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He lifted his head slowly, narrowing his dark eyes. He was even more impressive standing, allowing me to enjoy a quick glimpse of his long, muscular legs. He was taller than I’d expected, which added to his sex appeal.
“Sierra,” he said gruffly.
He said nothing else, but he didn’t need to. His eyes said it all. He wanted more. He longed to devour me, stripping away my defenses, ravaging every inch of my body.
Or was I just dreaming? I closed my eyes briefly and when I opened them again, I pressed my hand over my lips. What the hell was wrong with me? Now I was daydreaming about a stranger? I was an emotional wreck, the highs and lows too much for my system.
“Are you alright?” he asked as he walked closer.
I put my hand out involuntarily, as if my small gesture would stop him. “I’m fine. It’s just… I didn’t know anyone was still here.”
Alessandro slowly checked his watch then took a deep breath. “I didn’t notice the time. I’ll consider returning tomorrow for the book. You must be exhausted after the success of your event.”
Had he remained here the entire time?
You hoped he would. You longed to see him, to touch him.
Fuck him…
My inner voice was off the rails. I swallowed hard, the reverberations from his deep voice swirling around me.
“I’m…” My tongue was tied, which wasn’t like me. I laughed nervously and took cautious steps forward, noticing he’d switched genres entirely. “I’m pleasurably thoughtful about the results.”
My odd statement brought a look of amusement to his face. “Thoughtful is often good when words and comprehension of emotions fail you.”
“True.” I glanced at the book he was holding and sucked in my breath.The Art and Power of Submission.I had few erotic books in the store, none of them fictional and all out of view of anyone under six feet tall, but he’d selected what I considered to be an extremely passionate take on the art of sadomasochism. Almost instantly heat swept up from the base of my neck, creating an awkward moment at the worst possible time. I forced myself to look away, a lump forming in my throat. “If you’d like to purchase the book, I’d be happy to ring it up for you.”
I shook off the scattered sensations, chocking them up to a long day and a dire need of a glass of wine.
“Then I believe I would.” He came closer, now standing only a few inches away. When I turned my head, I was forced to lift my chin in order to be able to look into his eyes.
He was several inches taller, at least a hundred pounds heavier. I felt small around him, even though I was five foot ten. I’d never felt so embarrassed in my life. It was my bookstore, and I’d purchased every single book on the shelves, yet I was red-faced over one I’d hand-picked. As he slowly lowered his gaze, sliding his hooded eyes down my neck to the cleft between my breasts, I sensed he was undressing me with his eyes. For a few seconds, I couldn’t speak, vivid, filthy images popping into my mind.
I could hear his voice commanding me to drop to my knees, lifting my arms as I awaited his choice of punishment. I could almost feel the rough pads of his fingers as he brushed them across my cheek. And as his intoxicating scent rushed to my very core, I didn’t need to imagine my arousal. My panties were already damp, my nipples aching.
All I could hear was the rapid beating of my heart as his rich, exotic scent floated into my core, expanding as a flame erupted.
Touch him.
Kiss him.
Tease him.
Now my inner voice had gone too far. I nervously brushed my hand through my hair, hating the ridiculousness of my fantasy.
“This particular book is very… dark. Some might consider it dangerous,” I half whispered, uncertain why I’d presented any reservations. I’d devoured the book in a single sitting, every page leaving me tingling with excitement, my body shimmering from perspiration. Nothing I’d found on various websites had moved me as much as the book he’d selected.
“A beautiful woman should never be embarrassed about indulging in passion, whether it’s between the pages of a book, the fevered touch of a lover, or from being able to provide a powerful release while visualizing a lover. The only thing wrong with any aspect of craving something dark or dangerous is denying what cannot be lived without.”
The words haunted me. They also left me breathless.
“If only finding passion was that easy,” I managed to rebut, trying to keep my composure.
He inhaled, his long eyelashes skimming across his cheeks. “What most find easy isn’t worth seeking. It’s only in the difficulties of capturing your prey that one can be satisfied with accepting the pleasures of the flesh.” The subtle yet powerful words were enthralling, more so than I cared to admit.
They also wrapped around a part of my brain that allowed a single red flag to be raised. Where the hell was this going?
I backed away, feeling a combination of excitement as well as craggy discomfort. “Few men understand a woman’s needs well enough to know how to provide either the pleasure or passion, Alessandro. I would hope a savvy man such as yourself would understand that even in playing word games, most women are not easily veiled to the obvious approach.” I waited for a few seconds before taking the book from his hands, accidentally touching his.
