Perfumed Heat

  Perfumed Heat

  Judy Mays

  Chapter 1

  As they stepped into the crowded ballroom, Artemis groaned mentally and snagged his son’s arm. Fool woman invited all of New York . “Is she here yet?”

  Brendan scanned the crowded room. “You read the information in her dossier. I’d say she was probably the first one here. Sylvia James is not a woman to miss out being able to gloat over her good fortune.”

  Artemis snorted. Myriads of scents, both intriguing and repulsive, swirled around the room almost overpowering his senses. “Tell me again why we have to work with this particular woman.”

  Belle tucked her hand under his arm. “We’ve been through this father. It will be much easier to break into the women’s fragrance market in partnership with an established company.”

  Artemis snorted again. “We managed fine with the men’s cologne.”

  Before Belle could answer, Brendan said, “There she is with those other women by the buffet table.”

  Turning slightly, Artemis slowly perused the small group of women. “Which one?”

  “The icy looking blonde.”

  Artemis’s gaze slipped past the tiny, dark-haired woman and the curvy red head in gray to the blonde talking animatedly at an angry looking Amazon. Sylvia James looked every inch the successful businesswoman she was from the top of her perfectly dyed platinum blond hair to the tips of her expensive Italian shoes. In her blue, designer gown, she was the epitome of grace and elegance.

  Artemis would sooner trust a weasel.

  “Are you absolutely sure we can’t find a better proposal from someone else?”

  Brendan smiled and nodded at the city councilman who walked by. “Unfortunately, hers is the best proposal we’ve received. James Parfumes is a solidly established company with a firm percentage of the perfume market. We’d be fools not to accept.”

  “Watch yourself, Dad,” Belle murmured into his ear. “She’s seen us and is looking your way with a definite glint in her eye.”

  Raking her with his gaze once again, Artemis remained unimpressed. “She doesn’t interest me in the least, Belle. There’s not a woman alive who can compare to your mother.”

  Belle laid her hand on his arm. “Dad, it’s been…”

  Artemis patted the hand Belle still had tucked under his arm. “More years than I want to remember, but then we’ve had this conversation before. Women simply don’t interest me. Now, come along. Both you and Brendan say Sylvia James is the best choice to help set up our line of women’s perfume. I may as well meet her and get it over with.”

  As her father pulled her forward, Belle glanced over her shoulder at her brother.

  Brendan grinned and shrugged his shoulders. Belle could keep trying to fix their father up with all the different women she wanted, but it still wouldn’t make any difference. There wasn’t a woman on Earth to compare to the wolf their mother had been.

  Still trying to escape the talkative grandmother, Moira watched as Belle and Brandon Gray escorted the man who had to be their father towards her boss. She’d conquered the urge to go right up to him and introduce herself. She had to be patient and wait for the opportunity to talk to him. Sylvia would certainly try to keep him at her side as long as possible now that she’d seen how good looking he was, even with his gray hair. When she’d first met Artemis’s son Brendan in Sylvia’s office, Moira had been initially surprised at his prematurely silver hair, but now that she saw his father, she decided it must be a family trait—for the men in the family, at least. Belle Gray had hair so black it had blue highlights, but Artemis Gray’s hair was the same silver color as his son’s.

  Moira allowed her gaze to roam up and down his body. If she didn’t know better, she’d think the Grays were brothers rather than father and son. Artemis was just over six feet tall, at least two inches taller than his son. His shoulders and chest, which tapered to a slim waist and hips, were broader than Brandon ’s too. His long legs ate up the distance as he led his son and daughter towards Sylvia.

  When Artemis got closer, Moira was able to get a clearer look at his face. His long sliver hair was swept back off his high forehead and tucked behind his ears to fall softly to his collar. His face was strong with high cheekbones and firm chin. A bold nose over what looked like mobile lips dominated his face. Rather than simply walk across the room, he stalked with a loose, easy stride. And his stormy gray eyes moved constantly, sliding from one person to another, one face to another. He paused momentarily and said a few words to another of James Parfumes’ competitors. After a quick nod, he moved forward again, his eyes now fixed on Sylvia.

