Embrace the Desire by Spring Stevens Page B

purple circle with a crescent moon attached to each side. He had seen the same symbol somewhere else. His memory failed him and he grunted as his eyes slid farther up her leg. The length of it was torture and the scent that was reaching his nose was flaring up desires he didn’t want to face.
    He gritted his teeth and frowned as she stood. She was looking better and better each time he saw her. She stretched and he sucked in the air around him as her breasts peeked and her nipples hardened. He would like to see her naked, and he knew that soon he would and a soft grin came to his lips.
    Watching her move was a pleasure all its own and he knew beyond a shadow of doubt that he was going to enjoy this. Yeah, he would indeed, even if it killed him in the end.
    She turned and headed back down the hall. “I’m going to take a shower and get this makeup off. Would you be a dear and fix some hot chocolate? The cocoa is in the cabinet above the stove.”
    Cocoa? Chocolate? What was she trying to insinuate? Chocolate was an aphrodisiac.
    Payne growled, but stood carefully depositing the cats on the couch; he didn’t have the faintest clue how to fix hot chocolate nor had he ever been asked to do such a thing. The fat black cat that had been on his left leg stretched as he purred. Jazz jumped down to the floor and meowed up at Payne as he waltzed by. He walked across the room and went into the small kitchen turning around and meowing to Payne once more.
    Payne rolled his eyes and followed the cat’s path to the kitchen. Jazz pawed at the refrigerator and Payne opened the door. The cat rubbed against Payne’s leg and meowed again. Scanning the contents of the refrigerator, he found a gallon of milk.
    Okay, so he had the milk, now what?
    He twisted the cap off and poured some into the bowl that was sitting in the floor in front of the stove. The cat happily lapped at the cold liquid as Payne reached into the cabinet and pulled out the can of cocoa. He carefully read the instructions on the side of the can.
    It seemed easy enough. He looked around the tiny room trying to find a microwave. The directions called for a microwave, but none was to be found in this kitchen. He eyeballed the pan that sat in the dish drain beside of the sink.
    “I am not a fucking maid, she can do it herself if she wants it. Who the hell does she think she is ordering me around? And why the fuck does she smell so good?”
    He carefully sat the can down on the counter and looked down at the black cat. “You fix the shit for her!”
    Jazz purred and rubbed up against his leg as the other three cats came running into the kitchen at the sound of his voice. He grinned as they jumped up onto the counter and pawed at the pan. They were loyal to her and he did appreciate that.
    Loyalty he understood, cooking he did not.
    Payne grabbed the pan and slammed it down on the burner, wincing slightly at the harshness of the sound. He poured it about half full of milk and turned the knob until flames shot out from underneath the pan. He stepped back and grinned; he could have used his fingers to achieve that. He took the lid off the can and tipped it over the pan. The tabby squalled out as a few drops of the powder poured into the milk. He jerked the can away and frowned as the powder landed on the stovetop.
    “What the hell do you expect from me? I haven’t ever done this shit before.”
    The tabby growled and hissed as she went to the dish drain and pawed a spoon. Payne grunted as he took the spoon and slammed it into the can. He dumped two tablespoons into the milk and glared at the cat. He stood over the stove and stared at the milk until it started to boil.
    As his stare hardened, he listened to the water running in the bathroom. He could hear her humming and smell the soap she was using to wash her hair. He wondered what she looked like without all that makeup and Gothic clothing. Growling, he could picture her in a black negligee with her hair damp and clinging to