“It’s just… I’ve never been around a half-naked man before.”
“You’re a woman, Gianna. I think you can handle it for one night.”
It wouldn’t be a big deal if Will wasn’t… Will. If he didn’t mean anything to me. But for some inexplicable reason, he does mean something to me and seeing him shirtless is distracting. It makes me feel things I shouldn’t be feeling for the hitman who kidnapped me.
“Of course,” I mumble. “I can handle it. But you could also respect me and put your shirt on.”
“You’re talking back.”
“I’m not afraid to speak my mind with you.”
“Why is that, exactly?” He stands up and walks over to me. Still shirtless, I might add. “When you were so afraid of your aunt that you threw up, why is it that you’re not afraid to talk back to me – the man who kidnapped you?”
“I have no idea,” I admit. “Maybe because… I don’t have history with you. There’s no baggage. I can just… be my true self around you. I think life and death situations bring out the real us.”
“I have to say, I like that you’re not afraid to talk back to me. When I first met you, you were so quiet, it was almost painful. But I like that you have teeth now.”
“Are you afraid I’ll bite you?”
He smirks and it makes my face flush. There’s something just so… sexy about Will that confuses me. His power and strength and confidence. Also the fact that he saved me from Marco wins him favor in my eyes. “No. I don’t think you could hurt a fly. That’s what makes you a good person. It’s the reason why I didn’t want Marco getting his hands on you. You deserve to be free. I see that.”
“So let me go.”
“I will. I promised and I’ll keep my promise. But…”
“But what?”
“But there’s a part of me that wants to keep you to myself. That wants to kiss you again.”
I suck in a breath. “You want to kiss me again?”
“Yes. I won’t deny it. There’s no point. Do you want to kiss me again, Gianna?”
“If I say no?”
“Then we’ll go to bed. I won’t touch you. I’ll leave you alone. But tell me you don’t want me to kiss you again. Just tell me.”
I stare into Will’s intense eyes and I know that I can’t tell him lies. Not after how open I was with him about my problems with my aunt. I can’t tell him that I don’t want him to kiss me… when I do want him to kiss me again. I want it more than I can breathe.
I don’t say a word.
“Tell me,” he says, sounding desperate. But I can’t tell him no. “You’re in my head. I can’t get you out of it. I wish I could. I wish I fucking could.”
I place my hands on his face, needing to touch him. Needing some form of connection. “You’re in my head too.”
He lets out a gasp right before he kisses me. I let myself sink into his arms. His bare, strong arms. My hands rest over his bare skin, feeling every ridge and muscle of his body.
Will presses me against the wall, kissing me harder and stealing my breath away. I could let myself get lost in him if I wanted.
And I want to.
I know I shouldn’t be doing this. I should be pushing him away and screaming at him not to touch me and yet, I don’t want this to stop. I don’t want my life dictated by other people.
I want to make my own choices and right now, what I want is to kiss Will.
His hands squeeze my waist, pulling me in closer, and making me gasp. “I need to touch you,” he murmurs against my lips. “I need it. Let me.”
He’s giving me the choice. That warms my heart like nothing ever has and I know what my answer will be.
