I give Eli a goofy smile and to my surprise, he grins back. “It’s good to see you so happy.”
“It’s amazing to be happy. Thank you for arranging my contract.”
Eli’s face hardens. “You’re welcome, but now isn’t the time to discuss things like that.”
My spine stiffens. “I’m sorry, Mr. Morelli.”
Eli instantly relaxes. “Thank you for saying sorry.”
It’s not a sexy sentence, but the way he’s looking at me, it’s like I’m taking my underwear off in front of him. My stomach gives a bright squiggle. “What should we talk about?”
Eli leans close and I smell his faint lavender cologne. “Your lipstick isbellissimo.”
“Thanks. I remembered you like red.”
“I do.” He rubs a thumb gently across my lower lip and my skin tingles.
“You’ve made it impossible to kiss you,” he says in a low voice.
Eli wants to kiss me? I said ‘no sex,’ but kissing isn’t sex and if he leans in I don’t think I could stop myself from kissing him back.
Eli takes the champagne flute from my hand and sets it aside, his amber eyes gleaming. “We shouldn’t,bella.”
“I know.”
“We really… really shouldn’t.”
I don’t know what comes over me, but I part my lips, practically begging him to make a move. Then he does.
Eli Morelli kisses like it’s art. His tongue slides into my mouth, and I feel luxurious. Like all the champagne and silk dresses and pretty suits aren’t as fancy as the way he’s kissing me. My breathing goes shallow and my nipples go hard and soon I’m arching my body against his, practically begging for more but all he does is kiss me. And when I’m so turned on I’m panting, the limousine pulls to a stop and Eli backs away. “We’re here.”
I almost scream. “Seriously?”
“Yes.” He gives a shocked laugh. “Bella… your face.”
I raise a hand to my chin. “Is my lipstick ruined?”
I can already tell it is. It’s all over Eli. Not only his mouth but his chin and cheeks. There’s even some on his neck.
“Oh no!” I lean forward and try to wipe it away, but he gently restrains me. “Don’t worry, I came prepared.”
He pulls a pack of baby wipes from a side cabinet and proceeds to remove all the lipstick from his face while I sit feeling like a complete dork. When he’s done, he pulls out his phone and checks his reflection. “Perfect, now do you want to see yourself?”
“No,” I say, but he shows me anyway. My face is covered in stains and my makeup is ruined. I press a palm to my cheek. “Wherever we are, I can’t go inside!”
“Of course, you can.” Eli holds out the wipes. “First, use these.”
Miserable, I scrub away the red stains and remove the last of my lipstick.
“Now, you use this.” Eli pulls a pale pink something from the cabinet. A handbag with interlocking C’s on the front.
I gasp. “Is that…?”
“It might be.” He hands me the baby pink Chanel bag. “For you.”
I stroke the soft leather. It feels like a cloud. “Eli, thank you…”
“Open it.”
