it. I tugged on the delicate lace thong, frowning at how little it covered. “Sooooo.” Her playful tone flicked up my head. She tapped her lip, her eyebrows curving. “I couldn’t help but overhear you and Warwick in the bathroom—”
The door creaked open, stopping the rest of Rosie’s sentence, our eyes swinging to the entrance. Warwick stomped through, filling the space, loading the air with energy, causing shivers to run down my back. Commanding. Dominating.
I knew I wasn’t alone in feeling it. Rosie inhaled, her hand going to her breastbone, goosebumps prickling her skin. Her feet twitched like she was nervous, but she licked her lip, her chest puffing out like a peacock, not able to fight her nature.
Not against him anyway.
Soaked from his voyage into the bathtub, his clothes clung to his physique, forcing my gaze to roam over each place they stuck tightly to him, curving over his muscles and…gods, the man’s cock was even indecent fully clothed. Nerves fluttered in my stomach, forcing my head to the side.
“Warwick,” Rosie said his name as if she were addressing a god, her mouth open in awe as she took in how the fabric clung to him. “We have never officially met, though I feel I know you. Your reputation precedes you. And I have to say, it’s been greatly minimalized. You are even more impressive up close.” She bit her lip, her gaze moving over him like a cat stalking its next meal. A part of me wanted to knock her across the head, another part totally understood her reaction, and yet another part wanted to tell those two parts to shut up. She could have him. I didn’t care.
His heavy gaze met mine, not responding to Rosie. He kept his expression neutral, but I could feel the pulse of his fury radiating off him like a tangible object. Even with the bedspread covering my chest, I felt stripped bare as his eyes burned into me.
“If you need anything… Anything. At. All.” She continued to talk, but not once did his eyes flicker to her.
“Rosie, is it?” he rumbled, still watching me.
“Y-yes.” Her face bloomed with elation. “The English Rose at your service.” She winked, her eyes heated, her robe open, allowing him to see her ample breasts, which practically fell out of the bodice.
“Thank you for watching over her.” His attention narrowed on me.
“Oh, you are so welcome. She was no problem. Anything I can do to make your stay here bet—”
“Rosie,” he cut her off.
“Yes?”
“You can go.”
Her shoulders jerked at the dismissal, but she quickly gathered herself, nodding.
“Of course.” She turned back to me, her eyes darting between Warwick and me before she took off for the door, trying to slip quietly out.
“Thank you, Rosie.”
She paused, looked at me with an impish smile, then closed the door with a click.
Leaving me alone with him. I could feel him glowering, a weight pressing down, and with every second of silence, it grew heavier. I realized quickly trying to out-stubborn him was a losing battle. Warwick did not have the normal responses to awkwardness and tension most people did.
“I’m not going to apologize if that is what you are waiting for,” I grumbled, folding the blanket firmer against my chest.
Silence.
I turned my attention back to him, sucking in as if he had plucked the air from my lungs. Was I always going to have this response to him? Wet, sexy, intense, brutal. He was too much—overwhelming and dangerous. Someone who would drown you. Take all of you.
Gritting my teeth, I shoved against his intensity, glaring back at him. “Is someone pouting ‘cause he got a little wet?” I taunted, wanting to stand up, but my leg wasn’t having it. “Or because a human girl got the better of him?”
His focus didn’t relent as he took measured steps toward me. Nerves collapsed my lungs, my backbone going rigid, but I didn’t flinch as he lowered his head to mine, his mouth a breath from mine.
“You think you got the better of me?” Raspy, his words went through me like Scotch, burning and heating my muscles, his breath snaking down the thin sheet covering me.
“Yes.” I tipped up my chin, not backing away from him.
A smirk pulled up the side of his mouth. “You think that was a real fight between us?”
I glowered, hating my betraying eyes as they dipped down to his mouth.
“I held my own against you in the pit.”
His patronizing smile grew.
“Believe me, when it’s a real match