Desire's Edge (35 page)
She knew the answer was yes. Gabriel’s presence had changed everything. Since she’d seen him a few days ago, when she and her mother had stopped by the Toussaint family home, he was all she could think about.
He’d stalked into the room, seemingly unaware that he wasn’t alone. His shirt had been unbuttoned to reveal a line of golden skin and muscle that set her mouth watering. His hair was mussed, his jaw set, and to Angelique he’d looked like one hot, delicious mess. Ruffled, brooding and sexy. Everything about him screamed bad boy. It was a quality the rebellious part of her couldn’t help but find attractive.
But it was more than that. The moment he turned his head and snared her gaze, she experienced a raw wave of need unlike any she’d ever known, heat washing over her body and nearly buckling her knees.
She’d held her breath as he studied her. Her fertile imagination took over, making her breathless as she wondered if he felt the same intense desire that she did.
But then he seemed to notice the other women in the room. She’d hoped he would look her way again, but he’d just scowled, nodded tersely to acknowledge his mother, then turned and walked out without a word.
Mambo Toussaint had made hurried apologies, but Angelique barely heard them. It took every ounce of her restraint not to follow him back down the hallway. To take him to task for his manners . . . or to rub herself against him like a cat, she wasn’t sure which.
She’d gone home that night, irrationally angry with the rude man who’d turned on some switch in her body that couldn’t be shut off. She’d touched herself, rubbing her clit and slipping her fingers deep inside her sex, fantasizing about him, coming again and again without true relief.
Feeling the need well up inside her even now, she squirmed on the countertop. Just thinking about seeing him tonight was making her crazy.
That
was
why she’d come. It was too tempting to resist. She hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him and she wanted to know more. To find out why everyone was so worried about his homecoming.
was
why she’d come. It was too tempting to resist. She hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him and she wanted to know more. To find out why everyone was so worried about his homecoming.
Hell, she just wanted to see him again.
“You are now officially my favorite Rousseau,
cher
. Your brother would never dream of being this sneaky. Trust me, I know. However, you lose some points by eating all my pecans.”
cher
. Your brother would never dream of being this sneaky. Trust me, I know. However, you lose some points by eating all my pecans.”
Angelique nearly fell off her perch at the rich male voice behind her. “BD, I didn’t see you there.”
Speaking of impossibly gorgeous bad boys. She silently corrected herself: reformed bad boy. Reformed, reborn and happily married.
Angelique blushed while she studied him. Each time she saw him it struck her that he was like living art. If she weren’t so oddly enamored with Gabriel, he would definitely be her favorite fantasy.
He’d literally walked out of history, and he was nearly too beautiful to be real. Amber eyes with long, dark lashes. Skin like honey and full lips that always looked freshly kissed.
Too pretty, his wife Bethany always teased him. And it was true. But Angelique wasn’t just fascinated with his looks. It was what he was, or what he’d been, that entranced her.
Bone Daddy. A sexual Loa. A voodoo spirit. Sort of. He’d been around a few hundred years, showing up for voodoo practitioners who needed aid in love and lust spells, making those he “rode” irresistible. Until he’d fallen in love himself and gotten a second chance.
He was also the reason her brother had changed so much after their father’s death eight years ago. Why Celestin had gone from her playful, charming older brother to a distant, melancholy womanizer. It had been because of Bone Daddy, and the deal her brother had made with the spirit to protect his family. To protect her.
And now, though she still wasn’t sure how, the Loa was human. And before she could work up a good mad on her brother’s behalf, Celestin had made it clear to his mother and sisters that BD was a friend. More than that. One of the family. That decree, combined with BD’s undeniable warmth and charm, made it impossible to do anything other than love him.
An ex-Loa in her growing family. It was the most exciting thing that had happened in her life so far. Well, maybe the second most exciting thing.
“You didn’t see me? I wonder why?” BD smiled delightedly, dazzling her into silence. “Could it be you were too focused on the gossip du jour? The return of the eternally grumpy twin?”
Angelique felt her lips tilt even as her blush deepened. “My family has a lot of secrets. Maybe this is the only way I can find anything out. Or maybe I was just trying to swipe all the good snacks.”
