She licks the bite off the spoon as she watches me. “You know?”
“Yeah, I asked my sister to tell me some of what you like. Chocolate pudding was the first thing she said.”
“I can't believe she remembered that. I told her that like the first time we talked.”
“Betty has a good memory. I also know that my sister told you I'm some kind of playboy, but just so you know, I'm not.”
“And I'm supposed to just believe you? Why should I trust you, and not your sister? She has no reason to lie to me, but you on the other hand. . .” She lets the last word hang in the air, and arches her brows.
I know exactly what she's thinking. If I'm the kind of guy who sleeps around, I would do and say anything to get my way. Damn my sister for putting that in her head.
“While my sister might have good intentions, and just because she knows all kinds of little things about me, doesn't mean she knows everything. Her perception is wrong, I'm not a guy who sleeps around. I don't take home a different girl every night of the week just because I can. I'm not that person, and I never was. But I'm not going to spend all my time trying to convince you either. You can believe me or not, but I won't beg you.”
Her lids lower in thought as she purses her lips. “Look, I take what other people tell me with a grain of salt. The truth will come out eventually.”
“Then let me show you who I really am.”
“That's a big request,” she says as her gaze fixes on the bowl in front of her. “Your sister and I have talked a lot over the past few months. But you're asking me to just trust you after a week?”
“I don't expect you to do anything. I'm asking you to just let down your walls a little bit and give me a chance. I don't think that's too much to ask.”
Her ass is pushed out and she's twisting the tips of her toes on her left leg into the floor. She looks so damn sexy like this. Restless, sleepy but not tired, her hair messy while wearing something I could easily rip off her body.
Her nipples are hard and brushing against the counter as she moves to get another bite of pudding. I could fuck her right here and now. Easily. I can spread her legs, lift her shirt, and just slam my dick inside.
She catches me checking her out and smirks. Fuck, that smile is enough to make any man crazed. I'd kill to have her if that's what it would take. Like a wolf on the prowl, I circle the counter, only coming to a stop when I'm inches away.
Anna's eyes lift, steadying on mine. I brush her shoulder purposely with my arm. A shiver scales down her body. I can see it. Her muscles tremble softly beneath the surface, making her nipples even harder.
“I've already learned something about you that my sister doesn't know,” I say.
“Mm, hm,” she hums under her breath. “And what's that?”
“I know you're running for a new start. You're tired of the same old thing at home, and searching for something else. Something new. Something bold and different to fill a hole you feel inside.”
“And you figured that out how?”
“By paying attention.”
Anna grins, tilting her head away from me as she draws swirls in the pudding with the tip of her spoon. “Sounds like you've spent a lot of time around girls you think are gullible. Unfortunately for you, I'm not gullible.”
“I know you're not. But you don't hide things as well as you think you do. I could see it clear as day.”
“How?”
“Because you're a hard person not to notice.”
“What's that supposed to mean?” her voice teeters between high and low tones as her eyes harden like I've offended her.
She's taking it all wrong. It's not an insult. This is a compliment. She's leaving breadcrumbs for me to follow like Gretel in the forest. Every crumb tells me something about her. Her stubbornness. Her strength. Her independence. Her will do for herself and not ask for help from others.
Anna doesn't think I can see her, but I do.
“It means that when you walk in a room people see you. I see you. You're stunning, Anna. You make it hard for me to focus on anything else but you.”
“Really?”
I nod as I slip the spoon out of her hand. “Yes, really.”
“You're just saying that.”
“I never just say anything. I promise you that.” I lick her spoon clean, running the tip of my tongue along the outside of cold metal. “Just so you know, I can do other things with my tongue beside talking.” I wiggle my brows, causing her to giggle.