Page 69 of Sins (The Sins Trilogy 1)
Chapter Thirty
Iris
As Byron drives, my mind is on the man at Hammers and Strings. My heart is still racing from the encounter. I got so flustered, I forgot to ask about the Bösendorfer baby grand.
I can’t decide if I would prefer to have fallen than be caught by him. His arm was wonderfully strong as it wrapped around my waist and pulled me upright. Even now, the area tingles.
And when I lifted my head, I saw the most arresting male specimen ever. Everything else seemed to fade into sepia tones.
Tall, at least six three. An expensive charcoal suit over a broad, hard frame. The only thing soft about him was his glossy black hair. His face was boldly cut, everything proportioned and coolly masculine—cheeks high, a blade of a nose and the kind of mouth that can be both sensual and cruel.
When those green eyes focused on me, there was an intense fire within the depths of his gaze. My mouth dried, and a piercing ache formed in my chest.
Some men promise a fun romp in bed, while some promise trouble. This man promised glorious sex and a broken heart.
He might have said something, but I couldn’t hear it over the roaring of my blood. My vision actually blurred for a moment, like I was about to pass out.
I couldn’t imagine the humiliation of fainting dead away in front of a stranger. So I focused on his gaze as an anchor to keep me from floating away.
“You have something on your face.” His low, raspy voice slid down my spine, causing goosebumps. Then before I could process, he reached out and brushed his thumb across my lower lip.
The most intense longing pulsed through me. To my shock, my nipples beaded. In any other circumstance, I would have stepped away, but I felt hypnotized. I swallowed, wanting him to remove his hand…but at the same time loathing the notion. It was as though my body craved the physical connection he’d established.
His eyebrows drew together as he turned my left arm, then his face went bloodless as bitter despair fleeted through his eyes.
I felt that gaze like a physical touch. He stared like he was trying to see into my head. The idea gave me shivers. I don’t like having people look that closely.
Then I realized I was still on his arm, my back arched, my hips uncomfortably close to his. That was a shock, but nothing compared to the stunning realization that I didn’t want to pull away. I don’t understand how I could feel this way about a man I just bumped into. Granted, he was mesmerizing. But I’ve seen handsome, wealthy, worldly men before… None of them ever drew me like that.
Thank God Byron came to get me. Otherwise, who knows what else I might’ve done to embarrass myself?
What if he’s someone you used to know before the accident? Maybe that’s the reason you reacted that way. Maybe somehow your subconscious recognized him.
No. If he knew me before, he would’ve said something—a simple “Hi, Iris, how are you?” or “Whoa, long time no see!” Or maybe just a friendly smile in greeting.
And if—a huge if—I’d known him before in such an emotional way, surely I’d still have some sliver of memory of him. Like I have about my parents. I remember some…not all, but some.
“What are you thinking?” Byron asks.
It pulls me out of my reverie. “Nothing.”
“You okay?”
“I’m fine.” I force a smile. “Just wondering what to have for dinner.”
“It’s a bit early.”
“But I’m hungry.” I pat my belly.
Byron gives me a look. “Really?”
I nod, even though I’ll have to eat more than I really want if I don’t want to be caught in a lie. I should’ve told him I was thinking about a piece of music.
He grins. “Fine. Your stomach is my command. Want to eat out, or…?”
“How about takeout? Something light. I’m a little tired.”
“Jet-lagged?”