“Bah. I know your type. Hell, I
am
your type,
cher
. A trouble magnet.” He shook his head, understanding bright in his beautiful eyes. “And I can see you are looking for trouble tonight. Don’t deny it. Your brother would be sad to think he wasn’t the reason you decided to join us this evening. Although I’m not sure Gabriel is ready for a wildcat like you.”
am
your type,
cher
. A trouble magnet.” He shook his head, understanding bright in his beautiful eyes. “And I can see you are looking for trouble tonight. Don’t deny it. Your brother would be sad to think he wasn’t the reason you decided to join us this evening. Although I’m not sure Gabriel is ready for a wildcat like you.”
How did he know? How could he possibly know? “I’m not sure what you’re talking about, but whatever it is, I’m innocent.”
BD made a face when Angelique batted her eyelashes. “I applaud your acting,
cher
, as well as your stealth, but it’s wasted on me. Desire was my job long before you were born. Now before you get us both in trouble, you should get down. Your brother is on his way inside as we speak.”
cher
, as well as your stealth, but it’s wasted on me. Desire was my job long before you were born. Now before you get us both in trouble, you should get down. Your brother is on his way inside as we speak.”
The thought of her big brother catching her in the act of eavesdropping had her hopping off the kitchen island swiftly and she gave BD a quick, impulsive hug. “Thanks for the heads-up.”
He chuckled, squeezing her shoulders gently before pulling back to look down at her. “Anytime,
cher
.” His golden gaze fell to her neck and his expression changed suddenly. “Do me a favor in return, yes? Don’t take that necklace off.”
cher
.” His golden gaze fell to her neck and his expression changed suddenly. “Do me a favor in return, yes? Don’t take that necklace off.”
Angelique’s brow furrowed as she reached up to fiddle with the thin, golden cross her mother had given her at her baptism. “Why?”
“Little one, I’m glad you came.” Celestin Rousseau beamed at her happily, his arms filled with food from Allegra’s favorite corner restaurant. “I brought dinner. A little bit of everything, so I hope you’re hungry.”
His relaxed, easygoing expression was so different from the brother she’d known most of her adult life that it still jarred her. She knew it was his wife and unborn child, as well as his freedom from the curse their father had forced on him, that had changed him. She couldn’t be happier for him, but it was a big adjustment.
“I’m starving. And of course I came. An evening without Mom trying to get me to move into the new house her son bought for her? Asking me when I was going to give her grandchildren like her daughter-in-law? I couldn’t pass that up.”
Her brother snorted, setting several bags down on the counter where she’d been sitting moments before. “Can you blame her? Her nest is empty. All her children growing up and flying away. Patricia moved to North Carolina with her husband this year, you came home from school and decided to stay in that old, musty apartment rather than the new room she decorated with you in mind . . .” He trailed off, making a face as BD guffawed.
“Not even a father yet and you already do guilt so well,
mon ami
.”
mon ami
.”
Angelique nodded emphatically. “He’s a natural, all right. I’m a grown woman with a college degree and a normal sex drive. I love you both, but I do
not
want to move back in with my mommy.”
not
want to move back in with my mommy.”
Celestin held up his hands in surrender. “And the last thing I want to hear about is my baby sister’s sex drive, adult or not. You win. I won’t mention it again.”
“Thank you.”
BD’s laughter stopped the conversation in the other room and Angelique sighed. She’d wanted to find out more about Gabriel before he came.
Allegra raised her voice from the other room. “BD? Is my husband with you? I’d get up but his child has turned me into a giant water buffalo.”
Celestin’s smile grew even more incandescent. “Duty calls. Coming,
bebe
.” He ruffled Angelique’s curls and handed her the last small bag he carried in his hand. “Could you put her ice cream in the freezer before it melts and start setting the table, little one?” Then he was gone.
bebe
.” He ruffled Angelique’s curls and handed her the last small bag he carried in his hand. “Could you put her ice cream in the freezer before it melts and start setting the table, little one?” Then he was gone.
BD was chuckling again. “That boy is going to be a great daddy.”
Angelique rolled her eyes, closing the freezer and opening drawers in search of utensils. “If great is another word for bossy, then sure. Tell me, do ex–sex spirits know where they keep the silverware around here?”
He came up beside her and pointed to a drawer while he opened the cabinet over her head where the plates were kept. “I know a lot of things. My wife is determined I become a truly modern man. I can even do laundry now.”
He winked at her and she laughed, charmed. Too bad he was taken. There was just something about him . . .
“Am I interrupting anything?”
The voice sent the pile of forks in her hand clattering to the counter. Her heart started to pound, her body reacting the way it did every time he came to mind. And all thoughts of the captivating BD disappeared.
Gabriel had arrived.
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