Damon’s question snapped her back to the present. She couldn’t believe he’d used that kind of endearment in front of an acquaintance. The use meant a much closer relationship than existed, which was exactly what Damon had been trying to accomplish. He considered her to be his fiancée already, regardless of her objections to the relationship. It took a second, but she regrouped quickly. “Since this is our first date, I guess I was a bit distracted. Your cologne is a bit overwhelming. Perhaps if we attend another function, you could be a bit more discreet?” she replied, making sure her mother’s friend understood that this was their first time out and not a more intimate relationship she could then go gossip about to their mutual friends.
“It might be our first night out, but we’ve had several other….” he hesitated meaningfully, “meetings in private, haven’t we?”
Eva couldn’t believe that he was implying that their other meetings were so much more significant than they actually were. “I don’t think we can classify those other meetings as anything other than the fights they really were, can we?”
He smiled seductively. “I’ll…fight…with you anytime you want,” he came back. The hand at the small of her back pulling her close against his body. When she gasped at the pressure, placing her free hand to the middle of his chest to keep her balance, she knew she’d been outmaneuvered. Again.
The woman laughed softly. “You two obviously have something very special going on and I for one, am glad to hear it. Eva, your mother must be desperate to plan your wedding and I’ll certainly offer my assistance in that area.”
Before Eva could counter the woman’s impression, she’d already walked off, obviously heading towards the next group of opera lovers to spread the news of Eva’s impending nuptials.
“How could you do that?” Eva demanded, pushing against his chest but gaining no space from the hard muscles of his body.
“Because, technically, we are engaged.”
“I haven’t agreed to that. In fact, I believe the last time it was brought up, I specifically rejected the offer.”
“I’m making sure you don’t have a choice.”
She looked up at this man, at his handsome, rugged features and simply couldn’t figure him out. He wanted to tie himself to a woman who didn’t want him? In marriage, which in some people’s minds, specifically hers, that meant for life and all those other conditions like sickness, health, poor, wealth, etcetera, etcetera. “Why? Why in the world would you want to marry a woman who doesn’t want to marry you back?”
He looked down into her angry, but still strikingly lovely features. “Because I think you’ll make me an ideal wife.”
She huffed her irritation at his bland reply. “And will you be my ideal husband?”
He smiled, again with that sexy, stomach melting, knee wobbling smile that made her heart stop for a micro second before pounding out faster and harder. “I’ll be the perfect match for you.”
“You’re a conceited, arrogant bastard who doesn’t know what kind of obnoxiousness I can dish out.”
“Bring it on. I’ll enjoy the challenge.”
“You don’t want me,” she said, meaning that he wouldn’t want her as a wife, but he instantly took a different meaning to her words, his strong hands moving from her waist down to her hips and he yanked her forward, pressing her soft stomach against the hardness that was growing with her nearness.
“Ah, Eva, but I really do want you. And you can feel that I want you so that’s a ridiculous argument.”
“That’s just sex,” she hissed, trying to move her hips out of the way, embarrassed by his uninhibited sexuality. “And let me go!”
He grinned down into her furious features as he felt her nipples harden against his chest, telling him that she was just as affected by their movements as he was. “Why? You feel extraordinarily good. I’m glad you don’t starve yourself to a bony mess.”
“I will if that’s what you dislike.”
He laughed. “I have a feeling that there’s little about you I won’t like, but I don’t think you’ll starve yourself just to spite me. You’re too sensible.”
“Maybe I’ll get fat.”
“You won’t.”
The lights dimmed twice, indicating that the intermission was over. He let her go, but kept an arm around her waist, capturing her fingers when she tried to peel his hand away. The action made their embrace look much more intimate than it really was and several people smiled as they walked by the two of them, heading for their private boxes.
Chapter 7
Damon