Page 81 of She Belongs to Me
I decided to play the game, swaying my hips before inching even closer.
His nostrils immediately flared and he couldn’t seem to help himself, gripping both my arms.
“Be careful, mybellissimo fiorellinom,” he warned. “I won’t play fair.”
“Who said I wanted you to?”
He laughed, the darkness in his voice making me chuckle. “You are more than a handful. Were you able to complete your exams?”
And when I find you…
Nope. It wasn’t going to happen. “I did. Emailed and everything. I am done for the year. Thanks to you.”
“I’ll think of something for you to make it up to me. What do you think?” His caresses were light but sensual, my nipples already pushing against my dress. Of course I’d chosen not to wear a bra. Why bother? He might rip it off.
“I think I did very well. I won’t know for a couple days at least, but I feel good about them.”
“Then it is time to celebrate.” He lowered his head and I lifted mine. I was certain he was going to kiss me and even pressed my hands against his chest.
But he had restraint, barely brushing his lips across mine.
I was breathless, even closing my eyes until I felt him pull away. “Did your meeting go well,honey?” I was still using my teasing voice, trying to be lighthearted. Maybe more for myself than for him.
The wrong question to ask. A shadow fell across his face for a few seconds, but he managed to smile. “Better than I’d expected. Now, you are the most gorgeous woman in the world and I adore this dress, but you are way overdressed.”
“Why? I thought you were taking me to late lunch or something.”
“In a manner of speaking, yes, but where we’re going has entirely different clientele than what you were thinking.”
“More casual or are they perhaps pig farmers?”
He hemmed and hawed, another unlikely trait. “Well, let’s just say it’s best for you to be wearing jeans, which I plan on changing into. Grab a light jacket if you bought one in your attack on our internet stores.”
His entire face was clenched, his jaw able to cut stone. I knew he was trying to make this very special, but my stomach was still gnawing at me.
“Very funny,” I growled, punching him in the gut. “Is this some huge surprise I’ll like or hate?”
I adored the frown on his face. “Why would I share something with you I believed that you would hate?”
“Because you’re trying so hard not to care about me.” I hated when the damn words just slipped out.
His sigh was heavy and he took a step away. “It’s not that.”
“Yes, it is. You feel guilt and anger toward yourself.”Way to go, Alex. Put him more on edge.
“Because I accepted a duty years ago that I take very seriously, Alexandra. That’s why. It’s not about you, but about the friendship that I had with your father.”
“I didn’t have the benefit of knowing my father, but I suspect if he was like me at all, he’d say you fulfilled your obligation tenfold and could move onto having a life you want to live. You seem so unhappy. I hate that. Did a girl hurt you years ago?”
His heavy sigh continued. “Nothing like that at all. I’m just cautious because I need to be.”
“Yeah, I know. Because of your family. I get it, but don’t treat me like the child you came to visit a few times in your life. I’m not that any longer.”
He smiled and nodded. “You are right. I’ve tried to keep you as a picture of the girl I used to know. You’re your own woman now. I need to respect that.”
“Yes, you do.”
“One tough lady. Now go change. And before you ask: Because I said so.”