From here, we have a wonderful view of the sunset. Clouds of red and pink dance over the sky. They reflect in the pool and bathe the entire patio in a beautiful light. At least the secluded hillside location of our house is good for anything, apart from having no nosy neighbors and keeping me from easily running off.
James takes the lounger to my right and we sit together in silence for a few minutes until he looks down at the pile of my stuff in between us.
“You read?”
“Is that so surprising?”
“A bit,” he says, shuffling on his lounger. His thick thighs are spread apart and I wonder how it would feel to be between them. “Doesn’t match those shows you’re always watching.”
“Can’t a girl have more than one interest?” I retort, but there’s no real venom in my voice. Looks like the wine doesn’t make me snippy tonight, but forgiving.
And horny,I realize every time my eyes wander up to his crotch. I have the self-control of a creepy middle-aged guy at Hooters and I’m slightly horrified atmyself.
“Just proves that you’re horribly prejudiced,” I say as I finally manage to avert my gaze back to the sunset.
“Sorry,” he mumbles.
“Apology accepted,” I say with a smile. At least he apologized. And I really can’t blame him for thinking about me like this. I didn’t exactly show him my best side the past two days.
“What happened to your last bodyguard?”
“My father killed him, didn’t he tell you?”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m just joking,” I laugh, “my father fired him.”
“Why’s that?”
“Liked me a bit too much.”
“Hard to believe,” he says, forcing a laugh out of me.
“Stop acting like I’m some kind of horrible monster. I swear I’m nice,” I say as I turn around to look at him. His balaclava is shoved up, exposing the lower half of his face as he drinks his wine, and I almost choke on mine. Maybe I was wrong, and he doesn’t wear the mask because he’s hideous underneath.
“You are,” he replies dryly.
“What? Nice? Or a monster?”
He takes a sip from his wine, crossing his feet on the lounger. “The latter.”
“I’m not. My presence is a pleasure from what I’ve heard.”
“Who said that?”
“Many people say that,” I grumble.
“All that I saw from you so far makes me think you’re only a pleasure to be around when you’re asleep or when you leave a room.”
“Asshole,” I snort. “You know how to charm a girl.”
“I’d rather shoot myself than charm you.”
“We both know that's a lie,” I say, grinning at him.
He sits up straight, his gaze fixed onmy face as I speak. Not once does he look down on my body, and it’s making me furious.
“A bit self-absorbed to act like everyone would fall for your doe eyes and your pretty face, don’t you think?”
