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“You okay, babe?” he asks, that word always bringing a blanket of warmth over my body.
He carries two plates filled with seared tuna on a bed of saffron rice and places one before me. My God, it smells so good.
“I was just thinking about where I’m gonna live,” I confess. “Can’t go back to my own place for obvious reasons.”
Slowly, he lowers into his seat, dark brows drawn down tight. “I thought you’d stay here.”
He appears offended. And seeing this big, tough man sulking is so incredibly sexy.
“A…” I rise and head for him, settling on his lap as my arms fall across his shoulders. “You know that is impossible. I have the bodyguard, and after I come back from my amazing vacation…” I grin. “He’ll know who you are and will report you to Michael.”
The vein in his neck throbs, and those eyes, they seem to burn into mine. “I can handle Michael.” He runs the top of his hand across the underside of my jaw. “You’ll stay here. With me.”
He says it like it’s been made into a decree, but I won’t risk his life.
“I’m sure you can handle anyone, but I don’t want either one of you getting hurt. So please, promise me not to do anything stupid. If I could stay here, you know I would.”
His chest puffs out. “I like having you here, and I refuse to let anyone from my family stop me from having what I want.” His voice grows low and husky, his knuckles crawling softly down my cheek.
My skin instantly tingles, his touch alone making me want him.
After that night when we had sex, he hasn’t attempted it, and neither have I. Though I’ve wanted to, I’ve liked getting to knowhim more than anything. Part of the reason I think I wanted to sleep with him was to see how broken I truly was. Considering I didn’t cry or attempt to murder him, I’d say it was a success. And the way he gave it to me was perfect. I owe him so much for that.
Leaning in, I kiss his mouth, and an approving growl rumbles against my lips. Fingers slicing into my hair, he pushes me in deeper, tongue snaking out for mine, sucking it into his heady mouth.
Breathlessly, he fists my hair back, eyes smoldering. “Don’t kiss me like that. I have very little self-control thanks to you, and I’m one move away from fucking you again.”
“Why haven’t you?” My rapid heartbeats beat to a chaotic rhythm.
“Because…” His thumb brushes against my lips, causing my arms to prickle. “I can sense it’s not what you really need. So I’m trying, Kayla.” His eyes grow glassy. “I’m trying to be the kind of man that you need. I don’t do hearts and flowers, but I can do this. I can listen. I can hold you, even when I don’t do it quite right. I can braid your hair. Make you dinner and turn you into my dessert. It’s what I am, baby bird.” He shrugs like any woman in her right mind would ever turn any of it down. “I don’t want to just be the man who fucks you, though I did enjoy that, quite a bit.”
His one-sided smirk causes flutters to erupt simultaneously with my own tears.
“Hearts are overrated and flowers die. Butyouare priceless.” I grab both sides of his face. “Do you even know how amazing you are? Aside from your murderous ways, you literally are the perfect man.”
“Say what now?” A disbelieving chuckle rises out of him.
“Come here.” I open my arms and hold him to me, pressing my cheek to his shoulder. Staring up at him, I smile. “You havebeautiful eyes.”
“Nowhere as beautiful as yours.” He drops his lips to mine, and now he’s the one kissing me, clutching my jaw as he deepens our connection.
And I swear, I could get lost in this feeling. We’re both so torn apart, and maybe that’s why we found one another. To give each other something to hold on to.
“Are you sure you can’t stay here?” he asks, practically pouting, and a bubble of laughter escapes me.
“Are you sulking?” I ask, a teasing tone greeting him. “Because I think you’re sulking.”
“I don’t sulk.” He raises his chin, a hint of that smirk returning. “But I—” His throat vibrates as he swallows, something heavy crossing his eyes.
“You what, Adriel?” I love saying his name. It’s so beautiful.
“I’m gonna miss having you here.” He clenches his jaw. “I’ve never…I’ve never missed anyone before.”
Oh, my heart. My chest gets all tight with my unruly emotions.
How is he this amazing person, and he doesn’t even know it?
“I’m gonna miss being here with you every day too.” I clasp him to me, my eyes closed as he sighs. “But you’re still going to be stalking my every move, I’m sure, so it’ll be like I never actually left.”
