He hesitates.
"Also," I bat my eyelashes at him, "I really am starved for feminine company."
He tilts his head, "If feminine company is all you want, I could invite my Nonna..."
I gape at him, "You’re kidding me, right?"
He frowns, "Why would I do that?"
"Your Nonna hates me. The last time she saw me, she slapped me."
"Only because you stuck a knife in me."
"Can’t promise not to do that again," I mutter under my breath.
"What’s that?"
I swear, it looks like he’s repressing a smirk.
"Nothing." I clear my throat. "So, about the party—you’ll let me invite Aurora to it?"
He grimaces. He bends and places Andy on the floor. The kitten walks toward the basket that has been made up for him in the corner of the room. He climbs in, turns around and begins to wash himself.
"Aww come on, Mika." I turn my gaze back on the glowering man, "It’s Christmas! Isn’t this when you forget the sins of your enemies and all that stuff?"
"I’ll invite her, on one condition."
I scowl, "Thought this was my gig?"
He raises a shoulder, and I draw in a breath, "Fine, tell me your condition."
"You promise not to sulk in your room, and to eat well, and to get plenty of fresh air."
"If you think your fake concern for me is going to help you wheedle your way into my good books then…" I tilt my head, "you’re going to have to try harder."
"So, you will eat well, get plenty of fresh air, take your vitamins and—"
"—yes, yes," I mutter, "I will."
"Promise?"
I throw up my hands, "I told you I will."
He prowls across the room to stand in front of me. Gosh, he is so big, his shoulders so massive, that he blocks out the sight of everything else. It’s as if he’s absorbed all of the oxygen in the room. I try to breathe and drag in his dark, edgy scent. The heat of his body curls around me, envelops me. The force of his dominance holds me immobile as he bends his knees and peers into my eyes. "There’s one more thing I want."
"Wh…what?" I clear my throat, "What is it?"
Ask me to move back into your bedroom, ask me to throw myself down on my back on your bed, part my thighs and invite you to bury yourself inside me again.My core clenches. I tip up my chin, part my lips as he leans in close enough for his chest to brush mine. My nipples harden; my belly flip-flops. Those cold blue eyes of his flare with an inner fire as he drops his gaze to my mouth.
"Promise me you’ll create your own Christmas dress?"
"What?"
He raises his gaze to mine, "I want you to start creating again, starting with the dress you’ll wear to the Christmas party."
"That’s what you wanted to ask me?"
He straightens, then kisses me on the cheek. His scent deepens, then fades as he takes a step back from me. "What else did you think?" he says, his voice so bloody innocent. Argh! I set my jaw and a low chuckle rumbles up his chest. "Wait... Surely, not..." he clicks his tongue and slowly shakes his head, "you didn’t think I was going to fuck you, did you?"