for . . . other things.”
I felt like I had just run a marathon. (Or a half marathon, because if I were honest, a real marathon wouldn’t happen even in my imagination.) I hoped he wouldn’t notice my chest heaving, trying to get enough air. I could feel my face going beet red.
“She blushes! Oh, I am going to enjoy spending time with you.”
“I haven’t said yes yet. To the article or spending time with you.”
He reached up to separate out a lock of my hair, twisting it around his finger. “You will.”
He was right. I would. But I needed to retain some pride. “If I say yes, it will only be because I need the money.”
Nico leaned in, and I could feel his breath against the spot where my neck met my shoulder. I wanted to melt like my ice cream. “Why do you need the money, bella ?”
I tried to swallow but couldn’t. My eyelids drifted shut. “My tuition scholarship was defunded. I’ve already borrowed as much as I’m allowed, and I can’t keep a job because of all the fieldwork I’m required to do. If I don’t find some way to get the money, I won’t be able to graduate.”
“And that will ruin your carefully laid plans.”
“Uh-huh.” What was he doing with his fingers? Everywhere he touched me he left little pools of flame behind.
He was unfairly using his masculine wiles against me, and I was stupidly giving in. I opened my eyes to see him studying me as he slowly ran his knuckles against my cheek. “So is that a yes?”
“It will be a yes. I will pretend to date you, go where you want me to, write what you want me to write. On one condition.”
He waited for me to continue.
“No more kissing.”
His hands stilled. “ Ma che ? ” I guessed that was Italian for “What the frak did you just say?”
“If you think about it, you want me to stay objective when I write the story, don’t you? So we should take kissing off the table, right?” I didn’t know if I was trying to convince him or me.
“So you’re worried that my kisses will sway you and harm your objectivity?” He paused, as if considering. “That’s probably true.” He went back to lightly caressing me, and I worried that I might have to start planning my own funeral because I was dying .
But I couldn’t let on just how much he affected me. “Full of yourself much?”
He had his face close to mine, and I could feel his smile, hear it in his voice. He moved to put his lips right above mine. “You and I both know that I could prove as much right now.”
Of all the things I expected him to do and say, the next thing to come out of his mouth was not one of them. “I can do that. If you don’t want me to kiss you, I won’t. I will wait until you ask me to.”
Usually I would have been like, so not going to happen, but in this case . . . well, I hoped I was strong enough to stick to my guns.
Nico ran his fingers through my hair, and I unconsciously tilted my head to lean into his open hand. “Am I allowed to still touch you? I’m not sure I can promise not to touch you.”
“Uh . . .” I meant to say something. I did. He completely disrupted all of my brain waves.
“Because it would seem you like touching me as well.” I opened my eyes and looked down. I had both of my hands on his bare chest. When had that happened? I didn’t even remember doing it. My hands obviously had minds of their own. I clenched them shut and put them back in my lap.
“Touching is okay, I guess,” I said in that same breathy voice that I only had around him, and now felt like my new permanent one. To be fair, and putting aside the fact that I enjoyed it, Monterrans had repeatedly proven themselves to be an affectionate and kind of handsy people. I couldn’t exactly say no to him for something that was cultural, could I?
Yes, even in my foggy haze I was aware of my pathetic attempts to justify and rationalize.
“Good. Although I don’t know if it’s very fair to give a man a taste of heaven and tell him he
I felt like I had just run a marathon. (Or a half marathon, because if I were honest, a real marathon wouldn’t happen even in my imagination.) I hoped he wouldn’t notice my chest heaving, trying to get enough air. I could feel my face going beet red.
“She blushes! Oh, I am going to enjoy spending time with you.”
“I haven’t said yes yet. To the article or spending time with you.”
He reached up to separate out a lock of my hair, twisting it around his finger. “You will.”
He was right. I would. But I needed to retain some pride. “If I say yes, it will only be because I need the money.”
Nico leaned in, and I could feel his breath against the spot where my neck met my shoulder. I wanted to melt like my ice cream. “Why do you need the money, bella ?”
I tried to swallow but couldn’t. My eyelids drifted shut. “My tuition scholarship was defunded. I’ve already borrowed as much as I’m allowed, and I can’t keep a job because of all the fieldwork I’m required to do. If I don’t find some way to get the money, I won’t be able to graduate.”
“And that will ruin your carefully laid plans.”
“Uh-huh.” What was he doing with his fingers? Everywhere he touched me he left little pools of flame behind.
He was unfairly using his masculine wiles against me, and I was stupidly giving in. I opened my eyes to see him studying me as he slowly ran his knuckles against my cheek. “So is that a yes?”
“It will be a yes. I will pretend to date you, go where you want me to, write what you want me to write. On one condition.”
He waited for me to continue.
“No more kissing.”
His hands stilled. “ Ma che ? ” I guessed that was Italian for “What the frak did you just say?”
“If you think about it, you want me to stay objective when I write the story, don’t you? So we should take kissing off the table, right?” I didn’t know if I was trying to convince him or me.
“So you’re worried that my kisses will sway you and harm your objectivity?” He paused, as if considering. “That’s probably true.” He went back to lightly caressing me, and I worried that I might have to start planning my own funeral because I was dying .
But I couldn’t let on just how much he affected me. “Full of yourself much?”
He had his face close to mine, and I could feel his smile, hear it in his voice. He moved to put his lips right above mine. “You and I both know that I could prove as much right now.”
Of all the things I expected him to do and say, the next thing to come out of his mouth was not one of them. “I can do that. If you don’t want me to kiss you, I won’t. I will wait until you ask me to.”
Usually I would have been like, so not going to happen, but in this case . . . well, I hoped I was strong enough to stick to my guns.
Nico ran his fingers through my hair, and I unconsciously tilted my head to lean into his open hand. “Am I allowed to still touch you? I’m not sure I can promise not to touch you.”
“Uh . . .” I meant to say something. I did. He completely disrupted all of my brain waves.
“Because it would seem you like touching me as well.” I opened my eyes and looked down. I had both of my hands on his bare chest. When had that happened? I didn’t even remember doing it. My hands obviously had minds of their own. I clenched them shut and put them back in my lap.
“Touching is okay, I guess,” I said in that same breathy voice that I only had around him, and now felt like my new permanent one. To be fair, and putting aside the fact that I enjoyed it, Monterrans had repeatedly proven themselves to be an affectionate and kind of handsy people. I couldn’t exactly say no to him for something that was cultural, could I?
Yes, even in my foggy haze I was aware of my pathetic attempts to justify and rationalize.
“Good. Although I don’t know if it’s very fair to give a man a taste of heaven and tell him he
Similar Books
