complex console. When he lowered into the passenger’s seat, he reached over and buckled my seatbelt. Probably because I hadn’t moved yet, stiff as a robot.
“Alright, first step,” he said, obvious amusement in his voice, “put your hands on the steering wheel.”
I whipped my head toward him and warned, “No. Laughing.”
His expression sobered with wide eyes. “Never.”
But there was still a twinkle in his eye. I arched a brow at him before returning my focus on the car, gently placing my hands on the wheel. “I’m not driving outside this parking lot.”
“Absolutely not. Baby steps. Today, we’re practicing right here, nowhere else.”
Blowing out a heavy breath, I nodded. “Okay. Now what?”
“Press your left foot down on the clutch, your right on the brake.”
I did. “Okay.”
“Now, start the engine. And put your hand on the stick.”
I arched a brow at him. “Is that code for something?”
“My, oh my, Miss Savoie. What a dirty mind you have. Get your head out of the gutter and focus. And wrap your hand around my stick.”
He taunted me with a hot look and a waggle of his eyebrows. I couldn’t keep myself from laughing. And just like that, some of the tension eased from my shoulders.
“We should be starting with an automatic,” I said, grabbing hold of the gear shift.
“Where’s the fun in that?” He leaned an arm along my headrest but kept some distance so I didn’t feel crowded. Just close enough to feel comforted. “So, because this is a rather luxurious, high-performance car and expensive, as you’ve reminded me on a number of occasions, it has a very smooth transition from gear to gear. All you need to do is ease up slowly on the clutch as you press the acceleration pedal at the same time. Go as slow as you need and take your time.”
I faced forward and did as he said, eased up with the clutch and pressed down on the gas pedal. When I felt the car moving, I pressed too hard and the car jerked then stalled out.
“Oh, hell!” I had the clutch and the brake down to the floor. “I can’t do this.”
“Yes, you can.”
“Stop laughing at me, Devraj!”
“I’m not laughing.”
He was so laughing. Hard.
“Okay, okay. Let’s do this first. Take your feet off the pedals.”
“Are you crazy?” I shrieked.
“The car is off, so we’re in no danger. Take your feet off.”
“Alright.”
“And close your eyes.”
I snapped my head to him. “What are you planning?”
“Nothing nefarious,” he crooned, edging closer, one hand on my thigh. “I want you to relax.”
“Your glamour doesn’t work on me. I’ve told you that.”
“Just a little guided imagery to help you relax.”
I pressed the back of my head to the headrest with a huff of frustration. “It won’t work.”
“Let me be the judge of that.” He tugged a lock of my hair. “Close your eyes, love.”
“This isn’t going to work.” I closed my eyes anyway.
“So little faith.” His hand on my thigh tightened, but didn’t move up, thank goodness, because then my mind would’ve been somewhere else for sure. Already, his proximity and body heat and electric energy filled up the space with a heady concoction of sexy vampire.
“Imagine you’re walking through the courtyard to your greenhouse.” His voice was close to my ear, rumbling low and deep with a hypnotic tempo. “But instead of the door you normally see leading into the greenhouse, there is a door made entirely of golden light. When you open the door, you step through into a wilderness made of vibrant color. A field of purple wildflowers wave in a summer wind to your right, a brook with crystal-blue water rushes into the woods to your left. The trees on the leaves rustle as you walk barefoot on the plush grass.”
He went on, detailing the beauty of a fairy forest where magic lived and thrived. My body eased at the cadence of his sensual voice.
Finally, he pressed a soft kiss to my cheek. “Now open your eyes, beautiful.”
I did, heart skipping at his endearment.
“How do you feel now?” he asked.
“Good.” What an understatement.
Damn, this man. If someone had told me I’d let a guy teach me to drive after he’d once hit me with his car, I’d have told them they’d lost their damn mind. My sisters had begged to teach me in the past to my constant, resounding no. But here I was with little more than a nudge from him, slipping into a relaxed state with nothing more than a few words. I could barely believe