“I don’t know what shade of blue that is, but it sounds fancy.”
“It’s the same as your baby blues.” He leans in for a quick peck on my lips, and I swoon.
“How do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Have an inherent ability to know what I like?”
Travis grins widely and arches his eyebrow while he licks his lower lip seductively. “It’s my job to know your tastes...and I might add, you do taste good.”
“Oh, my gosh, stop!” I look away from his handsome face, staring anywhere but at him. Although I like playful Travis, I don’t like getting this familiar with him. It feels too real. My subconscious has a fist fight with the rest of my brain, and I know this is the manipulative side of Travis, messing with me. He’s only doing this to get me hooked on him, to make his job easier. Unfortunately for me, once I’m caught, he’ll just release me on the dry dock, taking the hook, line, and sinker with him, leaving my heart to suffocate and flop around helplessly. No, thank you. My heart’s not up for it.
He forces me to look at him once again, and his gorgeous eyes are twinkling with glee. He gives me that heart-stopping smile and persists in his jaunt. “Yes, this thing continues to impress, with equal parts seductive styling,” he quirks a brow, moves his hands to gently cup my breasts, and then skims them down my sides and over my hips, “scintillating speed,” he takes a step between my legs, rubbing his semi-erection against me, and I giggle at the absurdity of his skit, “mmnnn, and sumptuous comfort.” He reaches around my body, grabs the globes of my ass, and as he squeezes, I let out a squeal. “Hold on to your hat, ‘cause she’s a wild ride, and makes a lovely purring sound as she reaches top speeds.” He gives me the goofiest boyish grin I’ve ever seen, and I burst out with laughter.
The glint in his eyes dances with mirth, and somehow, he’s breaking through all my barriers one at a time. “Uh-huh,” I say, raising a single brow, “I bet you’re proud of your own ingenuity, performance, and handling, aren’t you?”
“Somehow, I don’t think we’re talking about the same thing anymore,” he says with wry amusement.
Swatting playfully at him, I can’t help the smile spreading across my face. “You’re such an ass!”
He laughs out loud and gives me a peck on the cheek. “C’mon, sweets. You owe me a dance.”
How the hell does he do this to me each and every time? Seems like the moment I’m about to lose my emotional stability, he somehow manages to steer me around, my turmoil doing a one-eighty, changing my reactions from stark to stellar. I honestly don’t know what I would do without him. Travis is making life bearable until I either find a way to escape or get rescued. In the meantime, he’s setting up shop, making himself at home in my heart.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
We step into a banquet room just a few hallways down from my room. Upon entering, I become all too aware of the weirdness of this moment. Who the hell holds a birthday party for a captive? I don’t have a clue who anyone is, and I find myself squeezing Travis’ hand.
People turn to look at me and give me warm smiles. This is really freaking me out. None of this should be happening right now, but then again, nothing has made a lick of sense since day one. Why should today be any different?
Bright birthday decorations adorn a buffet table full of food. Balloons and streamers have been choreographed to perfection, and they’re spread throughout the room. I’m so taken by the sights, I don’t see Nick scooting up behind me. I smell his expensive and distinct cologne just before I feel his arms snake around me like a boa constrictor, causing my body to instinctively shiver.
“Whoa, darlin’, you cold?” he asks while squeezing me tighter against his hard body. I feel as if Nick has caught his prey, squeezing and suffocating, and then he’ll devour me whole, just like the snake in the grass he really is. He stays behind me but leans his body off to the side, shifting me in the opposite direction.
“I’ve missed you, Princess,” he says while a small smile tugs at the corner of his lips. Tilting his head, he gauges my reaction.
Is this where I’m supposed to say ‘I’ve missed you too’? Nope, not going to happen. I haven’t seen him in almost a week, and if it would have been a century, it would’ve been too soon. After the way he treated me that first day, stole my engagement ring, and robbed me of my life, I’d love nothing more than to hang the man by his balls. Visualizing the scenario in my brain, it makes me grin. His smirk turns into a beautiful smile. He’s mistaken my vengeful expression, thinking I’m happy to see him. Smug bastard, let him think.