Page 45 of Obsessed with Her

I take a deep breath and put the fakest smile in the world on my face. “You are forgiven. Like I told you, I hated it. I was confused.”

“No, you weren’t. You loved me slapping your ass as much as I enjoyed spanking it. I would have preferred it without the dress and with your panties halfway down your thighs, but even so, it made me horny to spank you. I could give you more, Serenity. I could strip you naked, lick and suck you all over. Make you come, screaming my name, as I bury myself in your sex over and over again. But when I leave, you’ll be broken. And you can be sure, no matter how beautiful you are, that I would leave.”

I swallow hard, and I can’t tell whether I feel embarrassed that he is so graphic in his explanation, excited because despite the final part, I really want to experience all of this, or angry that he is so sure that I would be just another woman to him, that I wouldn’t make him feel any different than others had before me.

“We have to live together for the next five years, Serenity. If I took you to bed, our affair would last about a week. My relationships never go beyond that. I’m experienced, and I would have no problem treating you as if nothing had happened, but I don’t think you could handle it.”

Affair.

Not a relationship, anaffair.

Any sadness I was feeling disappears, replaced by a strong determination. The same determination that made me, at twenty years old, get hired as a prima ballerina at the New York City Ballet.

Silently, I swear I will make him swallow every one of those words. I won’t run the risk of falling in love. Ares is beautiful, but he’s also an ogre.

I don’t have time for boyfriends; I want fun. And in the end, if he’s right and I really can’t deal with it, I can just move away, leave.But before this year is over, I promise, Ares Kostanidis,that you will go completely crazy about me. And then, when you beg me for more than a week, you’ll understand what it feels like to be left behind.

I force myself to look at him like I’m not making a mental voodoo doll of the arrogant Greek. I maintain a peaceful expression, when in reality, inside, I am seething. “I understand, and I thank you for that, Ares. You’re an honorable man. Anyone else in your situation would have taken advantage of my vulnerability. I had just broken up with Otis and was feeling needy. Perhaps, unconsciously, I was looking for a more experienced replacement.”

He stares at me like he wants to pry my brain open with his fingers to prove that I’m a fake and that none of these words are true, but thank God he can’t.

“Replacement?”

I think saying it out loud makes him see the absurdity of what I’ve just said, because he gives me a half-smile. Who in their right mind would dream of Otis when they could have Ares?

“I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“I’m not offended. You are lying. I heard your conversation. It was you who ended the relationship, not theboy.” He practically spits out the last word.

I need to force myself not to smile. “I’ve always been kind of in love with him, but I don’t think it would work out, so I decided to put an end to it before I end up heartbroken. Oh, and regarding what you said a moment ago, even if I were interested in being one of your ‘affairs,’ which I’m not, there would be no chance of leaving me ‘broken,’ as you stated. That could only happen if there were feelings involved on my part. I admit that you are very handsome, but you are not my type, Mr. Kostanidis.”

Despite the warnings to fasten our seat belts, he leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “You’re a little liar,Serenity. I believe you when you say you don’t have feelings for me, but regardless of whether you hate me for what I just told you, your body wants me. Lucky for you, I don’t intend to do anything about it.”

“And I don’t need you to. I’m in New York as planned, but I don’t intend to be locked up at home. Put an army of bodyguards around me if you want, but I’m going to enjoy life a little.”

“Where?”

“I don’t know. Debra said she’s going to take me to see some nightclubs. With luck, we will receive an invitation to SIN.”

“You won’t set foot there.” He seems surprised by my behavior.

Join the club—so am I.I never thought I could be so bold.

“I can take you out.”

“No, thank you. I wouldn’t want to disturb your week-long meetings.”

“I’ll take you.”

“I will let you take me, but I will consider this as an imposition on your part, which gives me the right to a request.”

“What do you want?”

“I don’t know yet. I don’t have much time before ballet season starts. I’m going to take the opportunity to go out at least a couple of times. Until then, I’ll think about whether I want something from you.”

He stares at me. “I’ll warn you again: don’t play with me, Serenity. You are beautiful and desirable, but as far as I know, you have only had one man in your life. You’re no match for me. I’m not a bastard. I always lay my cards on the table. But getting into a relationship with you will only bring problems for both of us.”

“Nothing has happened between us, and nothing will happen, Ares. I’m a good girl, and you’re just my bossy guardian.”

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