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Castillo’s smile was as unapologetic as his shrug.
“Think of it this way, the nights are getting cooler and by staying here safe with me, you’ll be able to keep all your clothes on. I’m good for you, see? Keeping you from maybe catching a cold.”
“Oh, no, you don’t,” Lara snapped, pushing away from the table as the frayed edges of her temper shattered. “Look, buddy, I’ve been on my own for many years now. Maybe I’ve made a few mistakes here and there—here being a major one, by the way. But for the most part I’ve done a damned good job of taking care of myself. I don’t need some macho man with a bodyguard complex telling me what I need.”
Did he look abashed? Did he apologize?
Hell, no.
Castillo just pulled an intrigued face, his fingers tapping a mellow rhythm against his empty plate as he leaned back in his chair and gave her a long, contemplative look.
“It’s for your own good,” he finally said, his avuncular smile echoing the arrogance of his tone.
Lara could have sworn she felt her head explode. She slammed her plate on the small table hard enough that the bud vase shook and the rose dropped a petal. She gouged her fists into her hips and leaned forward so her face was inches from his.
“And you know what’s good for me? Because, why? Is it that big bad man thing? Like li’l ole me, poor penisless thing that I am, doesn’t have a clue?”
Breathing in with a hiss, she stepped back and waited for his apology.
The son of a bitch nodded.
Lara’s fists clenched. Then she noticed the amusement on his face making his dimple wink.
Hell. She winced. He’d been winding her up. And she’d walked right into it. She should know better. The few times in her life that Phillip had pretended to be her brother instead of the reigning prince of the house, he’d done the same thing. She’d hated it then, too.
Since dumping his school medals in the flower garden then turning on the sprinklers the way she had with her brother wasn’t an option, Lara decided on a more grown-up form of revenge.
She’d spent enough of her life on stage, using her body to make a point. So all it took was a shift of her hips, a tilt of her chin and twisting just a little to thrust her breasts out. Her bottom lip pouted and she let her gaze turn slumberous.
The message was sex.
Castillo’s eyes narrowed, interest flaring hot and intense in the blue depths. His smile sharpened, more seductive than amused now. He still leaned back in the chair, but his body tensed, as if he were about to leap up and grab her.
Good.
Lara shifted, leaning her hip against the table and casually running her finger over her bottom lip before giving a deep sigh. His eyes didn’t drop so much as meander their way down from her face to her throat to her breasts. His gaze was electric, so arousing she felt as if he’d brushed his fingers over her nipples, bringing them to attention.
“You know, it’d be a terrible shame to underestimate me,” she told him, keeping her voice low and just-out-of-bed husky.
“Believe me, I don’t underestimate a single thing.”
“Hmm, maybe not.” She moved forward, sliding around the table so her butt was against the edge and her front within touching distance of his.
Before she could decide if she was going to plop herself down in his lap or grab his shirtfront and pull him to his feet, Castillo rose.
The man towered over her. For a woman who stood five-ten barefoot, that was a rare thing. Between his height and his bulk, he made her feel positively petite. Fragile and ladylike, even.
Liking it, Lara tilted her head in challenge. She hadn’t formed much of a plan when she’d made her first move. Just to make him uncomfortable.
Now all she wanted was to see how he tasted, how he felt. To find out what he could make her feel.
“You might want to factor this into your estimating,” she told him before sliding her hands up his chest and linking them behind his neck.
Her eyes locked on his dark gaze, Lara stood on tiptoe to brush her lips over his.
Oh. He tasted so good. Sweet and sexy at the same time. His mouth was soft, his bottom lip tempting her. Unable—unwilling—to resist, she gave it a quick nip before soothing it with her tongue.
It was like lighting a stick of dynamite.
One second he was calm, almost mellow.
The next he exploded.
Castillo’s hands wrapped around her waist, pulling her tight against his body. Oh, man, what a body he had—hard, big and enticing. Lara had to force herself not to rub against him like a cat in heat.
She wasn’t sure how long she’d be able to hold out, though.
He took over the kiss, his tongue thrusting between her lips, fast and furious. Hot and wild.
