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Not to worry; I can resist her allures. I stayed celibate as a priest. Until I didn’t, and see how that worked out for me. Nope. I’m not falling for a woman again. And definitely not for her.
I step out of the car, hit the electronic lock, then walk around to open her door. "Ready?"
"Always." She tucks her handbag under her arm and brushes past me, only to trip on a crack in the pavement.
My heart slams into my ribcage. I grip her shoulder and straighten her.
"Do I have Tiny to blame this time? Of course, not," she mumbles. She tries to pull her arm from mine, but I tighten my grip.
"You can let me go."
"Can’t have you breaking your neck on my watch." My voice comes out harsher than I intended.
She winces, then a shudder grips her.
"You’re cold."
"Don't be ridiculous,” she huffs.
"What did I say about lying?" I glare.
She pales, then slowly, nods. "I am…a little."
I shrug off my jacket and place it about her shoulders. It’s big enough to envelop her completely and comes to mid-thigh. She burrows into it. Then, as if unable to help herself, turns her face into the collar and sniffs. She draws in a long breath, holds it, then sighs. Then, as if she realizes what she’s done, she whips her head around in my direction. "Did I sniff your jacket?" she bursts out.
When I nod slowly, the color on her face deepens.
"I… I didn’t." She bites down on her lower lip, and goddam her, I feel the tug in my groin.
I step away from her. Pretending not to notice the disappointment on her face, I stalk forward, without waiting for her.
I sense her surprise, then hear the clopping of her heels as she hurries to keep up.
We reach the waiting motorboat. The man at the wheel nods in my direction. I jump down into it, then turn and, without asking for permission, grab her hips and haul her down. The warmth of her skin sinks into my blood. My cock thickens, and my balls tighten. She draws in a sharp breath, and I have no doubt she feels the connection, too.
Fuck.I thought I was being clever when I invited her to join me as my assistant. I hoped I could keep a few steps ahead of this—whatever it is she's doing to me. I thought I was being clever by taking the lead and nipping this attraction in the bud. I took that entire 'keep your enemies close' dictum to heart. Apparently, she's not the one I need to be worried about.
It's me and my reaction to her that I need to control. And I have the rest of the night to prove to myself how wrong it was to have anything to do with her.
"Sit." I point at the bench set into the side of the boat, then heave a sigh of relief when she complies. I grab a life-vest and place it about her shoulders. She begins to protest but I shake my head. “That’s non-negotiable. I will not risk your life, Belle.”
She looks between my eyes then nods. “What about you?”
“I’m good.”
“I will not risk your life either, Edward.” She sets her jaw.
A frisson of heat squeezes my chest. I bat it aside, then reach for another life-vest and shrug into it. Then, I take a stance beside her. Not because I want to act as her shield from the wind, and definitely not because I want to make sure she's safe. She’s a grown woman; she can handle herself on a boat. The vessel leaps forward, and she lurches with it. I grip her arm until she finds her balance again.
"Thanks." She tilts her face up. Her hair flows across her features, and before I can stop myself, I’ve pushed the strands behind her ear.
In the moonlight, her blue eyes turn a translucent silver.
"Beautiful Belle," I murmur.
"Excuse me?"
I shake my head, stare ahead, but don’t let go of her.
