wondering.”
He gasps dramatically. “Thanks for the educational tip.”
“You’re welcome. While we’re at it, why don’t you learn to respect other people’s wishes?”
His voice drips with mockery. “Funny coming from you considering that you kissed me without my permission.”
My cheeks heat, but I refuse to back down. “A mistake I'll never repeat. Now, take me back.”
“That would be a no, beautiful.”
I cross my arms. “You don’t want to go as much as me so why force yourself?”
He flashes me a charming grin. “Because Nonna’s smack hurts.”
“Not my problem. Pull over.”
“I don’t take orders.” His voice turns flat as he exits the neighbourhood and speeds in the main road.
“I want out of this car.”
“The answer is still no.” His devil grin is on full display. “I'll give you two choices, though.”
Something tells me I won’t like them. “What?”
“Go obediently or…” His gaze roams over me, and it takes everything in me not to cross my jacket and hide my cleavage.
Tingles erupt over my skin and settle between my legs. I squirm and close my thighs together.
I like how he looks at me.
Whatever he had to say disappears since his devil grin returns, and it’s not playful in the least. “You can open the door and jump out. Your choice, beautiful.”
God. I hate him!
I remain fuming as he drives with infinite ease. It’s pointless to fight him. In fact, I shouldn’t be fighting him because this is my golden chance to dissect him from a closer range. But that’s not what keeps looping in my mind.
After the conversation with Nonna, I’m starting to humanise this arrogant arsehole and I don’t like that.
We arrive at Hyde Park. Shadow finds a parking space and doesn’t wait for me as his long strides head to the stables. I might have fallen behind on purpose to watch his arse in jeans.
He does quick work of taking a horse from the stables. The ladies at the registry have heart eyes the whole time he’s talking to them. I stay by the side watching him. It’s not really his appearance, although he does have that messy, blond bad boy handsome face – and those tattoos are to die for. But it’s more about his aura.
Shadow has this easy charm and an infectious perfect grin. I doubt they’d be all over him if they knew the darkness boiling inside, clawing to be set free.
He’s like a storm that’s ready to erupt.
Shadow comes out from the stables, leading a polka-dotted mare. She follows him out with elegant steps and sniffs his neck. Brilliant. Even the mare is all over him.
I’m thankful I opted for jeans and boots today, or riding would’ve become super awkward.
“Why is it only one horse?” I ask once he stops in front of me.
“You said you didn’t know how to ride.”
“So?”
“One horse will suffice. I’m not in the mood to chase you all over the park.” His eyes gleam as he smirks. “Or maybe you want to break your neck?”
“You’re a freak. Did you know that?”
“I get that all the time.” He places his foot on the stirrup and mounts the horse with ease. “Now, hop up.”
I try to imitate him, but my feet catch in the stirrup, and I almost fall backwards. A strong hand clutches my arm and hauls me up. I end up sitting sideways in front of Shadow. My legs are dangling from the side of the horse.
His strong arms are on each side of me. One around my back and the other grazes my stomach with his hard chest glued to my arm. What the hell is happening in my lower abdomen? Why is it contracting out of nowhere?
I focus on his arms around me, and it’s the wrong damn distraction.
The colourful tattoos are brighter under the afternoon light. The snarling tigers are still gruesome but less frightening than usually.
Hot breaths tickle down my neck, and his scent overwhelms me. I’m so tempted to glimpse at his eyes and see what range of grey they are, but if I do, I’d be treading into a territory I have no idea how to handle.
Despite the chaos in my body, I motion ahead. “What are you waiting for?”
The sooner we start the faster I’ll get rid of this overpowering sensation caused by his closeness.
There’s a slight pause. I can feel his eyes digging a hole at the top of my head, but I concentrate on breathing.
Shadow gently kicks the mare into a moderate pace. I release a breath.
Other riders are on the same path,