Page 151 of Love Among the Ruins
He reminded himself of the facts.
She was still heartbroken and grieving.
Over someone else.
She’d begged him to make her feel something, but he wantedherto wanthim. Not some past love she was still pining for.
“You don’t find me attractive...” It was a statement, a fact she believed. If only he could tell her. He stared down at her, made himself look at her face, not anywhere else. Her dark eyes filled with sadness.
“You’re the most beautiful woman I know.”
Her eyes turned round and large. “You’re lying.”
“I’m not.”
She looked at him in disbelief. “Then why did you stop?”
Because it’s not me you want.
“I can’t do this, Eleni. I would be no better than the men who want a piece of you. The deadbeats who wish they could have you.”
“Youcanhave me, but you don’t want me.”
“Any man would want to be with you.”
“You don’t.”
“But...”
I do.
He took a step back, not trusting himself to say or do anything gentlemanly near her. Her brow creased. “Can’t you pretend that I’m Demi or Helen? Would that help?”
“Why would I do that?” His voice was a snarl, his eyes vicious. “Why do you keep talking about them?”
“Because—because I wonder if you would comply if they asked you.”
“I told you. I have no interest in them. I wish you would believe me.”
“Don’t I interest you, Dominic? Don’t you want me?”
Could she not see that he did? “What about what you want?”
Confusion cast a veil over her heated face. “I told you. I want you ... it’s been so long since I …”
Tension rolled along his chest. She reached out with her toe and stroked his cock. A grunt fell from his lips, a growl rumbling deep in his chest.
“If that’s what you want,” he said, resentfully.
“It’s what I want.”
He’d been given the green light. She’d convinced him to do what she asked for. He wasn’t taking advantage of her, and if she wanted to dream about her boyfriend, so be it.
His need for her was most urgent, and when his gaze fell to her panties, to her, wide, open and wet for him…
Fucking. Hell. On earth.
He could barely wait to dive in. “Relax,” he soothed, then tried to slow himself down, as he lowered to the floor, inhaling the scent of her.
