“Either you didn’t see it, or decided against it. In which case, that leads me to believe two things about you.”
My heart stole all my energy with its over beating thrum. “Really? And what’s that?”
He smiled lopsidedly. It transformed his face from scary fighter to charming seducer. “That you’re either unobservant or secretly wanted men to look. Wanted to see how badly they’d react to a fucking gorgeous woman when blatantly faced with nipples as tight as yours and a pussy as inviting as the one hidden behind that ridiculous lace.”
My breath caught at such crude conversation. It flowed from his mouth like aged port, reeking of time-mellowed barbarianism.
He licked his lips, running his hand expertly from my shoulder to the nape of my neck. His fingers closed around the base of my spine, keeping me in place, sending shockwaves of need right to my toes.
I’d never been held like that and never by a complete stranger. I’d never been talked to that way or watched like I was delicious prey. And I certainly never thought I’d stand by and permit it.
The urge to scream wasn’t there. The instinct to run mysteriously absent. He’d tied me up with mystery and sex appeal.
When I didn’t respond, he murmured, “Which is it? Innocent or temptress?” The muscles in his neck tensed as he swallowed, giving away a flicker of knowledge that his words were weapons, but I wasn’t the only one turned on.
What did he hide beneath that robe? How affected was he standing so close to me with no one around and no rules to obey.
My mouth opened but no sound came out.
He tightened his hold on my neck, moving me closer until my body pressed against his. “Want to know what I think?”
I bit my lip as something hard and most definitely male pressed against my lower belly.
“I think you’re completely clueless. You have no idea what you’re doing, or how you look dressed like that. You’re more afraid of yourself and what others think of you than how much danger you could invite being dressed like an untouchable whore.”
Fire flashed through my system. “I am not a whore.”
He nodded. “I know that; I’ve figured you out.”
No, you haven’t.
His eyes gleamed; a pink tongue ran over his bottom lip. “You ran from your room when the alarm woke you up, probably more focussed on your belongings rather than safety or dress code. You bolted without thinking of taking your key, and now have the dilemma of being stranded with no way of hiding and trapped by a man who has no self-control, decency, or the pretence of being a gentleman.”
I should’ve been scared, terrified—but instead, I felt exposed and desperate for more of his insight. He read me so well. I couldn’t permit that with my new world. I couldn’t let others see past my projection and guess what a fraud I was.
“What gave me away?” I honestly wanted to know. For some reason, I lost the sense of danger and sought his help to hide the things I wanted to keep hidden.
His eyebrow rose. “What?”
Looking into his deep blue gaze, I said, “You were right. About everything. How did you know?”
He chuckled—the sound existed between sin and seduction. “Okay…” His fingers massaged the back of my neck, drawing me back a little to look at my breasts. “This is how I knew. You don’t have storage for a key, and as perfect as your tits are, I don’t see a key card stuffed between them.” He smirked. “You wear uncertainty like a perfume, you move as if you’re only just getting used to being a woman, and you’re scared shitless of being seen.”
Leaning closer, he whispered, “I smell it on you. The doubt. The lack of confidence.”
My heart broke. “Really?”
Shit, everything I thought I’d achieved in the past few days came toppling down in lies. How did I land the lead role if I’d been so transparent?
His fingers released me, dropping from my neck and leaving me bereft. He nodded. “It’s a gift. I sense others’ weaknesses.” Lowering his voice, he added, “I catalogue them, so I can use them against my opponent. No one is what they seem.”
He’d shown my biggest fear. The terror that I would get to Hollywood and someone would point and expose me. That my dreams of living other characters’ lives and not having to confront mine would explode in my face.
Something fierce and hot glowed in his eyes. “By the way, my name