An embarrassed hue hits her high cheekbones. The same shade as the night on the rooftop at the club, after she realized she was talking out loud.
Bossy… she had called me.
It had amused me.
I’m far from it now.
Her tongue peeks out as she nervously wets her bottom lip before replying, “My friends told me. They read it on the news because it was everywhere.”
Crossing my arms on the table, I bend closer until I can make out the small mole on her neck. Slim and delicate that my hand will make one perfect collar around it.
“I’m curious… why was I a topic of conversation?” She grows flustered, aching to stare anywhere but at me. I hold her entranced. “What else did you all discuss about me?”
“Nothing,” she gasps too quickly to be the truth. “Nothing inappropriate.”
“So somethingdefinitelyinappropriate.”
She’s got the most stunning and longest eyelashes I’ve ever seen. They flutter, trying to hide the shyness in her brown orbs. My intrigue heightens with each second that she takes to avoid answering.
I should let her off the hook.
Then again, when have I ever done what I should?
“Tell me, Arya.” I smirk. “Don’t you think I have the right to know?”
She swallows, the blush creeping to the top of her chest. “They were just jesting. We were praising how you were such a gentleman for carrying me to the cab.”
“I’m far from a gentleman, angel.”
Her soft exhale teases my mouth, reminding me I’ve leaned closer. I inch back, taken aback by my body’s inadvertent move.
“Why would you help me twice if you aren’t a gentleman, Nathan?”
“Maybe I have an ulterior motive.”
“What would that be?”
“I’ll share after you confess what inappropriate things you talked with your friends about me.” I dangle the bait, wanting to see if she’ll bite.
It’s been a while since someone stirred a desire to verbally spar inside me. Or mildly fascinated me. Until her.
My days and nights have become monotonous. Except for one all-consuming dark thought that entices me every now and then. Alcohol is the only thing that subdues it.
A tiny smile finally peeks out on her lips, which she tries to conceal by biting her thumb and glancing down.
It’s too late because the smile is burned into my mind.
I was wrong.
Arya isn’t just gorgeous.
She’s breathtaking with a natural sensuality.
Yeah, her ex is definitely coming crawling back. I’ll bet all my billions on it. The question is how firm she’ll remain in her stance not to take him back, given how heartbroken she is over the loss of him.
“I don’t have to because I’ve already figured it out,” she counters smugly. “Well, your ulterior motive for right now.”
“Is that right?”