  A shiver danced up Moira’s spine. Oh, to have eyes that intense fixated on her. Then she caught herself. Where did that thought come from? Artemis Gray was a means to an end, nothing more. It didn’t matter to her how handsome or sexy he was.

  Off to her left, Sylvia James hummed. “Oh my, my, my, my, my, my.” Then she chuckled.

  Moira frowned. She knew that laugh. Her boss had just decided who the next man in her bed would be.

  Just as Moira was about to step to her boss’s side, Artemis snapped his head up and inhaled. Both Belle and Brendan did the same. All three screwed up their faces as if they’d smelled something dead.

  Nostrils flaring, Artemis stopped. Someone was wearing animal musk—too much of it—poorly mixed with the other ingredients of the perfume. Nor did it blend well with that person’s personal scent.

  Almost gagging, Belle coughed and stumbled.

  Artemis tightened his hand on her arm until she caught her balance. Her nose had always been overly sensitive.

  Sylvia James, a rapacious smile on her lips, stepped towards them. The tang of her perfume floated across the space between them and assaulted their senses, overpowering all other scents around them.

  Eyes watering, Belle did gag.

  Coughing, Brendan turned his head away.

  Breathing through his mouth, Artemis held up his hand as Sylvia took another step. “No closer, Ms. James. Not only is the perfume you’re wearing atrociously mixed, but it also contains animal musk. How many civets were killed for your company to make that perfume?”

  Sylvia halted in midstride. However, the surprise on her face was quickly replaced by cunning as she lifted her hands and shrugged. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Artemis folded his arms across his chest and glared at her. “Liar. My nose is sensitive enough to tell you every ingredient in the perfume you’re wearing. Civet musk is one of them. Our deal is off.”

  Anger rapidly replaced Sylvia’s initial shock. Fists clenched, she dropped her arms to her sides and spat, “You wouldn’t dare. I’ll sue you for breach of contract.”

  Artemis shrugged. “Go ahead and try but first have your lawyers reread section five, clause three of the contract, the one about the agreement being null and void if we discover animal musk is used in the making of your perfumes.” Spinning on his heel, he strode back across the room, ignoring the hushed whispers from the people who’d been standing close enough to hear their exchange.

  Handkerchief held to her nose and mouth, Belle followed her father.

  Hissing obscenities under her breath, Sylvia turned her attention to Brendan. “You don’t know whom you’re fucking with, you stupid fools,” she threatened in a low voice.

  Brendan barred his teeth in a toothy grin. His voice was just as low and much more menacing. “Fuck with us, Sylvia, and it will be the last fucking you ever do. And, according to your reputation, fucking is a major pastime. Cut your losses. We can and will ruin you.”

  After his warning, Brendan spun on his heel and followed his father and sister.

  Moira reached her boss’s side just as Brendan was leaving. “What
happened, Ms. James?”

  Hands shaking, Sylvia yanked a gold-plated cigarette case from her bag. After pulling out the first cigarette she touched and lighting it, she stabbed it into her mouth, inhaled deeply, then exhaled. She inhaled again and blew the smoke out. Eyes narrowed, she glared across the room at Artemis Gray and his children. “Fucking assholes thinks they can ruin me,” she said in a low voice. “They have no idea with whom they’re dealing. We’ll see who ruins whom.”

  Moira waved away the cigarette smoke Sylvia blew in her face. “What happened? I thought everything was settled.”

  Sylvia took another drag from her cigarette. “Someone must have leaked the ingredients to this new perfume I’m wearing. Gray knew it contains civet musk. All of them looked down their noses at me as if I smelled like shit. “

  Biting her tongue to keep from saying “I told you so” about the perfume Sylvia had personally developed, Moira glanced across the room. All three Grays were watching them. “Oh, the ‘no animal’ clause.”

  Mindful of the crowded room and the inquisitive glances, Sylvia kept her voice low. “You knew about that clause and didn’t tell me! You stupid twit.”

