samantha.” Warmth filled his eyes and he smiled wistfully. “Truly, I miss it. And you.”
    I had glanced up afterward and was pinned to the spot by Damon’s intense stare as he tipped his drink up and swallowed. Mason stood by his side, talking his ear off about only God knew what. Was Damon scolding me for entertaining his guest? Well, fuck it. He was the one who put me in the awkward position with Giovanni by refusing to let me work the first floor of the club.
    But I had a feeling I knew why he wanted me in The Lounge, and it tugged on the muscle aching in the middle of my chest. Damon wanted me close to him. Though he kept his distance, he rarely shifted his stance away from me—always preferring to keep me in his line of sight. My eyes raked up and down his body then, telling him everything he needed to know about what I was thinking, and he rewarded me with a smirk.
    A knock on the door startled me and I opened it without thinking. Damon let out a long, slow whistle as his eyes swept the length of my body. “You’re stunning.”
    Stunned was more like it. Damon in a suit was good-looking, but in dark-wash jeans and a black button-down shirt he was sex on a stick. And I wanted to lick him up, inch by slow inch. Before I could even smile in response, Brandy squeezed between my legs and I reacted on instinct, reaching for her as she bolted out the door.
    “Brandy!” I shouted.
    Damon snagged her by the cuff of her neck, quick as lightning, and pulled her into his arms. “Gotcha.”
    To my surprise, Brandy let him cradle her in his embrace. She didn’t usually warm up to strangers. He stared down at her with a boyish grin and wiggled a finger behind her ear. Her little nose nudged at the collar of his shirt and she purred.
    I shook my head. “Do all ladies fall under your spell so easily?”
    He glanced up with a wry smile. “Not all. I recall one fine lady, in particular, who resisted my charms—at first.”
    “Well this lady needs to get back into the apartment so we can get out of here,” I said, holding out my hands for the cat.
    “Let me handle it.” Damon winked and pushed by me into my apartment.
    I groaned and followed him in, shutting the door securely before tossing the card I still held next to the flowers on the coffee table.
    “Giovanni send those?” he asked as he strolled around the small space, still stroking Brandy’s ears and taking in his surroundings.
    My gaze flashed to the flowers and then Damon. I folded my arms. “Why would you think that?”
    “He made his intentions with regards to you quite clear to me last night at Midnight Blue.”
    “Oh, really?” I lifted a questioning eyebrow. “What does that mean?”
    A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Giovanni demanded I back the fuck off.”
    Why didn’t that surprise me? I gazed at Damon with more than a little curiosity. “And yet you still came tonight.”
    “You sound surprised.”
    “I am.” The situation merited quiet contemplation. I couldn’t help but wonder why Damon would take the trouble. We’d already had our one night stand. “Why bother? He can make your life hell.”
    “You underestimate your allure,” Damon said, his eyes dropping to rest on my mouth. “You offered one more night.” He captured my gaze again. “And I have every intention of enjoying it.”
    Well, fuck. I was pretty sure my panties were soaked after his declaration. There wasn’t much hotter than a gorgeous man dreaming about his cock buried in my throat. I had half a mind to kneel before him right then and there to prove I was worth the trouble.
    Damon