“I—yeah.” Slightly flustered, I look at him. Properly and without hurry.
He takes a small sip, fingers curling into the blanket, knuckles pale under
the attention.
I think he feels this too—the connection between us, the strong pull.
That knowledge sends another wave of heat through me.
“You’re staring,” he says, half-challenging, half-nervous. All the way shy.
“You know what keeps happening?” I ask, my voice low.
He shakes his head, lips parted. His cheeks are flushed, but he lets me look at him. He’s not turning away.
“I forget to breathe when you’re this close.”
The sound he makes is not quite a gasp. It isn’t a laugh, either.
“You’re very smooth all of a sudden.”
“Makes a nice change,” I say, smiling lazily, even though my heart is pounding. Holding myself still takes effort. “Doesn’t it?”
“You’re going to be disappointed,” he whispers, gaze fixed on the lake, fingers still clutching the blanket. “I’m not exciting .”
Something hot and protective coils in my chest. How could he ever believe that?
“I think you underestimate the effect you have on me.”
He shakes his head like he’s determined to set me right.
“I’m very studious.”
I picture him bent over books, serious and focused. That mouth pressed into concentration. Desire flares, even stronger than before. I have never wanted anyone the way I want him.
“Good.”
Slowly, I let my gaze move over him, my pulse loud in my ears. When he finally looks back at me, I meet his eyes.
“I find that dangerously attractive.”
CHAPTER 42 – ANTONIO
Caspian finds me dangerously attractive. His words crash against my heart,heavy and sweet, like waves I don’t know how to ride yet. I’m on a date withthe most gorgeous man I know, and he said my studious nature is dangerously attractive.
The air hums with the electricity crackling between us.
He looks calm. Like he knows what he’s doing. It’s a relief because I don’t.
I don’t have a clue. How could I when he looks at me like that?
A horrible thought occurs to me. What if Caspian assumes I’m rich like him?What if he never wants to see me again because I don’t have a savings account?
“I’ll never have the kind of money you have,” I say in a hurry. He needs toproperly understand that.
“I know.”
That’s it? Did he not get it? I frown, trying to read his face. It’s difficult,because his face makes me feel so shy.
