She blinks, caught off guard. “What?”
Tilting my hips up, I press my groin into her stomach. “You saying my name gets me so fucking hard.”
Brow furrowing, she steps back, creating space between us. “You have issues.”
Closing the gap between us, I reach out and cup her face. “I’m seriously attracted to you. I see no issue with that.”
Swatting my hand away, she moves back a couple more steps, looking flustered for a few seconds until she refocuses. Her dark glare is meant to be menacing, no doubt, but it only adds to her appeal. “No one touches me without my permission. If you ever manhandle me like that again, I will slice your dick off and feed it to you in pieces.”
“Manhandle you?” I quirk a brow. “I only took your hand and touched your cheek. Let’s not exaggerate.”
“You don’t touch me, got it?”
“You had no issue with me touching you before. You practically strangled my cock you were so greedy for it.”
Fire blazes from her eyes, and I am going to enjoy this so much.
I came out tonight determined not to agree to this marriage. Now, I want to throw her over my shoulder and frog-march her to the nearest church.
“This will never work. I won’t make it to our wedding night without putting a bullet in your skull.” She turns around, ready to walk off, and I dart out in front of her.
I hold my palms up. “I won’t touch you, and we can discuss this like civilized adults. I apologize if I was out of line. Seeing you again has caught me off guard.”
Wide expressive eyes stare intensely at me. I had thought them brown the night I met her, but they are more green than brown today, and I’m guessing she has hazel eyes.
“I wasn’t joking back there. This has disaster written all over it.”
I open my mouth to speak when a tall figure emerges from the shadows, and I instantly shove Catarina behind me, shielding her from the man who steps toward us. “My apologies, sir. Ma’am. I didn’t mean to startle you.” Thesoldatosteps forward, holding out a pair of tennis shoes. “Mrs. Mazzone thought Donna Conti might like to borrow these.”
Catarina sidesteps me, forcing a smile as she accepts the shoes from the man. “That is very considerate of her. Thank you.”
The man walks off while she shoots daggers at my face. “I think you are incapable of obeying orders.”
My brow puckers in confusion, and she rolls her eyes as she leans against the wall and slips her stilettos off her feet. My much taller frame almost dwarfs her, and I feel an uncharacteristic protective urge wash over me out of nowhere.
“You touched me literally seconds after I asked you not to,” she explains, slipping her feet into the flat shoes.
“You can’t expect me not to protect you. You will be my wife, and it’s my duty to ensure you come to no harm.”
“That is not a foregone conclusion, and I can protect myself.” Her eyes narrow as she stabs me with a cold look. “Most every man who was supposed to protect me has let me down. I expect you would be no different.” Hooking her stilettos around her fingers, she stalks off in the direction of the forest, leaving me to chase after her.
“What does that mean? Who has disappointed you?” I ask when I have caught up to her side. She is powering toward the woods like a woman on a mission.
“It doesn’t matter.” She steps onto the main path leading into the dense woodland. “I have no expectations when it comes to men, and you will be no different.”
“And the hits just keep on coming,” I murmur. She spears me with a sharp look as we pound the path through the forest. Sierra was right, and it’s well lit, guiding our way.
“If we do this, it is purely a business arrangement.”
“Naturally,” I lie because I have no intention of keeping things strictly business, but I need to get her to agree to it. Then we can negotiate terms.
She slams to a halt, lifting her head to look at me. “Why do you want this? I thought you have nothing to do with the business. This will curtail your lifestyle.”
“Don’t believe everything you have heard.”
“That’s a nonanswer.” She tilts her head to the side, and the moon highlights her stunning face in all its breathtaking glory. With her high cheekbones, well-proportioned nose, intriguing, expressive eyes, and a mouth that has been the epicenter of my every fantasy since I met her, she is truly exquisite.
Lightly freckled, tan, smooth skin glows in every place it’s exposed, begging for my touch. Her slender body has curves in all the right places, and her beautiful dress showcases her figure to perfection. Her gorgeous rack gives way to a narrow, slim waist, shapely hips, and legs that would look perfect wrapped around my shoulders. She snaps her fingers in my face. “Stop eye fucking me. We’re trying to have a serious discussion.”
