Free Lion of Midnight by Aliyah Burke Page B

lip, Cleo took a deep breath. “After you,” she said softly.
    When he moved past her, she was faced with his cargo pants and what they contained. His coat had disappeared somewhere along the line. Closing her eyes, she sent up a prayer for some control before she began to walk up behind him. As attractive as his ass was, the intricate design in the banister caught her attention. Hand-carved, delicate swirls wrapped all the way around, and she could feel it on the underside when her fingers skated across it.
    At the top of the stairs, there was a tiled landing covered by area rugs, followed by thick carpeting leading down the hallways. It was a royal blue and blood red color with some black swishes in it.
    “This way,” Nikolas said in a low voice.
    She followed the direction of his hand, and soon, they were walking down the hallway. Her gaze took in the paintings along the wall. His house was like a museum itself. The lighting was dim, giving off a very intimate and romantic feel. The longing to take off her shoes and let her bare feet feel the softness of the carpeting flowed over her.
    He stopped before a dark oak door. This surprisingly was simple in appearance, no ornate carvings or depictions on it. Just a nice, solid door. With a turn of his wrist, he opened it, swinging it inward.
    “Make yourself at home. I’ll be back in a bit to collect you for dinner.” Nikolas spoke by her ear, sending more of those delightful shivers throughout her body. “I hope you’re hungry.”
    One feather-light touch on the base of her spine and he was gone. Cleo glanced over her shoulder in time to see him crossing the area rugs on the landing, his motion one of pure masculine power. It rolled off him in waves, and she couldn’t help the moan of appreciation that slipped past her lips.
    Squaring her shoulders, Cleo headed into the room, which was lit not only with a soft lamp by the door but also by the flames of a large roaring fire. Her gaze moved around the interior, and she swore softly. “Sweet Jesus.”
    It was a huge room. As with the downstairs, crisp white paint and gold trim accented of the walls. Beautiful oil painted landscape images in gold frames hung throughout the room. Dark caramel furniture graced the space. To her left was a beautiful queen panel bed—the beauty of it took her breath away. The color of the thick comforter was a subtle off-white, blending in smoothly with the rest of the room’s décor. Lots of plush pillows covered the surface of the bed.
    Her gaze swept over the bachelor’s chests, some with and some without marbled tops. In one corner sat a round pedestal table with two chairs placed before it. Behind the overstuffed sofa in the room was a console table with a large crystal vase holding an array of yellow roses, orange tulips, peach gerbera daisies, and green hydrangeas, all silk but no less beautiful. There were smaller arrangements sporadically placed on smooth surfaces throughout the room.
    “I could stay in this room quite contentedly.” She draped her coat over the arm of the sofa.
    She walked to the bed and gently reached out to press on the thick mattress. This is going to be a great night’s sleep. Moments after she sat on it, a knock came to the door. It sent tremors of longing through her for she knew who it was. Mouthwateringly handsome Nikolas Andreyevich.
    “Come on in,” she offered, getting off the bed and walking past the marble-topped round door commode. She stood in front of the Delano door dresser, staring at her reflection in the mirror.
    The door opened, and using the etched mirror, she found herself seeing the tall form of the man who’d come to escort her to dinner. He hadn’t changed his clothing, and she was eternally grateful. Nikolas leaned against the door with one wide shoulder. His arms were crossed as he stared back at her. A half smile curled up on side of his firm, kissable mouth.
    “Ready?” he asked, not moving from his spot.
    “This room…the