Picture Her Bound-epub (11 page)

“Mathieu—”

“Lisette Babineaux, haven’t seen you in a minute,” he drawled, rising to shake her hand.

Tricky, Lola. Real tricky.

Lisette’s gaze flicked from his hand to his face before she put her small palm against his. Her skin was still soft, nails chipped, but painted with a pale pink polish. Despite the good quality of her clothing, it was dirty and worn. That didn’t make sense. The Babineaux family was well off, and their little princess had never wanted for anything. But a lot changed in the ten or so years since he’d left her.

She’d always been delicate, refined, as if she’d stepped out of a painting from some debutant ball. Too fragile for a man with his tastes, but he’d hungered for her regardless. In his inexperience he’d thought he could be a different man for her, one who didn’t crave bondage with his women. He’d been wrong.

A handful of years hadn’t changed her all that much. Her hair was shorter, her eyes just as green and the smattering of freckles preserved the air of youth about her, but there was a wariness to her that was new.

“I know. It’s good to see you.”  She unbuttoned her coat and draped it over the back of her chair.

Was it?

“Have a seat, please.” Mathieu didn’t know what to make of the woman settling in across from him. They’d been something to each other once. “Lola tells me you’re in a spot of trouble.”

Lisette chuckled, a deep, husky sound that was music to his ears. “That’s it? Tell me all your problems? No hello? Hi? How you been?”

Mathieu studied her, or more accurately, the woman she’d become. The long sleeve, black knit shirt, jeans and knee high boots spoke of someone trying to blend in, and yet she chose to wear a come-get-me-red coat. Lisette was in trouble, and didn’t know how to handle it. If Mathieu listened to his cock, he’d take her home under the false premise of protecting her from whatever evil had her running. And then she would run from him. If he listened to his brain, he’d leave now.

This meeting was a bad idea.