Page 41 of Captive Vows
I jolted at his deep voice. He came up behind me, stalking so quietly like the powerful, predatory man he was. I hated how I flinched, but as I turned to face him, I damned this stupid blush that warmed my cheeks. “I was thinking.”
“Ah.” He raised his brows, coming to stand right in front of me. His hands were in his pockets. His stance was relaxed. It wasn’t fair how he could look so cool and chill when merely trying to make eye contact heated me up like this. “And what kind of thoughts are keeping you so preoccupied?”
I licked my lips. That teasing, sexy tone affected me, making me hotter and more on edge.
God, I just want to…
I fought the urge to just kiss him. To give in and cave to this seductive man. To admit I wasn’t strong enough to be smart and know that I shouldn’t want him.
What’s wrong with me?
He kidnapped me.
He captured me.
He tilted his head to the side. “Thirty.”
I cringed. “I?—”
Stepping closer, he pulled me into a loose hug. Having his hands on me at all was nearly my undoing with how drawn I was. His presence was a magnetic force, tethering me to him.
“Hmm?”
“I was thinking about you,” I admitted.
He pulled me closer, tightening his arms around me.
I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. I was stuck under this desire that made my pussy wet and my nipples hard.
“Go on,” he urged.
“That’s it.” I cleared my throat. “I was thinking about you.”
“Ah. Well, you can think about this instead.” Leaning in, he tormented me with the suggestion that he’d kiss me. Instead,he smiled and watched me as he stroked his finger along my jawline. “I’ve set up an audition for you.”
I gasped, staring at him in awe. Just when I wanted to reconfirm how he was the bad guy, he had to go and do something extraordinary like this.
“With the people you mentioned. The ones who’d select their dancers for the show next year. It’s preliminary yet, but I’ve secured a private audition for you.”
“I…” I couldn’t speak. I was so blown away, unable to comprehend him and why he’d do this. No one hadeverdone something like this for me. No one had ever expressed this much support of my dreams.
“I…”
He tipped my chin up, keeping his two fingertips there as I met his gaze.
“Say something, Gabriella.”
I blinked, so moved and touched. Yet, still so twisted and confused by how badly I wanted him. Deep down, I fought the worry that this had to be a trick. That his kind gesture would come with a catch. “Why?”
“Because I want to see you smile.” Caressing my cheek, he made a slow move of cupping my face and leaning in.
“A smile?” I huffed a weak laugh, feeling delirious in his embrace like this. “You didn’t have to go to such a grand gesture to get a smile from me.”
“I didn’t?”
I stared deep into his eyes. “No. I mean… just kiss me already. That’d probably do it.”
He didn’t wait. Crushing his mouth over mine, he kissed me. He brushed his warm, wet lips over mine, so smooth and demanding. Under his touch, I was taken out of this world. I was floating, suspended in this fantasy I’d kept to myself for so long.I was sinking, drowning with the urgency to experience more and more.
