Silence pulsed between them as they stared at each other.
She cleared her throat and asked him, “What are you thinking about?”
He stood over her, and took his time answering. “I’m thinking you’re dangerous, baby.”
“How so, Mr. Vega?”
“You’re dangerous to my peace, my state of mind, my equilibrium.” His eyes roved down her legs, the only imperfection the scrapes on her knees. He took in everything, her tiny ankles, the pink polish on her toenails, her feminine little feet. His eyes slowly moved back up, stalling at the vee between her thighs and the curve of her chest. “You think this is a smart move, Miss Ruiz? Pulling out all the stops when you know I’m trying my damn best to stay away from you?”
CHAPTER FIVE
She sucked in a breath as both pleasure and a tendril of shock trailed fingers across her spine. He was suffering the same as she was. He was temptation beyond temptation. Her heart was screaming at her to reach out for him, her brain was telling her that he was off limits. Too old. Too intense. Too macho. No doubt he did crazy things to her insides. But he just wasn’t safe.
She took the easy way out. “It’s Christmas Eve. So I dressed up. Big deal.”
He reached out and took her chin in his hand and did that thing with his thumb across her face that made her body tremble. Her breathing splintered and arousal pierced her, hot and hard. His eyes were deep, dark brown. Mesmerizing. His voice was whiskey smooth. “It is a big deal, sweetheart. If you think you’re grown-up, you need to prove it and stop trying to entice me. Because it’s working.”
He took the can from her hand and put both of their drinks on the coffee table. He reached back for her and his hand continued to slide over her cheek.
She nodded slightly in an attempt to agree to his demand.
“Good girl.” He slid down until he was sitting on the edge of the couch in front of where she was reclining, overwhelming her. Crowding her personal space. “How you feeling, baby? Still hurting?”
She shook her head and answered him in a whisper. “No. I’m better.”
“Ready to go dancing?” he teased.
“Not yet.”
“Poor baby. Can’t go out, can’t go running, can’t even get up to entertain company.” His words slid through her and she thought about last night and looked away from his eyes.
He noticed.
His fingers tightened on her chin and he demanded her attention. “Look at me.”
Her eyes slid carefully back to his. His features hardened, like his hand on her skin. “What’d you do?”
“Nothing.”
“You went out, or have company? You damn sure didn’t go running.”
She tried to play down something insignificant that somehow she knew he wouldn’t like. “Yeah, I had company. Trevor came by last night.”
“Trevor.” His voice radiated anger.
“Yeah.”
“He touch you?”
“What?” Stunned, she could only manage the one word. When had she become his property? She wasn’t.
“Did. He. Touch. You.” He bit the words out, one by one.
“That’s n-not really any of your business,” she stammered.
“You don’t think?” His mouth flattened in a line of suppressed temper.
“No.”