Despite Elaina’s hopes for a reprieve, “soon” turned out to be later that day when Alex took her shopping for a business wardrobe and a new car, bending his promise to keep her out of the public eye to the breaking point. He rationalized the promise-bending by limiting her interactions to only a pre-screened private shopper.
Back in his sports car, she slunk below the window frame. “It’s not just about the promise, Alex. You’re spending too much on me.”
“You don’t get to decide that. Whether you want to hear it or not, I love you, and I’ll show it however I want.”
It wasn’t that she didn’t appreciate his gifts—she did, greatly—but the more he put into the relationship, the more her deception twisted her insides. Between her lies and these new feelings of shame, she hardly recognized, much less respected, herself anymore.
She noted the scene outside the car window and changed the subject. “Where are we going?”
He’d taken her into downtown Chicago for the shopping trip, and now he drove up Michigan Avenue. She was going to kill him if he bent his promise any more.
He regarded her. “Do you trust me?” The question raised her suspicions beyond where they were already, but before she could ask anything, he raised a finger. “Answer me.”
Her nails tapped out an impatient rhythm on the door handle. “Yes.”
She’d probably regret that answer, but it was the truth. Damn him.
“Then close your eyes.” After she obeyed, the car stopped. “Keep them closed until I tell you.” At that order, his door opened and shut.
Muffled voices sounded by the trunk, and she thought she heard a “Thanks, James.”
Alex’s driver was here? Why now and not earlier? The trust he was asking of her piled higher and higher.
Cold wind blew across her cheeks when her door opened. Rain beat onto an umbrella overhead, and the rumble of James’s truck pulled away on a busy street alongside them.
Alex captured her hand, spreading the tingles of his touch. “Come with me.”
She let him lead her, her heels clicking on cement. The various sensations from humanity and the density of the city buildings around them overwhelmed her newly strengthened talent with countless sources of tickling awareness.
Cars whizzed by on one side, their metal frames and the jewelry and watches of the occupants a constant distraction. At her elbow, the priceless décor of the high-end buildings they passed—even the copper wiring and pipes from the hulking skyscrapers—added to the chaos and kept her from being able to pinpoint any specific origin.
A knock on glass drew her attention to the structure on her right. She nearly swayed with the powerful impressions behind the surface. Hinges swished, and warmth poured over her exposed skin from the open door.
A woman’s voice spoke. “Good evening, Mr. Wyatt. We’re ready for you.”
Alex led her inside, and a click and ruffle of nylon signaled the closing of the umbrella. “Eyes still closed. That’s my beautiful.”
Honestly, the impact of her surroundings weighed on her so heavily she wasn’t sure she could open her eyelids. A tug-of-war between the pressure of a high security location and the lure of treasure spun her thoughts. Where had he taken her?
His sharp scent cut through her muddled senses, and his lips brushed her ear. “I have a surprise for you, but it requires you to follow the rules—no matter what.”
The past two months had been all about following the rules and resisting temptation. What was this place that he felt the need to remind her again? She nodded her understanding anyway.
He moved to her side and held her hand. “Open your eyes.”
His instruction gave her the strength to overcome the chaotic pressure around her, and she pried her eyelids apart.
A prim woman stood a few feet away. “Welcome to Tiffany’s.”
A feast for her senses encircled her. Every type of precious metal and gem vied for her attention, sparkling and gleaming in the jewelry store’s strategic lighting.
Alex’s fingers gripped tight, supporting her. “Are you okay?”
She hadn’t realized she’d been hyperventilating.
“Easy, beautiful. We’re going to walk around so you can see everything, and then you’ll pick one to take home. Anything you want. Understand?”
She forced her breathing to slow and nodded again. Nice surprise. No wonder he’d been acting oddly.
He led her around the store, and if not for his arm at her waist, she might have stumbled. Her body acted as though she waded through a sea of orphaned children, all tugging at her limbs, begging her to pick them.
The employee followed at a discreet distance, ready to answer any questions. Not likely. Elaina knew more about each piece than anyone here would.
After they completed a full circuit, Alex brought her to the farthest point from any jewelry and signaled the employee. “Give us a minute.”
The woman retreated, and Alex stood in front of Elaina. “What do you think? Anything in particular appeal to you?”
She intertwined her fingers with his, trying to ignore the surrounding cacophony. “The security here is incredible.”
His brows popped high, and he grinned. “That’s what you noticed?”
She laughed and tension eased from her shoulders. “Not only that. But it means for the most part, any item here would have the same effect on me.”
“For the most part?”
She risked a glance to one counter. “The pieces with rubies seem stronger.”
“Because your talisman is a ruby?”
Her gaze shot back to his. One day she’d stop being so surprised at how well he understood her. “Probably.”
“Any thoughts on whether you could take something from here?”
She bounced on her toes. “I’d like to try.”
“Just the one thing though.”
She stretched up and gave him a quick peck. “Promise.”
He deepened the kiss, pulling her close. No matter how many times they’d done this, his touch never failed to electrify her skin and fill her heart with warmth.
A minute later, he rested his forehead on hers. “Time to pick out your ruby prize, beautiful.”
Now that she concentrated only on the items at the single counter, she could listen to one piece at a time more easily. A teardrop-shaped ruby pendant bordered by tiny diamonds called to her the loudest. It was the highest-quality ruby in the collection—and it came with the biggest price tag. She forced her attention to slide to a bracelet instead.
Alex wasn’t fooled. “That necklace?”
“No, it’s too much.”
He motioned the employee over. “We’ll take the pendant necklace here.”
Before the woman could unlock the case, he pressed his credit card into her hand. While he kept the employee occupied with ringing up the purchase down the counter, Elaina noted the locations of security cameras and shifted to block their view of disappearing jewelry.
She hadn’t been kidding about the security here acting as an effective barrier. The sense of territory was even stronger than Alex’s home had been before she’d moved in. She concentrated and called to the necklace.
It didn’t budge.
She placed her palm against the glass, refusing to give up. Come home. Come home to me. She tempted the ruby with thoughts of his big brother in her lockbox.
The necklace materialized under her hand.
Alex and the employee finished their transaction, and he nestled into Elaina’s hair, as though giving her a kiss, and lowered his voice to a breath. “Leave it on the counter, and I’ll handle it.”
She stepped back from the glass. The employee did a double take at the pendant lying on top of the case, but Alex gave her a charming smile.
“On second thought, don’t bother boxing that up for us. She’s decided to wear it home after all.”
“Oh... Yes, of course, sir.”
He picked up the necklace and fastened it around Elaina’s neck. Before she could adjust the pendant for bonding to her skin, he spun her toward him and slipped the chain under her collar.
“Now it’s yours.”
Energy from the claiming surged through her, and he caught her in a kiss. Only his embrace kept her from collapsing into a heap from the intense burst.
Once the dizziness faded, she returned the kiss and moaned, wanting to take him right here in the middle of Tiffany and Co. Nothing could be more arousing than being surrounded by treasure while enjoying passionate sex with Alex.
He chuckled and leaned back. “A good one?”
She probably had the stupidest grin on her face, but she didn’t care. “Oh yeah.”
“Hopefully that means now is a good time to give you something else without you wanting to claim it.”
She readied her protest that he’d already given her too much. Then Alex lowered himself to one knee and looked up at her.
Oh no. Not this.