His head tilts toward another door in the corner of the room. I walk over to it, my hand resting on the knob. I turn it carefully, but I stop when I feel him beside me.
The man makes me nervous, and I can’t figure out why. I turn toward him slowly, his head turned down to look at me.
“You going to open the door or not?” His voice is deep and husky.
I halt even more than I already did.Is it possible to be attracted to a man you know nothing about?I think it’s the way he carries himself—he knows what he’s doing.
There is nothing stopping me from sharing a kiss with this stranger. There is nothing stopping me from sharing more, because we don’t know each other. In no way could this come back to me.
My hand fixes his tie, his eyes still watching me. Does he want this too? Either the man is clueless about the vibe he gives off, or I am dumb for reading too much into it.
I straighten his collar. A couple of the buttons on his shirt are undone. The heat of his skin makes mine warm. My hands trail down his chest, pulling down his shirt.
My eyes fall to the words tattooed into his skin.
Little man.
“Gio?”
I had no idea he came back.When did he get back? Why didn’t he tell me it was him?
“Donnina.”
I shake my head.Was he toying with me this whole time?It’s not that I intended to fall in love with a stranger tonight, but I wanted to have a night full of anything but drama. The drama that comes with the man standing right in front of me.
I wanted to mindlessly flirt with a random person.
I just wanted this. This night.
“Is this your sick way of watching over me?” I look at his hands. Every tattoo is familiar. I don’t know how I missed it. His choice in alcohol, his height—everything. How did I miss all the signs? His voice—I know his voice, but for some reason, I ignored it.
Was it because I thought he was out of town? I’m beginning to regret the amount of alcohol I have had tonight. It’s making my mind feel as if it’s tied in a knot.
“I wasn’t watching over you. I was just playing the game.”
“No,” I say, stepping toward him. “You don’t play games, remember?”
“You’re right, I don’t.” His head falls between his shoulders. “But I wanted to see you.”
“Just leave me alone. Just walk out of this room and go murder people. That’s what you do best, isn’t it?” Anger suddenly fills my body.
“I’mcocky, and you’re sassy. The mouth you have is getting real fucking cute,Donnina.”
“Stop. Why do you keep pulling this crap on me? I was finally having a good night, Gio. A night where you weren’t here to ruin it for me.”
He steps toward me, his fingers trailing along my chin. “Is that what you think? That I ruin your nights?” His thumb presses down on my lips. “You seemed to be enjoying my company, no?”
“No,” I lie.
Truth is, I did. I enjoyed him being by my side more than I would like to admit.
“Liar.” His hand grabs the back of my neck, pulling my lips close to his.
He turns my mind into mush. When I am away from him, I’m able to remember everything I don’t like about him. Every reason I should stay away from him escapes my memory when I’m with him.
Is it possible to share one moment with a man I am attracted to and have it mean nothing afterward?
Even if I do, I know I will never be able to escape him.You will be mine; I’ll make sure of it.