Chapter 19
Vienna
If He Wanted To, He Would…Do Yoga
“Have dinner with me.”
His words make me freeze because that’s the last thing I was expecting to come out of his mouth in this moment. “What?”
Smirking, he toys with my bottom lip with his hand that is not holding both of mine above my head. “You know, that meal at the end of the day after lunch but before dessert? Dinner.”
“That’s…”
His grin falls as he murmurs. “I’m trying here, Vienna.” There’s a vulnerability to his voice that makes me stiffen once more. And then our eyes meet. “I’m trying to tell you that you mean something to me. I’m trying to trust that this is real. I’m just—”
He’s trying.
For the first time since our apology sex, Rhonan is finally baring himself to me in a way that lets me know it’s safe to fall with him.
He’s not Cole, Vienna. This man is the antithesis of Cole.
My body knows that, but my head and heart are having a difficult time catching up.
And up until now, Rhonan hasn’t really given me much of an indication that he wants more than that—a physically beneficial relationship.
So, asking me to have dinner with him is clearly his attempt at conveying that.
But is that what I want?
A sigh leaves my lips as he nibbles on the delicate skin of my neck. “But what about my job? I’m still Ellis’s teacher. I—I thought we didn’t want people talking.”
“I don’t care anymore, Vienna. I want people to know that we’re together.” His eyes meet mine as he releases my wrists and drapes my hands over his shoulders. “I want to be able to touch you in public, and I want every other man to know you’re unavailable because you’remine—because if I have to watch other men hit on you again, I’m going to pry their eyes out of their heads and crush them beneath my boots.”
I gasp out of shock. “My God, Rhonan.”
He presses his lips against mine in a soft, reverent kiss. “I’m not going to apologize for being honest. That’s how you make me feel. I can’t hide it anymore, and I’m sure as hell done fighting it.”
As our eyes remain locked, I think of all of the reasons why I should say no—Ellis, my past, and this double life that I’m living. But the only thing that is screaming at me right now is to let this man have me in a way that no other man ever has.
“So, what do you say?” The shakiness of his voice is subtle, but it’s there. “Will you have dinner with me?”
“I—” Dropping my hands from his shoulders, I shake my head slowly. “No.”
Theconfusion on his face is instant. “No?”
I plant my hands on my hips, huffing out my frustration. “Here’s the thing, Rhonan. I need a man who’s not afraid to put himself out there, to show me how much he wants me.”
Reaching up, he scratches his nails through the scruff on his jaw. “Uh…I thought that’s what I was doing right now?”
“I think there’s one more thing you could do to show me that you’re serious,” I continue, loving how this all worked out so perfectly in my favor.
“Okay…and what would that be?”
“Yoga,” I answer simply, watching his face transform from curious to downright pissed.
His eyes narrow. “Vienna…”
Shrugging, I begin to walk past him. “I really think it’s a simple request, and if you’re serious about this...”
