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We finish our food, and he stands, offering me his hand and saying firmly.
“Dance with me.”
This time I don’t protest. It’s an impossible situation because I have never been treated like this before. My past dates have taken me for dinner and then expected my body in return. But not like this. Not in this romantic movie style way.
From the moment I met him, Shade Vieri has overtaken my world, my senses and my mind. He fills them and owns them and the romantic in me is swooning under his attention.
The practical side of me knows that seven days is probably all his attention span will allow him and if this is what he promises the next seven days will be like, I would be a fool to pass up the opportunity. He will expect me to have sex with him. I’m not naive. I know the score and for some reason that doesn’t repel half as much as it should. To be honest, I should be begging him because I have never met a man quite like Shade Vieri and I like what I see.
This time, as he pulls me into his arms, I go there willingly. It’s as if he has stepped inside and claimed my darkest secret and is holding it in his hand. It doesn’t matter anymore because it’s his to deal with now. He will remove me from my responsibilities for seven days and when I return, it will be with no shadows hanging over me. I can start again knowing there will be no threats. I have an avenging angel watching over me, and I will use his time wisely. I want to see how far I will go. How different it is when you walk on the wild side. Then I will return to my normal life and–
“Shade.”
My voice is laden with disappointment as I stare up at him.
“What?”
“I can’t stay.”
He raises his eyes. “You don’t have a choice. I thought you knew that.”
“You don’t understand.” I say, the disappointment crashing through me.
“Then enlighten me.”
“I’m due to start at The Queen on Monday. I’ve already delayed my starting date and I’ll lose my internship if I don’t show up. My family will also be informed because my mom is good friends with the owner.”
He shrugs. “I’ll sort it. It’s an easy problem to solve.”
“How?”
“I’ll call your boss. Your mom isn’t the only person who knows Evangeline Solomon and by the time I’ve finished with her, that internship will be a firm offer of employment with a generous salary. Leave it with me.”
“Are you kidding me? You really have that much power. She’s a rock star in this business.”
“And I’m a rock star in mine.”
He dips his head to my ear and whispers, “Trust me, princess. There is nothing I can’t do.”
His words send ripples of longing through my entire body. Power must be one hell of an aphrodisiac because there is not one part of my body that isn’t turned on right now. He has the ability to crawl inside my soul and make it is. Any fear has been tossed over the side and I am drowning in desire—for him—this lifestyle and whatever else he has planned.
I almost blurt out a desperate yes to his question, but he told me he knows a secret about me. I’m keen to learn what that is, so I keep my words to myself and just enjoy swaying in his arms on the deck of a boat that really resembles a small ship. The wind caresses my body, and the stars shine brighter than the fairy lights that dress the boat in a warm, sultry light.
Out here I am free. I can be whoever I want to be, and I am in the arms of the sexiest man alive. The fact he’s a killer is inconsequential now. Just for once, I am going to leave my perfect self back in that apartment. I am releasing my wild spirit and fuck the consequences because I have never felt more alive in my life.
I am disappointed when the music stops and Shade pulls away and grasps my hand, his mood switching in an instant.
“Come, we will discuss our business.”
My heart hammers as I follow him up some stairs to the top deck, noticing the musicians are packing away their instruments.
“Are they staying on board?” I enquire, jerking my thumb in their direction, and he shakes his head. “No. They are about to take a short ride in my helicopter.”
“Will it come back for us?” The fact it’s there is a security I’m not keen to see fly away, and he nods his head. “Of course. In seven days.”
His wicked grin somehow makes me laugh and if anything, he appears surprised at that but says nothing and guides me into a comfortable seat filled with cushions and drops down beside me.
He is so close, unlike when he was opposite, and I can almost touch the heat radiating between us. He turns me on. I can’t deny it and now the fear has gone, it has only left interest. More interest than is good for me and so I cough nervously and say, “So, what’s this big secret I’m supposed to be hiding?”
