Dancer in Lingerie (Lingerie 13)

Bosco was on his feet instantly. “Sweetheart—”

“One.” I held up my forefinger. “A man doesn’t call me sweetheart unless he’s earned it. You definitely haven’t earned it, Bosco.” I held up a second finger. “Two. You said I could leave, and that’s exactly what I’m doing.”

He slowly slid his hands into his pockets, a quiet sigh sounding under his breath. His jaw tightened, the muscles in his cheek shifting slightly. Disappointment burned in his eyes as he fought the helpless feeling.

“Yes, I think you’re hot. But I also think you’re a psychopath who’s overstepped his boundaries. I don’t give a damn if you’ve got the entire city on your payroll and you can move mountains and claim restaurants. Your money and power don’t impress me. I’m not like the women you’re used to—stupid, submissive, and superficial. So don’t waste another moment of your time on me—because I don’t want it.” I turned around and marched off, and to my relief, none of his men tried to stop me. I made the long walk to the front of the empty restaurant and finally out into the cool nighttime air. There was so much adrenaline in my veins that I didn’t need my coat—even though it was my favorite.

I turned the corner and searched for a taxi, but the street was empty of cars. I didn’t want to stand around and have Bosco stare at me through the window so I kept walking.

“Carmen.” His powerful voice sounded behind me, echoing against the buildings even though he didn’t raise his voice.

I should just keep walking, but for some idiotic reason, I stopped. I ground my teeth together in self-loathing as I stood in my boots, the freezing air hurting my lungs. I closed my eyes and willed myself to keep walking. Instead, I turned around.

He walked up to me and held out my black coat so I could put my arms through the sleeves. He wore the same disappointed expression, but his mouth was clenched tightly like he was stopping himself from saying anything else.

My heart softened at the gesture, and I hated myself for feeling any kind of empathy for him. But I loved that coat so much that I slid my arm into one sleeve and then the other.

Bosco pulled it over my shoulders and then smoothed the fabric down my arms. His smell was in the air instantly, along with his frustration. His hands gave me a gentle squeeze before he released me.

I turned around and looked at him again, finding him even more beautiful in the shadows than I did in the restaurant. The light from the streetlamp hit his face perfectly, bringing a special color to his eyes. His arms hung by his sides, and he kept a few inches of space between us. “You’re right. You’re not my kind of woman.”

I refused to take that as an insult.

“That’s why I like you.”

I tightened my coat across my body, trapping the warm air against my body.

“You don’t know anything about me. But you’re right, I’m not a good guy. I’m not the man you’ll marry. I won’t give you four kids. But I will give you the most fun you’ll ever have, the kind of sex that’ll make your toes curl. Until you meet the guy you’re looking for, I can be everything else you need in the meantime. Don’t waste more time with guys like Samuel. Go to bed with a real man. Go to bed with me.” His arms remained by his sides, but they shook slightly with restraint. His gaze was intense, borderline desperate. He was used to getting his way, but with me, getting what he wanted wasn’t simple.

I shouldn’t even want to agree to this, but I was standing there in the freezing cold wishing he would make me warm. Bosco was the last guy I should be with, but the idea of finding someone else was unappealing. All I would do was think about him, as my date with Samuel proved.

There was a mutual understanding that this would be meaningless. Sex was the only thing I wanted him for, and it seemed to be the only thing he wanted me for.

When nothing was said, he spoke again. “Let me take you home.”

I stepped closer to him, unable to resist the magnetic pull between us. I wanted to inhale his scent, smell it as it was mixed with sweat. I wanted to taste his skin as well as his lips, claw at his back until I sliced the skin. My hands moved to his stomach, feeling his abs through the fabric of his suit. “As long as you’re gone before morning.”

4

Bosco

We sat side by side in the back of the car as my driver drove to her apartment. I never asked for her address because I already knew exactly where she lived.