Page 21 of Beautiful Noise
“No, I don’t.”
“You said?—”
“I know what I said and I was just talking shit. My mother is a brilliant woman. She’s very intuitive and only does what she wants. Nobody, and I mean not one damn person, myself included, can finesse her. If you’re here, it was her decision. Not one you manipulated your way into.”
Solid inked arms extended over his head and his long fingers sank into a pillow which he lifted and cradled close to his face before he tossed it aside. “It already smells like you in here. Isn’t that some shit? You’ve placed ownership on this room with your presence.”
“Sorry to ruin yournew house smellwith mine,” I mocked before adding, “Wash the sheets and it will be as if I was never here.”
“Not likely,” he murmured, causing my eyes to lower to his just in time to see him lift the bottle of perfume which hadn’t made it into my bag yet.
The bottle looked miniature in his large hands. I couldn’t take my eyes away from those deft fingers because my mind drifted to all the interesting things he could do with those very large hands. He pinched the tiny metal top and plucked it off and I swear my nipples ached. The bottle moved closer to his face and I inhaled at the same time he did but I caught his scent instead of my own. And when his teeth gently pierced his bottom lip…
Shit, why is that sexy?
Because he’s sexy and anything he does therefore is classified as sexy.
“I like this but it smells different on you. Caramel and vanilla.”
“Give me that.” I leaned over the side of the bed, reaching for the bottle, but he caught my wrist, wrapping those damn long ass fingers securely around it and yanking me closer so my skin grazed his lips while he inhaled the space just below where he had a hold on me.
Just as quickly as he had me trapped, he let me go. “Yeah, same but different. Smells better on you.”
Ezren sat up, lowering his head so his chin dipped closer to his chest. Both hands brushed over his head, tugged at his beard and exhaled, like dealing with me was somehow exhausting his energy, when no doubt; it was the complete opposite. I was the one drained.
“The food smells good. You cooked; you should eat before you go.”
He stared at me for a long moment with something playing behind his eyes. I tore mine away and grabbed a few more of my things from the bed, shoving them into my bag. Mostly because I didn’t want to keep staring, even though he was still watching me. I could feel the heat of his gaze.
“No thanks, I’d rather just go.”
“Go where?”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Ri, look…”
Why the hell was he calling me Ri, like we were friends? And why did it send a spike of emotion through me?
“Kori,” I retorted stubbornly.
“Kori. If you truly know my mother, then do me a solid and eat before you go. If she finds out I’m the reason you not only leftbut left with an empty stomach, she’s gonna have my ass. Can you do that for me? Save me from a little of her wrath and share a meal.”
“No.”
“Damn, no sympathy, huh? How you gonna accuse me of being inhumane when that’s exactly what you are?”
My eyes shot over to him.This man grinning… Lord, give me strength.
“Two completely different scenarios. You want me to eat because you’re scared of your mother. Not because you care.”
“Aight bet, but I care too. I’m not as horrible as you’re trying to make me out to be.”
“You sure about that?” I challenged and his smile expanded.
“Yes, completely.”
His smile dropped and a hand went across his hair and then tugged at his beard. A nervous tick maybe. Or one mindlessly done while thinking? Could be both. He made his way over to me and, before I could react or prevent the gesture, he had me in the air, cradled against his chest bridal style. When I shifted away from him and attempted to free myself, he offered a firm warning, moving with me in his arms.