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trousers.
    By the time I managed to stumble out of our little love nest, she was nowhere to be seen, but Ethan was sprinting down the hallway. 
    I ran for it, coming up behind him.  He turned back and saw me.
    “Bomb t hreat.  That’s what this is.”  He gestured to the flashing lights.  “Everyone’s being evacuated.”
    I exploded in anger, unbelieving that someone would hate me so much they would blow up a museum to get to me.  Disgruntled fan or not, an act of terrorism was way out of bounds.  “Are you fucking kidding me?  All this because of me?”
    “I don’t know details.  I was out having a smoke when the alarm went off.  Neil said in-house security received a bomb threat and they’re closing everything down.  We’ll sort it later.  Just get the fuck out!”
    So that’s what I did.
    I looked for Maria but I never found her in the crush of people swarming the front steps of the National Gallery.  I thought I saw her at one point because there was a woman wearing a similar colour green dress, but she was blonde and definitely not the fiery goddess I’d been with in that room earlier.
    Pity.  I would have asked her home with me and paid double for her services without a second thought.  Maria was definitely worth it.
    A bottle of Bombay and a session with her would’ve topped off my evening just perfectly.  I texted Ethan to let him know I was leaving and to ring me when he had a chance.  As I drove home to my solitary existence, I wasn’t content and certainly wasn’t satisfied.
    I felt like shit and there were plenty of other reasons for that, unfortunately.  The only nice thing to happen tonight had been the encounter with a beautiful creature whose sexy scent was still clinging to my hand.
    I brought the back of the fingers I’d used on her up to just under my nose where I could breathe in the unmistakable lingering of female.  Lovely…and fucking sexy.
    The smell of pussy and my unsatisfied cock was not a good combination though, and it put me into an even darker mood.  Damn.  Wanking off was not something I envisioned as part of my scheduled evening, but I’d end up doing it tonight.  Something had to take my edge off and a certain someone’s essence would be a damn fine stimulus to helping matters along.
    I was determined to find Maria again, and had no doubts I would, too.  We had unfinished business to conduct, and the service owed me a date.  I would make sure they knew to send her as soon as it could be arranged.
    I wouldn’t be able to forget her until I sampled all she had to offer.  Until I have her right where I want and at my mercy, taking my cock.
    I grinned as I turned onto my street i n St. James and drove through the gates.
    I know myself pretty well.  When I want something, I won’t stop until I’ve conquered the challenge.  Right now my challenge was a green-eyed beauty that had, for whatever reason, bewitched me this evening.
    Remarkable…

TWO

     
     
     
     
     

     
    THE floor plan of the National Gallery was something I knew like the back of my hand.  A small blessing for which I felt supremely grateful, running as fast as my heels would carry me.  I didn’t allow my mind to dwell on what I’d just done with a complete stranger.  I fled.  Get away first, figure out my horrifying lapse in judgment later.
    Pray he doesn’t see you.  Pray, Gabrielle.  Pray very hard. 
    Security directed everyone out of the National Gallery with the command, “Evacuate the building without delay!” on constant repeat over the loudspeaker.  I overheard the words “bomb threat” more than once¸ too .  But none of that deterred me from my goal.  I had to get out of here.
    I didn’t even look through the crowds of people milling about on the steps to see if I could spot Brynne and Ethan.  I knew Ethan would get my roommate out safely, and whatever was going on with the security of the paintings and the gallery itself was far beyond my control.
    Just