  Clenching her teeth, Moira turned her head away—Sylvia’s perfume really did stink—and bit back the reply her boss deserved. Instead, she controlled her temper and said, “I had all of the important clauses highlighted in the copy of the contract I gave you. And I did warn you that the Grays were opposed to using any ingredients that weren’t derived from plants when you insisted on developing your new perfume.”

  Sylvia smiled at a state senator who ambled by. Her eyes scrutinized crowd wondering who’d heard her exchange with the Grays, but her attention was focused on Moira. “Then why didn’t you remind me? I would have worn one of our other perfumes tonight, and they never would have found out.” She blew another mouthful of smoke into her assistant’s face.

  Coughing, Moira turned her face away. Bitch . If Grandfather’s medical bills weren’t so expensive, I’d quit in a minute .

  “Who’s the woman Sylvia James is talking to?” Artemis asked.

  Belle looked across the room. “The red-head? Her personal assistant Moira Archer.”

  “Poor kid’s getting an earful from what I can see,” Brendan interjected.

  “She’s hardly a kid, Brendan,” Belle answered in a dry voice. “Don’t worry about her. She’s an adult and can take care of herself. Forget them. If we want to launch a line of women’s cologne, we have to find a new partner; and we aren’t going to get as good a deal from someone else.”

  Artemis listened with half an ear as his children discussed potential business partners or murmured greetings to various acquaintances. Artemis exchanged small talk when necessary, but most of his attention was focused on the woman Sylvia James was berating.

  Dressed in a modest gray evening gown with her auburn hair neatly coiffed in a French braid, she carried herself with a natural elegance Artemis had observed in very few women over the years. She stood with her back to him so he let his gaze travel down her back. Slender waist, softly flared hips, trim ankles. Then she bent over slightly. The soft silk of her dress draped itself over a beautifully shaped behind.

  When his cock stirred, Artemis started mentally. He hadn’t had a physical reaction to any woman in more years than he cared to remember.

  Sylvia lit her third cigarette. “I’ve heard enough of your excuses, Moira. It’s your fault that the deal with Artemis Gray fell through. Just get out of my sight until I’m ready to leave before I fire you.”

  Temples pounding, Moira spun away from her boss and struck out blindly across the room skirting talkative groups, ignoring anyone who tried to engage her in conversation. My fault! My fault the deal fell through! Bullshit. I’m sick and tired of taking the blame every time she screws up. I swear my resignation will be on her desk first thing in the morning. I have skills. I can get another good job. Grandfather and I will manage, somehow .

  Cocking his head to the side, Artemis watched as Moira Archer whirled and stomped away from her boss. She came closer, weaving her way through the crowd, obviously unmindful of her direction. Wisps of hair fluttered around her flushed cheeks, a flush that spread down her neck into the vee shaped bodice of her dress.

  She’s very angry , Artemis thought to himself as he admired the way the soft silk of her dress draped over her breasts. Sylvia probably blamed her for losing the deal with us.

  When Moira was close enough, Artemis stepped in front of her.

  “Are you all right?”

  She stumbled and stopped just short of plowing into his tuxedo-covered chest. Nostrils flaring, lips pinched together, she glared up at him.

  Finally, Artemis got a good look at her face. She was not a classic beauty. Her nose had a bump in the middle. Her mouth was a tad too wide though her lips were probably full. It was hard to tell with them pressed into a thin angry line. Nor, did her high cheekbones quite fit with her firm chin. But her eyes were what drew Artemis’s attention. He had never seen such deep, emerald-green eyes.

  As Artemis reached out to steady her, the delicate fragrance of lily of the valley embraced him. His senses tingled, and he inhaled deeply. Then, along with the perfume, a far more subtle, enticing scent reached Artemis, a spicy, completely arousing scent. Moira was just entering the human version of heat.

  The feral desire that had lain dormant in Artemis’s soul for so many years roared to life, and the werewolf in him demanded sexual satisfaction.

  Mine! Mate her! Now !

