I go to step out of his way, and his arm entrenches me as he guides us out the door that I’d literally walked through just a few moments prior.
“Wait, what, we?” No one answers me as Sophie waves, and Arsen guides me down the sidewalk. What just happened?
“Which one’s yours?” His voice awashes me in comfort and longing as his question registers in my brain.
Pointing to my cheerful, pint-sized car, I reply, “That one.”
As we stop in front of it, he looks back and forth between me and the vehicle. His gaze amused. “Of course.” His laughter picks up momentum as his amusement becomes more apparent.
“I don’t get it?” I grumble at him, quickly becoming annoyed with this overbearing brute of a man.
His merriment fades as his golden gaze meets mine again. The hand around my shoulders slides down to my waist, and I feel it to my toes. My body arches into him as he turns to fully face me. His other hand grazes my cheek as his knuckles brush along my brow.
“These beautiful long lashes, they draw a man in. Suck him into your web.” I can feel the stain of a blush hit my cheeks at his words. “So, of course, you would have matching lashes on your little bug.” Amusement laces his words again, and I’m not sure if I should be insulted or flattered.
Looking at my car, I smile, refusing to be embarrassed. “They were a gift from my class.”
I continue to feel his intense stare on me as he slides a lock of stray hair behind my ear. “They’re perfect.” My eyes dart to him then. The emotion and intensity in his own pierce me to my soul, and I get the feeling he’s not talking about the car decoration.
Clearing my throat, I don’t know how to handle him. “Why did you drag me away?” I don’t know if I’m complaining or not because I didn’t really want to come today in the first place, but I don’t understand him.
“You ever see something you want and decide to just go for it?”
“Umm, well, I bought this car,” I say, not sure where he’s going with this.
The way he bites the side of his lip draws my attention there. I have tunnel vision where he’s concerned it seems, and his face feels closer.
“You got the car; I want the girl,” he murmurs just before our lips touch. I barely have time to register the act before he’s pulling me tightly into him.
His touch enflames me.
His lips overwhelm me.
His body engulfs me.
Sweet heavens.
This man.
He could be my everything.
If only I weren’t meant to have nothing.
Arsen
Fireworks.
This must be how they feel when they explode. The first touch is soft then quickly turns explosive. Marina is a slow burn of fire as she accepts my kiss. Her little moan, the one she tries so hard to stifle, makes me grin against her lips.
“That’s my girl.”
“Your girl?” she asks in a husky voice she doesn’t recognize.
“Let me take you for dinner,” I eventually respond. I have the feeling she’s the type of girl who likes to be given the choice even when I know I’ll be having the final say.
“Okay.” Her eyes remain closed as she licks her lips slowly, making me want to take another taste. “But, later on.” She points back to the house I just dragged her out of. “I was invited. I should stay for a while first.”
Licking my lips, I size her up. She’s small, sweet, and hot as sin. I’m huge, arrogant, and probably intimidating her. Running a hand across my mouth roughly, I’m torn between my need to have Marina to myself and letting her get to know me.