Page 50 of Arturo's Temptation

“Oh please! That was just dancing!”

“I cannot believe just how completely stupid you have been tonight. First you took my damn bike. And then you decide to go out drinkin’ in a bar where plenty of your father’s enemiesfrequent with a kid who can barely protect himself let alone you!” That caught her attention.

“I-I didn’t know… Ty said we’d be safe here, we were once before.”

“Yeah, well, Ty doesn’t know shit about this area.”

“Look, I’m sorry, okay?” Her eyes went glassy again but this time with tears. “And anyway you’ve already punished me for it, what more do you want?” She asked, throwing her arms out to the side again.

“What do I fuckin’ want?” I stepped closer to her, but she stepped away mimicking my move. “I want you, you infuriatin’ woman!” Her chest heaved as she drew in fast breaths. Confusion took hold of her gaze.

“Arturo… you have to stop—” she whispered, her lips quivering from the cold.

“No,” I grunted, cupping one side of her face. “I won’t stop until I’m the one you run to when you need someone. Until I’m the one you call yours.”

“Arturo, how can I make this clearer? I can never be yours.” With that she stormed past me.

“Oh no you don’t, darlin’!” I spun on my heel, pulling her back until her body collided with mine, her hair whipping my face.

“Arturo—”

“Hermosa, I don’t care what your father will say or anyone else.” I was really losing it, but I couldn’t help the words that tumbled from my mouth. It was the truth and she deserved to hear it. “You aren’t some sort of game to me because I’m bored.” My lips brushed hers as I spoke. My body urged and begged me to kiss her, but instinct told me to wait.

“How can you be sure you’ll even stick around?” She whispered.

“I’m not going anywhere,mi princesa.” I curled a hair behind her ear and stroked my thumb across her soft cheek. “And if I was to, you’d be coming with me.” My chest ached as I saw the relief reflected in her eyes. I needed her to know she was my obsession—one that was a secret to others, but to her I would lay it all out on the table.

“My father would kill you.” She whispered peeking up through her lashes, causing my heart to almost stop.

“Your dad won’t do shit to me. You really think he’d ruin your happiness just to stick it to me?”

“Arturo, I can’t talk about this anymore.” She sighed, her hands flat against my chest.

“You can’t keep runnin’ from this… I know you feel this too.” I grasped her hands in mine, keeping them pressed tightly to my chest.

“Arturo, I don’t feel what you feel.” With a firm tug, she yanked her hands from my grip. I swallowed as my body immediately froze, and it wasn’t from the weather. “So please… stop chasing me.” She turned her back to me and trained her eyesight on the bike in front of her; never once looking back to see if I was following.

I squeezed my eyes shut as she stopped next to my bike, wrapping her arms around herself. I stood for a moment and simply took her in. From the way her hair was blowing in the soft breeze to the way she nervously gnawed on her bottom lip I was mesmerised. I couldn’t tear my gaze away from her, and I didn’t want to. I hated to admit it but her words had cut deep. So deep in fact, it was the first time I’d felt this kind of pain for over a decade. I watched as she turned her gaze to the sky to look up at the stars. Her eyes twinkled as she lost herself. She’d never looked so innocent or beautiful.

“Are you ready?” I asked, snapping her attention back to me.

“Yes.” She replied as I threw my leg over the bike and settled into my seat, she watched me intently as I handed her my helmet. “What about you? Do you have a spare you can use?”

“Never needed one. Nobody has ever ridden with me before.” She stared down at the helmet, clearly debating whether she should put it on or hand it back to me. I didn’t allow her brain to ponder it any longer. Yanking her body into mine, I removed the helmet from her chilled fingers. Her hair tumbled over her shoulders as I brushed it out of the way to slip the protection carefully over her head. The visor remained closed from her earlier ride but I could still feel her eyes on me.

“On you get,” I instructed, holding my hand out to help her climb on behind me. “Hold on tight,” I ordered but her hands remained firmly on the back of the bike.

Stubborn woman.

I chuckled to myself as I revved the engine, knowing my next move would send her shooting forwards. I jolted the bike slightly, and I was proved right as her arms wrapped around my waist, her arse lifting from the seat. I heard her squeal from behind the visor and I couldn’t help but feel smug.

“Didn’t I tell you to hold on,mi princesa?” I moved her arms into the position I wanted and she didn’t protest, her thighs clenching mine as I sped out of the car park. “Good girl,” I called over the sound of the engine.

I drove carefully as I navigated through the traffic. The feel of Bella’s body moulded against mine was fucking perfection. I couldn’t help but wish I’d driven slower, because I knew the moment we pulled into that garage she’d walk away and ignore what happened between us tonight.

Or would she?

18

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