Page 31 of Through You
He gets up from his seat, walks around the small table, and comes to stand in front of me.
“I didn’t mean to offend you. Let me ask you in a different way.” He pauses and I take a step back. “The reason you won’t let me get close to you, why you won’t allow me to”—he extends his hand in an attempt to caress my face, but I lean away—“touch you or show you how well I can fuck you is because I have a girlfriend?”
The crudeness of his statement is infuriating.
“Maybe I’m just not interested in you in that way.”
“You’re lying.”
I say nothing, and he grabs me by the waist and pulls my body against his, his eyes fixed on mine.
“I don’t have a girlfriend anymore, Claudia.”
Ten
What do you want, Artemis?
CLAUDIA
“This is dangerous.”
I feel the heat radiating off Artemis’s body and onto mine. He has one arm snaked around my waist, stirring up feelings that I shouldn’t be having for him. His proximity allows me to have a clear view of his masculine features and his perfectly kept scruff.
Part of me can’t help but wonder how his stubble would feel rubbing against my bare skin.
One thing is certain, it’s not my wanton thoughts that are pushing this moment into dangerous territory but the determination in his eyes.
For the first time he is totally in control of the situation and his single-minded expression is making it clear that he’s made a decision. There are many possible outcomes, to be determined by how I handle this moment. I try to push him away. This makes him tighten the grip he has on my waist and press himself harder against me.
“Why are you always running away from me?”
The intensity of his gaze makes it difficult to swallow.
“I’m not running away from you.”
His lips curve into a naughty grin I’ve never seen on him. It makes him look incredibly confident and sensuous.
Get away from him, Claudia.
My brain is warning me, yet I can’t deny how good it feels to be in his arms. His strong, hard body makes me feel safe. I need to get a handle on this situation. I don’t want to give up control, and I feel vulnerable when I’m with him. I don’t like feeling this way. Artemis is used to having control over those around him.
Except for me. Never me. And so I let myself relax and give in to his embrace. And he takes notice. I can read his look of surprise.
I bring my hands up and wrap them around his neck.
“Do you think you can handle this?” I ask.
Artemis is visibly taken aback. “What do you mean?”
I give him a trusting smile. “If you had me, could you handle it?”
Artemis raises a brow. “Oh yes, I certainly could.”
“Are you sure?” I bite my lower lip and inch my face closer to his.
I watch him swallow. He doesn’t pull away. His nose grazes mine.
“Let me prove it to you.”
