“You can try it again if you want.” His eyes on the road, his words startled me.
“What?” I snapped, annoyed by my runaway thoughts. God, what was I thinking? I was supposed to fear him, not be consumed by the very aura of mystery he represented. I couldn’t understand this hesitation growing inside me. I was a doctor in training; indecision was a huge red flag.
He brought the car to a halt and half-turned to look at me, his tongue dragging a slow trail over his bottom lip. My eyes zeroed in on the action even though I tried not to look. “You’re wondering if I’d kiss you again, whether I’ll be soft and gentle or hard and unemotional.”
Holy cow. How did he know that? “No,” I spluttered, my cheeks burning.
His eyes, an emptiness I’d yet to witness on another man, bore into me. He didn’t answer but his smile—a slow, sinful twist of his lips that literally curled my toes, confirmed I was only lying to myself.
I pulled my gaze away, taking in the sprawling villa through the windscreen. Lit up, the cream building ornamented by whitebalconies and window frames was a beautiful distinction to the dark vision I’d witnessed at the gates.
Not Dracula’s palace then?
I rolled my lips to keep from laughing out loud. I didn’t doubt the same about the man occupying the seat next to me. After the way he sucked on my blood, he probably wouldn’t hesitate to drink more just to mock me that he could.
The sudden opening of my door, jerked my head to the side, alarm bells kicking up a storm in my stomach. I stared at the large man holding the door open, a huge scar ran from his chin to the opposite temple and I internally winced. Was he going to rape me too?
When I looked at Remo, he was already climbing out. Hesitation played with my feet before I exhaled on a long breath and got out.
“Evening, ma’am.” Scarface acknowledged me with a dip of his head, his smile made awkward by his cut lips.
Ashamed for thinking bad of him, I offered a small smile. “Good evening.”
Remo rounded the car and with a hand at my lower back, he tossed the car keys at the other man. “Has Gian left?”
“Yes, sir.”
With a quick nod, Remo guided me up the stairs to the large white double doors. He opened one and ushered me inside. Barely two steps in, I jumped, my back hitting Remo’s chest when I came face to face with a large grey dog. Short ears standing at attention, his light green eyes on me, his muscular body looked ready to pounce at a drop of a command.
“Holy shit,” I squeaked, pushing back into Remo’s body. A growl from the dog had Remo chuckling and I looked up, narrowing my eyes at him.
“That’s no way to treat a lady, Duke.” With one of his hands resting around my hips, he looked at the dog.
I snorted, earning a raised brow from him.“Maybe he learns it from his master,” I sassed.
Immediately, I regretted my words when Remo took one of my hands and held it out. “Come, boy,” he commanded the animal.
“What are you doing?” Stiffening, I tugged my hand, but Remo kept it steady as the dog walked up to us, his nails clicking against the porcelain tiles the only sound between us. God, the animal was huge.
Remo turned my hand, palm down but I fisted it. “Open your hand, let him sniff it.”
My gaze shifting between the dog and his owner, I slowly opened my hand. He lowered it to the animal’s snout. My stomach a quivering mess, I let the animal sniff my hand, his wet nose ticklish against my skin.
Remo released my hand. “Stroke him.” His voice was a deep rumble in my ear, his breath titillating the shell. Somehow those words sounded a lot more sexual than they should and my core tightened. God, this was madness. Why was I turned on by every freaking thing that came out of this man’s mouth? I lifted my gaze to his. “The dog, little fox.” He winked as if privy to my chaotic thoughts.
Blushing, I looked at the dog and gently stroked the top of his head. He gave a soft whine of pleasure, inched closer and rubbed his head against my thigh. I laughed, giving him another caress. When I glanced up, Remo was watching me, his expression a vulnerability I found strange.
“Sometimes even the most aggressive animal needs a gentle touch,” he said, his blue eyes scanning my face.
We stared at each other, and I got the strange feeling he was referring to himself rather than the animal. I frowned and his expression immediately shuttered, the usual blankness in place.There was a quiet anonymity to this man and all I’d seen so far was the devil in disguise, waiting for me to sign away my soul.
What was I missing?
“Room, Duke,” he commanded. The dog gave me another nudge with his head, turned and walked away.
“How obedient,” I said distractedly.
“I reward obedience.” Remo squeezed my hip, urging me forward.
