Page 81 of Lord of Ruin

“You mean you do,” I cooed in response.

He took a deep breath and rubbed his fingers back and forth across the seam of his mouth on purpose. “Why, yes. And all because I’m your owner.”

Winking, he left the room, laughing as he walked out.

Why, oh, why didn’t his statement trouble me as much as it should?

“This is it? This is the very spot where the scene was filmed, the Philadelphia Museum of Art?” Thank God, I’d worn the very tennis shoes I’d arrived at his house in. They were not only my favorite pair of shoes in the entire world, notwithstanding the animal print stilettoes, they were the most comfortable.

It seemed I didn’t know anything about Stavros at all. Or maybe I’d challenged him to a point where he was dead set on proving me wrong about him. He was still a dangerous man as evidenced by the fact we not only had the usual gruesome twosome following us, but two other soldiers as well. I’d heard it was because Atlas needed some time to deal with a family issue in about an hour, Christos needing to handle business.

The powerful hunk of a man who’d lain awake next to me the night before, stroking my cheek as I’d drifted off to sleep had done it again. He’d shocked the hell out of me.

I peered up at the vast number of stairs, the music for one of my all-time favorite old movies spinning around in my head like a broken record. He stood to the side, his shit-eating grin one I’d already tried to wipe off more than once. Maybe because he’d even dressed like some crazy tourist in a festive and rather campy Hawaiian shirt with a pair of way too tight jeans. No man should ever be allowed to look that hot in denim.

“Here, my darling,” he teased. “And I dare you to run up those stairs and pretend you’re that famous Italian Stallion.”

I slowly turned my head, lifting my sunglasses on purpose. “You’re standing there in a very bizarre garish shirt and you dare challenge me?”

He picked at one of the buttons, shrugging as the sly grin remained on his face. “Hey, my brother gave me this sexy little number last Christmas. And yes, yes, I am.”

“Remind me to suggest he use a shopper for the next holiday. You shouldn’t dare a former long-distance runner.”

I noticed the four guys were hanging around like statues, watching our interactions far too closely. Today, I felt more self-conscious than I had before, mainly because there were four of them. Or maybe because I continued to look over my shoulder even though I’d seen no evidence of the man who I’d been certain had been following me a day before.

However, it had been a tough set of sensations to shake over the last three hours we’d been out.

“Uh-huh. I think you’re stalling,” Stavros told me. “What do you think, boys? Is the lady all fluff and no substance?”

I cocked my head, planting my hands on my hips, daring any of the four men to say a word. Fortunately for them they remained big, burly statues of granite and steel. I shifted my gaze toward the sexy Greek. “You asked for it, buddy. Clock me. If I make it in thirty seconds, not only are you taking me to lunch, but you’re going to purchase something special. Just. For. Me.”

“You’re on. But if I win, you’re going to surrender to anything and everything I want for two full days.”

I huffed and puffed at his demands, finally giving him a single nod. “Fine. But get ready to pull out that black credit card again, buddy.”

“Now, it’s buddy. I think I’ll need to remember that when I punish you later.” He lifted his arm, tapping his watch. “And… go.”

I took the stairs two at a time initially, realizing quickly that no wonder the trained boxer had a difficult time getting to the top at first. They were steep. However, I refused to allow the man to win. I pushed myself, making it to the top and the music in my head was louder than before. I threw my arms into the air, spinning around in a full circle, even humming the theme song.

When someone almost tackled me, I let out a yelp before realizing Stavros had made it to the top as well, lifting me into his strong arms and turning us both in circle after circle. His grin was more infectious than ever, the man exuding happiness.

Why did the man confuse me so much? Why did I feel so close to him after the days of terror for the man and the bastards who’d almost killed me, the situation and of the future? I couldn’t answer either one. All I knew is that I felt free and excited.

As he finally eased me down to my feet, I pressed both palms against his chest. “That was… exhilarating.”

“That was exhausting, sweetheart. Who are you kidding?” He captured my mouth but only briefly, barely darting his tongue inside before pulling away. “You won fair and square, but I’m going to choose the treat. Then we’re heading back to the house and stopping by the most awesome place in the world for lunch. Deal?”

“Deal.” As he took me by the hand, pulling me down the stairs, he asked about the years I’d been a runner. I found myself jabbering at the mouth as I’d done the first night I’d met him, only for an entirely different reason. I no longer feared the man, other than the fact my feelings were no longer icy, gravitating toward liking him.

We were quite a ways from the small parking lot where the two vehicles were parked, but it was a gorgeous day and walking down the busy sidewalks in a beautiful section of town had brightened my mood even more.

Who surrendered in that way to the person who took them as a hostage? When we finally took the last step, he refused to let go of my hand, casually walking across the street to where a bank of quaint stores was located. And I was still going on about my brief but award-winning stint at cross-country racing when he stopped in front of a beautiful shop.

He kept me standing in front until I calmed my butt down, finally noticing the insanely gorgeous jewelry positioned on red velvet. From diamonds to pearls, sapphires to rubies, they were artistic one-of-a-kind pieces and absolutely exquisite.

“Lovely. And completely out my price range.”

“Did you forget, enchanted one, that you commanded I purchase you a treat?” He had a slightly haughty sound in his voice, even though I sensed he was playing.

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