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I take her hand again, and she lets me. I pull her along, and within two minutes, we're back in her rooms. For some reason, we're both breathing heavily as we look at one another.
I don't understand this change in her. Yesterday she was rigid to a point where she almost felt standoffish. Today it's like some big walls within her came crashing down, but I don't understand why.
I'd like to think it has something to do with me. That maybe she doesn't think I'm such a danger to her anymore, but I also know that's not entirely true.
Like it or not, she's in my world now. My world is unfortunately dangerous. Not only that, butIpresent a clear and present danger to her. I proved that much when I shoved my tongue down her throat yesterday.
I'm proving it now by wanting to do the same thing again.
Plus more.
I take a step back, not trusting my self-control around her.
"Did you receive any new clothes?" I ask her.
She looks a little confused at why I'm walking away from her.
"Yes," she answers slowly.
"Good," I reply. "Do you need any help picking something out?"
She shakes her head. "I'll manage."
"Okay," I say. The silence fills the space between us. There are so many things I'm dying to tell her. So many things I want her to tell me. Instead, we're both quiet. "I should probably go and get changed myself."
"Okay," she replies.
"I'll come back for you," I say.
"I know," is what she says by the time I'm closing the door behind me.
ChapterNineteen
I'm distracted the entire dinner. Not because I'm currently sitting opposite the second in command of the Irish mob, but because Raven decided to wear something I definitely did not anticipate a nun wearing in public, let alone at all.
It was hard to know what her figure was under her thick gown over the past few days. It's incredibly easy to tell that she has an absolutely stunning one in the dress she currently has on.
Maybe it's not as scandalous as I'm making it out to be. But it's tight and short, showing off her curves and long legs. The neckline plunges low enough to make me want to drag her back to the mansion as soon as possible. It's a miracle we actually made it here at all. Somehow I was able to control myself for the drive over, but just barely.
I clear my throat, trying to focus on the matter at hand.
The Irish mob's second in command, Declan O'Leary, is seated across from me. He's a burly man with a thick beard and piercing blue eyes. He's been eyeing me up and down since we arrived, sizing me up as a potential threat.
I try not to let it show, but I can feel the sweat accumulating on my forehead. I'm not used to these sorts of meetings and I generally end up saying something that pisses everyone off.
"So, Teddy," Declan says, taking a sip of his whiskey. "Care to tell me why you're here instead of your brother?"
"Not really," I reply honestly. He gives me a look that tells me he's not fucking around.
I sigh. "He was called away for an important meeting." I don't really want to share with Declan that I'm supposedly taking charge of the family these days. Besides, with the power struggle between Primo, Giovanni, and to a certain extent, Constantino, it sort of makes us look weak.
"More important than this meeting?" I can tell that I hit a nerve there.
"Of course not," I reply. "That's why he sent me. Am I not good enough for you?" I decide to see if I can tease this man just a little, which I know is sort of a bad call. "You'll hurt my feelings if you say I'm not your type."
Declan clears his throat and leans back. He crosses his broad arms across his broader chest. "You're not," he says. "But, she is."
He points at Raven and I have to stop myself from jumping up and punching the guy. I remind myself that we're here for business and that all I'm supposed to be doing is stalling, not starting a mob war.
