Page 3 of Her Patron
“For tonight?” Sette asked.
“For tonight,” Miquela agreed.
Something thoughtful crossed Sette’s demeanor. She was almost as guarded now as she had been when she entered.
“I should probably say,” Sette began, tracing the edge of her spoon along the custard, “that this… isn’t uncomplicated for me.”
Miquela unexpectedly swallowed and reached for her wine. “It isn’t for me, either.”
“Oh?”
“There is someone,” Miquela admitted. “Or something that could become someone. It’s… complicated.”
Sette’s posture sharpened. “Same.”
They both laughed. In a way, Miquela was grateful to hear it.Yeah, don’t get attached to me.She would say that about anyone she dated, but when love was on the line… even misguided, hedonistic love that cost her tens of thousands a month…
“Well,” Sette said, “that makes this either a terrible idea or a very honest one.”
“I prefer honest.”
“I don’t think I’m in a position to promise anything serious,” Sette added.
“I’m not asking for it.” And Miquela meant it. “I’m asking for what we’ve already done here… and maybe…” She glanced away, fingers drumming on the wineglass stem. “Something until morning.”
Sette studied her for a long moment. The gauzy curtain around the booth muted the rest of the restaurant. A part of it emboldened Miquela to be even more honest. Maybe it did the same for Sette.
“And tomorrow?” she asked.
“Tomorrow,” Miquela said, “we both return to our complications.”
Without missing a beat, Sette raised her glass. “To temporary clarity.”
“To clarity.”
Once their glasses were back on the table, Sette grabbed Miquela’s jacket and brought her into the sloppiest kiss she had experienced in… well, she was so shocked by the lips on hers that it took Miquela a moment to realize that Sette was going for it.
“Whoa.” Sette pulled away, Miquela bracing herself against the table. Hands were still on her jacket. “You’ve got nice lips.”
“And yours taste like wine.”
“I’m a little loosened up. But not drunk. I promise.”
“I rather wish that I were, though.” Miquela cocked her head as she put a hand on Sette’s, ready to ease her off. Instead, that skin-to-skin touch reminded her of how June had wrapped around her in a heated bed in Monaco not too many nights ago.
Should she do it? Should she prove to June that she could be aloof in this relationship?
“Ah, wait a second.” Miquela kept Sette close, touching the underside of her chin so she looked back with a curious flutterof her eyelashes.Her makeup is so light and delicate.Not like June’s. Not even like Miquela’s. “Let me try.”
“Huh?”
This time, Sette was the one frozen in her seat as someone kissed her. Miquela wrapped her hand around that bun, held together with a metal clasp, and held Sette’s lips to hers.
Two seconds later, both of their mouths parted. Sette relaxed. So did Miquela, who pushed her against the booth and traced the back of her knuckles against a long, white throat perfect for biting and making love to.
I’ve still got it in me, I guess.Miquela’s body was on fire, yearning to get lost in someone else for a little while.And if I don’t think about anyone else, I guess that’s a bonus.God knew her beloved was up in her Manoir entertaining some other party that night. She had already cleared with Sette that this would not be allowed any serious consideration beyond tonight. Sette was on board. With any luck, they could hook up and not feel a thing in the morning.
And Miquela would have proven something, wouldn’t she?
