Page 85 of I see you Beauty

I grin and look over at him with a cheeky look. I like the fact that he’s not the only one who can throw me off my game like that.

“And perfect timing because we’re here.”

I look out the window as Ezra steers the car into the parking lot of a really classy-looking restaurant before parking in a space. He switches off the engine and quickly fastens his belt before reopening the door for me. I let him help me out of the car and bring me into his arms.

“I want an actual date with you, with everything that goes with it,” he murmurs and kisses my cheek.

A smile spreads across my lips, and the butterflies are busy flying loops again. I’m looking forward to spending a nice evening with him, even if I’m worried that people will give us strange looks when they see us together. Ezra could be my daughter’s boyfriend.

My smile collapses, and I feel myself stiffen the closer we get to the restaurant.

Suddenly, Ezra stops, turns me to face him, and looks at me urgently. He puts a hand on my cheek.

“Are you okay? Why are you so tense?” he asks anxiously, his eyes scanning my entire face to see what might be wrong.

I’m briefly worried that he might see the bruises shimmering under my makeup, but that can’t be the case, as I’ve covered them up generously. After all, I have experience hiding my painful bruises from the world, and especially from my daughter.

My thoughts quickly clear again when I realize how sensitive Ezra always is toward me. So utterly different from Thomas. Though, to be honest, his sensitivity is a bit inconvenient right now, as it makes me feel foolish voicing my concerns out loud.

“Nothing. It’s fine,” I reply, flashing my usual smile—the one that shields me from anything unpleasant because people always believe it and never ask further questions.

But instead of Ezra smiling warmly and leading me in, his brows furrow sternly, and he looks at me with an intensity that makes me feel like I’ve done something wrong. Confused, I glance up at him, trying my fake smile again—this time a bit brighter, hoping he'll just move on and let it go.

“Stop that!” he growls, his voice unusually harsh, almost scaring me away with the unfamiliar edge in his tone. He's never spoken to me like this before.

“Ezra?” I say meekly, taken aback.

“No! I want you to leave that act behind with me. You’re welcome to give your husband all the shit you always pull. But I want you to be real with me—to be you. And if something makes you uncomfortable or uneasy, I want you to tell me, not bury it under a fake smile because it’s what everyone else expects from you. Do you understand that, Beauty?” he demands, his usually gentle eyes blazing with determination.

I nod gently, surprised by this unexpected side of him. He can be just as bossy and demanding as my husband, yet his words give me pause. When I think about it, no one, except Kelly, has ever seen through my fake smile. Everyone else either buys it or doesn’t care, accepting it or looking away. But Ezra… he sees right through me. He sees me. Understands me.

“So… what’s on your mind, and what’s made you feel so insecure?” he asks, his tone softening, returning to the Ezra I know, though his stern expression remains.

It’s clear that it’s vital to him that I feel completely at ease with him. The thought of that, combined with his caring demeanor, fills me with a warm, comforting sensation that instantly quickens my heartbeat and sends the butterflies in my stomach into a frenzy. Words escape me, so I simply wrap my arms around his strong neck, pull him close, and kiss him with more desire and passion than I’ve ever felt for anyone before.

He doesn’t immediately return the kiss, but when he does, a deep growl escapes him. He presses me against a nearby parked car, and we tumble into a fervent make-out session. After a while, when we’re both gasping for air, he pulls away, breathing heavily. He looks down at me with a smoldering gaze, his hands braced on either side of the car roof, pushing me firmly against the strange vehicle. My breath comes fast, my heart pounding so wildly against my ribs that I fear it might leap from my chest.

“I want everything from you, Beauty. Don’t pretend, and don’t do anything you don’t want just to please me. I’m crazy about you, no matter what you do,” he murmurs, pressing a delicate kiss on me before pulling away again and looking down at me.

“Tell me what you want, Beauty.”

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Fuck!

Ididn’t mean to talk to you like that, but you made me angry, Beauty. You put on your fucking fake smile. That smile you always put on for your husband when he does or says something you don’t like, but you want to avoid the conflict and smile instead of speaking your mind. I don’t want that. I want your claws and your roar. I want all that, little lioness!

That’s why I must calm down now and get myself under control before I get rougher with you than I actually want to or say things I don’t mean. You don’t know my other side, Beauty, and I want to keep it that way. That’s why I keep my distance and resume the conversation so that I can think again. I can’t do that when I’m shoving my tongue down your throat and you’re rubbing your sexy curves against me.

“Tell me… What do you want? What do you think? What… do you feel?” I murmur breathlessly, brushing a stray curl from your beautiful face.

Your lips are slightly parted, and your breathing is as fast as mine. You turn my world completely upside down. Just with what you’ve just done to me during the drive. Fuck, baby! I’m definitely going to pay you back for this…

You lower your eyes uncertainly and lick your lips. You’re nervous and searching for the right words. Do I have to be anxious now, too? Worry about us? But I don’t show it. You need my strength to find your own. I can’t make you even more insecure now just because I’m scared shitless that you might say or do something that would end this with us. You can’t leave me, Beauty. Never!

“What I feel,” you whisper, lifting your eyes just a moment before looking down again.

I can’t stand it any longer, so I step closer to you, placing two fingers under your chin and pointing it back in my direction. Look at me. I need to see it in your eyes, no matter how bad it will get.

---