I finally peer at him. He has his hands under his chin. His eyes implore me to agree. This guy can disarm me with only his eyes.
“Maybe not.” I get up to wash my plate at the sink and set it in the drying rack.
Not going to look into his eyes anymore.
“You need to get your sexy ass out of the apartment.” His voice comes from behind me, and I realize he has a perfect view of my so-called sexy ass.
I smile but don’t turn my head, so I can hide the blush on my cheeks.
Not going to look into his eyes anymore.
“Don’t refer to my ass as sexy.”
“Hot?”
“I don’t know how Alek will feel if he finds out you called my ass hot.”
“That’s why I’m not saying it in front of him.”
Now my body turns to him… because my body is just drawn to this man.
“How do you know I won’t get you in trouble?”
Victor gets up from the chair and crosses the short distance to me. The personal-space invader that he is, he steps in close and plays with the ends of my curls that fall on my chest. He knows very well the effect he has on me. The back of his hand touches my breast, and I tremble.
“You won’t. You would have gotten me in trouble by now if you wanted to.” His voice is low but deep and sends sensual waves through my body.
“You really want coffee? We have coffee here.”
Victor laughs out loud, holding his flat stomach while I wonder what I’ve said.
“Tia…” He places two muscular arms that look like tanks on my shoulders. “I don’t want to drink coffee. I want to get to know you better. Spend time with you. Capisce?”
My throat is suddenly a dry well. “I’m only going outside with you because I need fresh air.” He makes me so self-conscious.
He chuckles. I lift up my chin.
“With one condition. You need to stop invading my personal space.”
Victor grins and takes a step back, a very tiny step. And I release the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
* * *
Trees line the paved path we take. The branches weave into complicated patterns, the leaves bright green. Only a few leaves are yellowish; other than that, there’s no foreshadowing of the upcoming fall season. I squint and turn away from the sun, but appreciate its warm rays on my face.
As we’re walking, I peer up at Victor. He’s blatantly gaping at me.
“What is it?”
I smooth my hair with my hand and check my clothes for any wardrobe malfunction. My gaze travels back to his mesmerizing face.
“It’s the way the sun makes your hair so bright, it looks like a golden halo.”
He halts and I stop next to him. Victor turns his entire body to face me, weaves his fingers through my hair, and slides them lower on my neck.
“Flawless,” he says in a low voice more to himself, but I hear him loud and clear.
My breath stutters. I wouldn’t use the word flawless to describe me. I’m hardly perfect, but the thought that Victor sees me this way makes my heart soar in my chest.
