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I was stupid to think that he would be interested, foolish even.
“I’ll see myself out, then.” I stand, and he does as well. As I try not to feel even more ridiculous than I already do.
“Ariana,” he calls. I know he’s right behind me. I feel his hand on my wrist as he makes contact, and I turn to face him. “Please don’t leave upset.”
“What’s the point?” I throw back, and I know my attitude just reaffirms I’m acting like a baby.
But he should feel bad. He’s the one who made the first moves by touching me. Now he can barely look at me.
“The point is, I’m protecting you, because in the long run, we both know that we can’t work.”
I nod. “You’re right, Mr. Bentley. But you’re the first man that’s actually treated me like a real woman. When you talk to me, you look at me, you’re genuinely interested in what I have to say, and…” I know I’m rambling, but what the hell, I’m never going to see him again after this. “When you touch me… when you touch me, my body heats up with something I’ve never had before. I want to get lost in you and never resurface, and I’m confused, I’m confused about all of it…”
I feel his hands at my hips, and then his mouth moves over mine. It’s not hot and urgent like last night, but soft, tentative and gentle.
My hands go to push him away, but who am I kidding? I keep my hands on his bare chest and reciprocate the kiss, my heart racing.
He kisses me with so much sensual tenderness that I do not recognize the sound I make in the back of my throat.
When he pulls away, I’m breathless as I stare up at him.
“You make me lose control, Ariana,” he says in a low voice, his eyes on my lips. “And I’m always in control. What do you think that means?”
Is it a trick question?
“Maybe that we’re attracted to one another, despite all the obstacles in our way,” I whisper.
The way he looks at me, it prompts me to grow some kind of backbone and add, “I don’t want you to leave. I’ll be in the Zulu bar tonight at eight if you want to see me again. If not, we’ll pretend none of this ever happened, and I’ll delete your number off my phone.”
I feel his grip on my hips tighten.
Yeah, I bet you don’t like that, do you, Mr. CEO?
“Ariana…” he whispers.
“Please,” I say, moving one finger over his lips to quieten him. “I’ve said all I have to say. If you want to see where this goes, you know where I’ll be. If not, thank you for everything. The suite. The dinner. The earrings, and most of all, that kiss. I’ll never forget it.”
With that, I very reluctantly move away from him and go to the door, holding my head as high as I can muster when I leave him standing there staring after me.
Way to kill a mood.
I want to applaud myself for such bravery, but my body curses me to a thousand deaths.
I may have choked, but at least I said my piece.
He doesn’t get to be the one making all the decisions, and at the end of the day, it’s just sex. I’m not asking for a freaking marriage proposal.
It’s wrong. We both know it. But we’re consenting adults, and now that I’ve had a taste, I can’t get the thought of him out of my brain.
I want him.
When I get back to the room, I’m glad Imogen and Charlize have gone down to the pool bar. Ialready told them we kissed but didn’t go into too much more detail. They were already bombarding me with questions and telling me sparks were flying all night over dinner.
Of course, Charlize is on board for me to jump his bones, but Imogen is a little more reserved, telling me to seriously think about what I’m doing before I do it. I know it’s because they both care about me and because of the situation I’m in.
I just can’t stop the race of my heart whenever I think about him.
I know it’s kinda insta-lusty, but I’ve not had this kind of attraction to a man before.
