Seductive Secrecy (Shadows series) by Marni Mann

any attention to us.
    It wouldn’t have mattered much if they had been.
    I carefully dropped my clutch on the ground. “Can you get that for me?” As I finished speaking, I stepped directly over the small purse, keeping my legs spread as far apart as the skirt would allow.
    He released my waist as he bent down and we made brief eye contact before he found the spot I wanted him to see. Then he gradually rose from my legs and returned to my side.
    “You’re going to show that to me…and expect me not to want to eat it?” he breathed.
    “That’s exactly what I expect…for now.”
    He pulled me against him, and I discovered the hardness straining against his pants. “I changed my mind. I can’t wait until later, and I see no reason why I have to. Let me take you inside that limo so I can devour you. Then we’ll move on to the next layer I have planned.”
    Devour. It sent a wave of heat over my back and down my breasts, making my nipples even harder. If this was his reaction to my bare pussy, I wondered how he would respond when my mouth finally touched him.
    “You’re not getting anything just yet. This dress hasn’t even come close to teasing you enough.”
    “Charlie…”
    I nodded to the set of waiters who were standing up ahead, holding full trays of white and red wine and champagne. “I think we could both use a drink.”
    Cameron left my side just long enough to grab two glasses of red. He handed me one as I tucked my clutch under my arm. Finally, we made our way through the main entrance and into the open space where the art was showcased.
    This gallery was much more contemporary than some of the others in the city, with its stained concrete floors, multi-height white half-walls and metal rafters dropping down at various levels, holding spotlights that shined directly on the individual pieces. Short, rectangular leather beds were scattered throughout; groups of people sat and chatted. The art all around them was perfectly matched to the tone of the space. Canvases weren’t the only things being shown; at least every other piece was an oversized plate that appeared to be made of glass or ceramic, with wavy borders and bold, dramatic color filling the center. Some of the designs were striped; others were splashes and bursts, as if the artist had thrown a bucket of paint against it.
    “Cameron,” I heard someone say from behind us.
    We were headed toward the back of the room where the collection started, but we stopped and turned around when we heard the Professor greet us. He had two men at his side, both of whom I recognized as buyers from my exhibit.
    Professor Freeman shook Cameron’s hand before turning his attention to me. He reached for mine, and I set my fingers onto his palm. “Charlie,” he said, bending to give me a kiss on the cheek, “what a nice surprise. I didn’t expect either of you to be here…you look as beautiful as ever.”
    “Thank you,” I said. “It’s always a pleasure to see you outside of school.”
    I knew my dress was tasteful, but I was showing much more skin than I normally did. Before the Doctor became part of my life, Professor Freeman had been the closest thing I’d had to a father. It felt a little inappropriate to be wearing something so revealing in front of him.
    “You remember Chet and Ronald from your exhibit?” he asked.
    “Of course,” I said, reaching forward to shake their hands. “It’s nice to see you both again.”
    Cameron had introduced himself while I had been speaking to the Professor. Now that the focus was back on me, he circled his arm protectively around my waist. I didn’t think either Chet or Ronald noticed, though. Neither of their stares had really made it past my face.
    “Chet was just mentioning how interested he was in owning one of your pieces,” the Professor said.
    “Indeed,” Chet said. “I still remember the series from your exhibit, especially the one…I believe you called it The Lace Mask? That one really caught