‘Savannah.’ His lips brush my cheek in a fleeting greeting, leaving a trail of fire in their wake.
Is he trying to kill me?
To make me combust with lust?
The best defence is always offence.
‘Don’t ever kiss me again. I would say I don’t know where those lips have been, but even I scan the gossip blogs sometimes.’ I fold my arms across my chest to form a barrier between us, and to hide the frankly visceral reaction his sheer presence has invoked in my nipples.
A quick glance to my right shows my friends have left mein favour of the bar. Ashley raises her hand and beckons me over, waving the cocktail menu like a flag. I motion with my finger for her to give me a minute.
‘Never mind where they’ve been. Where would you like them to go?’ Ronan’s gaze skates across the front of my chest and suddenly the jumpsuit I’d earlier felt empowered in now leaves me feeling powerless.
Powerless to deny the display of my carnal needs peaking against the flimsy fabric.
Between the wine and the scent of his woody cologne mixed with his own unique raw masculinity, my armour is wearing thin. For a brief second, I imagine his full lips suctioned against my breast while his fingers skate over my stomach and lower. A tiny sigh slips from my lips. I mask it with a huff.
Our eyes lock in a powerful stare. His pupils are so dilated it’s almost as if they’ve swallowed his irises. I could cheerfully drown in those onyx-like pools.
If I’m not careful, I just might.
I tear my eyes from his and jut my chin out. ‘I’d like them, and you, to stay away from me.’ My molars clamp together so tightly they’re in danger of cracking.
‘But only after I’ve taught you to swim, right?’ He tips his face down, inhaling my breath like he’s savouring it.
We’re toe to toe. Hip to hip. Every cell in my body vibrates, shocked back from a slumber Sleeping Beauty would be proud of.
‘Exactly.’ I take a step back. ‘Don’t drink too much tonight. You’re working tomorrow.’
‘I’m driving.’ His tone is low and seductive, and makes me wonder if he’s planning on driving a car or a woman.
‘Glad to see you’re taking our arrangement seriously.’ I tried to pay him after last week’s lesson, but he point-blank refused to take any cash. His glittering eyestwinkled like I didn’t get the memo about the correct currency.
‘I’m takingyouseriously, Savannah.’ His thumb brushes under my chin, tilting my gaze up to meet his again. ‘Believe it or not, I want to help you.’
Oh. My. God. Those smouldering eyes suggest he wants to devour me. Not helpful. Really not helpful.
‘I’ll help you out any way I can.’ Another innuendo, but with this one, there’s no trace of teasing.
‘Why?’ It’s barely more than a whisper.
‘Call me a sadist, given the way you insult me, but I really like you.’ He brushes a thumb over my lower lip before dropping his hand from my face. ‘See you tomorrow.’
I nod, lost for a one-liner for the first time in my life.
I really like you.
It’s possibly one of the simplest, most honest compliments I’ve ever been offered, which is why it heats my heart like a roaring, welcoming fire.
A fire that’s rapidly extinguished by an arctic shower half an hour later when he leaves the building with a woman in a white dress. She’s draped across him like a fucking scarf.
I didn’t have him wrong.
He’s a manwhore, and I’d be a fool to forget.
Tell that to my flaming lady parts though.
Chapter Nine
