She throws the words like accusations. A sign that, due to my reaction to Sean, my own men can’t be trusted, and this place isn’t as safe as I promised.
I move to her side and grab her by the elbow, careful not to be too rough but hoping my facial expression says not to fight me. She allows me to steer her through the house until we’re walking into the movie room.
In the doorway, I stop short and turn around quickly, stepping toward her until her back hits the wall. We’re close enough that I can smell the lingering scent of her body wash.
Fresh flowers. Lilac, to be specific.
A warm spring day.
What the fuck?
Where are these thoughts coming from? Someone needs to grab my gun and shoot me. Put an end to this nonsense.
I’m losing my goddamn mind. This woman undoes me. Makes me crazy. I almost take off for my office with the intention of drowning myself in vodka. The utter bullshit running through my brain is more than I can handle. Fresh flowers? Fucking spring day?
I push it away because there are things that need to be said before I take a time-out from her. To calm down. To pull my shit together.
Seeing him touch her drove me insane, but I can’t let her see that. Even if it’s the truth.
She’s mine to touch.
Only mine.
Sasha stands tense next to me, clearly shaken by the way I’ve acted, but I’m not going to apologize or back down.
“I made a promise, Sasha. Nobody touches you, or I’ll kill them. I won’t apologize for keeping you safe.”
I lean in until we’re a breath apart. She has nowhere to go. She’s a trapped firefly in a glass jar.
I lift my hand up and tilt her chin so our gazes meet. Her pupils are dilated. My eyes trail down to her mouth. Her tongue darts out, trailing a line across the bottom lip. I want to close the distance and take that lip into my mouth. But I don’t. Not yet. I step back, putting distance between us.
Sasha’s throat bobs, and her eyes close. I wonder what she’s thinking, but realize that right now, I just need distance.
“Now be a good girl and make yourself at home.” My hand lifts, and my finger touches a loose strand of hair. “I have some things to take care of, but I’ll find you later.”
Her eyelashes flutter, and her chest rises and falls. “Oh…okay. I’ll just…stay here?”
I smile. “You can go wherever you want, Sasha. But there are plenty of movies in here to keep you entertained if you’d like. I’ll check back in here later.”
I toy with the ends of her hair, eyes never wavering from hers. She shivers beneath my touch, and her cheeks flush. Is it from my touch or my words? Either way, she seems off balance for the first time. The anger and fight dissipate, giving way to something else. Something…sensual.
She’s turned on.
Now, this I can work with.
11
SASHA
His body is too close.
I can barely breathe.
The steady rhythm of Gideon’s chest rising and falling is hypnotic, but it’s the way he’s looking at me that has me lost in a trance.
His gaze is unwavering. Crystal-blue eyes, clear as a tropical ocean, keep me entranced.
Then he speaks, and my knees wobble.