  Like a fist in his abdomen, desire shot through Artemis. Blood rushed from his head to his cock, which immediately swelled and lengthened. His nostrils flared as he inhaled Moira’s scent again. Why? Why this woman? A human woman’s heat had never affected him before. He inhaled again her scent again. Her rich, earthy aroma mixed with the perfume she wore enticed all his senses. He had to have her !

  At Artemis’s side, Brendan’s head snapped up and his nostrils flared. Turning, he too stepped towards Moira.

  Artemis’s reaction was immediate. He clamped his hand down on his son’s arm and hauled him back away from the young woman who stood before them.

  Brendan tensed and shot a challenging glare at his father.

  Artemis tightened his hand and snarled, “Mine.”

  Slowly, Brendan relaxed. Then he bowed his head to his father. “Yours.”

  Artemis released him, turned back to Moira, and looked deep into her eyes. He lifted his hand. “Come to me.”

  Chapter 2

  Moira gawked at the hand only a few inches in front of her. Already angry from Sylvia’s comments, her blood pressure rose even higher until her temples began to throb. ‘Come to me’? Who the hell does he think he is? What am I, a dog?

  Ready to rip off a sharp retort, she jerked her gaze up into Artemis’s face.

  His head was bent towards her. Silvery-blond hair fell over his forehead and shadowed his eyes—smoky gray eyes that bore into hers, intense silver eyes that seemed to delve into her very soul.

  Shivers danced up and down her spine. Her stomach somersaulted. The smooth satin of her bra began to irritate her nipples, and they hardened into tight nubs pushing against the silk of her dress.

  Artemis’s gaze dropped to her chest. Molten silver flashed in his eyes.

  Desire shot into Moira’s groin.

  Artemis gaze returned to her face. The hand he held out to her didn’t waver.

  The sounds of conversation faded as Moira’s breath caught in her throat. She licked her lips.

  Golden sparks leaped in Artemis’s eyes.

  Moira finally breathed when her body demanded she do so. God, but the anticipation on his face was so intense, so dangerous, so—possessive. Nobody had ever looked at her like this before. Before she realized what she’d done, she stepped closer.

  The spicy fragrance of Artemis’s cologne wrapped itself around her and caressed her senses. Visions of his hands cupping and kneading her breas
ts, of her body naked and straining under his, her legs wrapped around his waist as he buried his rigid cock deep inside of her appeared in her mind. Moisture seeped into her panties.

  Moira inhaled. What was that scent he was wearing? His signature cologne, Artemis Gray? But there was something different about it, another ingredient. What was it? Why did she find it impossible to resist? She took another step.

  The seductive spell Artemis was weaving around her was broken by Belle’s voice.

  Shivering, Moira wrenched her gaze from Artemis’s. One glance at Brendan, and she jerked her attention away from him too. He looked just as intense, just as dangerous as his father.

  Moira’s gaze leaped to Belle. She only looked worried.

  Belle touched Artemis’s arm. “Father, are you all right?”

  Artemis ignored her and kept all of his attention on Moira. His hand remained outstretched.

  Moira glanced around the crowded room. People were beginning to stare. She saw Frank Gideon, the office gossipmonger, tap Sylvia on the shoulder and whisper something in her ear.

  When her boss whirled around and motioned angrily towards her, Moira made up her mind. Choosing between Artemis Gray and Sylvia James was easy. Besides, she was in a crowded room. What could possibly happen?

  Moira lifted her hand and placed it in Artemis Grays’.

  Satisfaction leaped in Artemis soul as he closed his hand around Moira’s. She had chosen him of her own free will. Now that he had her, he forced himself to relax, forced down the instinctive demands of his werewolf soul to pull Moira into his arms, to mount and mate her here before everyone. He forced down the urge to challenge every other male in the room, to demand that they acknowledge Moira was his. Artemis was an old and powerful werewolf. He’d learned to control his feral side a long time ago.

  Lifting Moira’s hand to his mouth, he brushed his lips across the back of her knuckles then tucked her hand under his arm. “Belle,” he said, his gaze never leaving Moira’s face, “introduce us.”

  Silence greeted his command.