“I’m not going to bite, Lila. Not unless you ask me to.”
“I didn’t know you were kinky.” That got a laugh out of him. The mood turned light again.
“Tell me more about yourself,” Marco said as their plates were cleared. He ordered more wine and she picked dessert for them to share—classic Tiramisu.
“There’s nothing much to share. After my dad’s funeral, I went back to my old life, my old job. I met John. He was my customer, looking for a new car. Back then, I really thought I had it all. Met a nice guy, had a stable job. I finally found the normal life I’ve been searching for my entire life.”
“You told me that’s all you ever wanted.”
“When?”
“At fifteen years old, you already knew what you wanted, a life separate from the one your father chose,” Marco said. “You asked me after that kiss to run away with you. To be different people. To spit in the face of what fate chose for us.”
“I can’t believe you remembered all that,” she whispered. “But guess what? Normal’s overrated. John turned out to be a scummy bastard. He cheated on me. I didn’t know about his money problems until later on.”
“Existence of men like that should be erased.”
From any other man, she would’ve taken that statement as a joke, but not Marco Severin. Marco didn’t crack jokes. He meant every word, delivered each promise he made. That was how her dad described him.
“You intimidate me a little,” she admitted.
“Just a little?” he asked with a raise of his eyebrow. “You’re doing just fine. I scare away most women I’ve met.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
“Once they see my true self, they all end up running. Would you bolt in the end, Lila?” he asked. That almost sounded like a dare.
“We’ll see,” she said. Dessert arrived and she picked up her fork. She closed her eyes, savoring the rich flavors on her tongue. “Still the best in town.”
“You taste much better. Sweeter.
She opened her eyes. “How many times do you intend to make me blush tonight?”
“Red’s a good color on you, and that dress… It’s killing me,” he said softly.
Hunger burned in those intense blue eyes. One look and her skin felt feverish. Her breasts felt full. She bet he could see her nipples through the thin fabric of her bra and dress. Lila should feel ashamed, except she liked how he saw right through her, like the rest of the world ceased to matter.
She clenched her thighs together, feeling the moisture seeping between her legs. At that moment, any thoughts about running while she still could vanished. Any doubts evaporated. They were both adults who knew what they wanted, and she wanted him. Plain and simple.
Chapter Four
Marco had had a long day. He’d been looking forward to seeing Lila all day long. Finally, she lay close within his reach. All his for the taking. Tempting him to spirit her away, lock her up in his apartment. Stubborn woman. He knew he could’ve lost her when he mentioned her apartment. She probably thought she’d won that particular argument, but she was wrong on so many levels.
Marco was a patient hunter. He’d strike when she least expected it, when all her guards were down.
“Your turn. Ask any questions you like,” Marco said.
“Questions?”
“Isn’t that how dates go?”
“You haven’t been on many dates, have you?”
That question would’ve aggravated another man but not Marco. “I don’t have time for dates. I see who I want and I fuck them.”
She fell silent again. He cursed himself for picking the wrong words. Lila didn’t understand. He’d been waiting for her for a very long time. She was all he ever thought about, an obsession that would last him an entire lifetime. Lila was special, different from all the other women he’d been with before.
“If I had a best friend, she’d tell me to stay away from a man like you,” Lila said. “Too bad it’s just me.”