Page 30 of Out of Office Nights
Now she watched him turn away.
‘Come on. Our reservation is in fifteen minutes.’
‘What makes you think I’m coming with you?’
‘Because you agreed to do whatever I say,tesoro.’
She pursed her lips, refusing to honour that with another outburst. She’d already exposed too much emotion around this man.
He stopped in the hallway, lancing her with a narrow-eyed look. ‘Are you reneging on the agreement?’
‘You’d love that, wouldn’t you?’
His mouth didn’t twitch as she expected. In fact, his gaze was deadly serious as he looked into her eyes. ‘No, I wouldn’t. Come. Or don’t,’ he taunted with deadly ferocity.
He wasn’t calling her bluff.
Whatever was driving him—and she sensed it was something bigger than just perfecting his next collection—would only accommodate her so far. She could lament her burnt work, or she could step up to the next challenge if she truly wanted this. He opened the front door and stepped out. Out of view.
Sabeen fought that invisible tug pulling at her for a mere second. She arrived to find him leaning against his motorbike. Holding two helmets.
‘I find riding releases tension,’ he stated. ‘Unless you wish to hang on to it, of course.’
‘Stop doing that!’
‘What exactly?’
‘Pretending you’re giving me choices then reminding me I’m under your royal thumb. It’s annoying.’
His eyes narrowed. ‘There’s barely any food in your fridge. I checked. So unless you planned on going to bed on an empty stomach just to spite yourself, we’re going out.’
Striding forward she snatched the helmet from him and slotted it over her head.
‘It’s on backwards,cariña.’
That sound escaped again. He didn’t react. Merely took control, readjusting the helmet and securing the chin strap. Then securing his own, he mounted the bike.
Up close, he looked even more magnificent atop the powerful machine. Dragging her gaze from him she belatedly registered she was still wearing her shorts and top.
At some point, she’d slipped on a pair of flats. But her hair was loosening from its morning knot, and she had zero make-up on. ‘I need to change.’
He treated her to another head-to-toe scrutiny that left tiny fireworks in their wake then reached into a hidden compartment and brought out a leather jacket. ‘No need. You’re perfectly fine as you are.’ The slight thickness in his tone sent more sparks through her.
Those sparks sizzled faster when he held out his jacket. ‘The wind can be uncomfortable if you’re not used to it.’
She stared from the soft, expensive leather to his face, frustration joining the soup of sensations bubbling through her. Sabeen seriously wished he would just pick a lane and stick to it, so she would be free of this rollercoaster. Or maybe that was what he wanted? To keep her unbalanced and at his mercy? Why did that send an unwilling thrill through her when she should be shoring up her foundations, ensuring there were no cracks leading to temptation?
Determination kicked her harder, firming her own resolve. She’d sworn in New York she wouldn’t succumb. She would see this through, no matter what. She reached for the jacket. He shook his head.
‘Turn around.’
Determination wavered for a single moment, but she powered through it, turned and let him tuck her into the garment that’d graced his body. Smelling the scent that onlygrew more heady with each encounter, she wanted to give up and let temptation take her where it desired.
A loud scooter blaring down the alley jolted her out of the insane notions circling her brain. ‘Can we go, please?’
He studied her for another stretch then pointed to a pedal. ‘Step up here.’ She followed his instruction and swung one leg over the seat. Its slant instantly angled her body forward. She’d known she would have to hold onto him for the ride, but faced with reality, every sense shivered with the power of the fireworks erupting inside her.
Pursing her lips, she perched her hands over his shoulders, only to feel his muscles moving beneath her fingertips. It took a moment to register the low rumble of his laughter…directly inside the helmet.
