Page 111 of Look, Don't Touch

“Guess I’ll just have to keep proving it to you.” He scoops me up into his arm, toddler on the hip style, and walks us through the gallery.

The bulk of patrons stare at us wide-eyed while a couple clap and whoop. An older couple with too much money and not enough joy rolls their eyes, but I don’t care. I wrap my arms around Arlo’s shoulders, cinch my legs, and hold on for the ride.

“Oh, the painting.” I point toward the main desk.

“Already in the trunk,” he says, pushing through to the outside and across the sidewalk.

His driver, not Hotaru, opens the door for us.

“Thank you.” I squeak as Arlo crouches and wedges us through the narrow opening.

“You’re welcome, miss.” I hear his voice and then the close of the door. I can’t say that I’d be able to pick him out of a lineup. My attention is one hundred percent on Arlo.

He sits on the black leather of the Town Car and holds my body to his. The breadth of his hips butts up against my spread thighs. His length and heavy girth press between my swollen lips. The gentle sweep of the hair from my face and his studying gaze have me ready to combust.

“I’m sorry you had to go through that, Hailey, but I’m so glad you defended yourself.” He kisses a line from my neck to my jaw, then up to my temple. “I can’t imagine the world without you in it. I don’t want to. Not ever.”

I hold Arlo’s face in my hands. “I don’t want my world without you in it.”

His dark eyes close. A breath shudders his chest. He presses his hand to the outside of mine and nestles into my touch. When his eyes open, it’s as if joy, sorrow, and lust all fight for dominance.

Arlo kisses the tips of my fingers and the edges of each nail, where that fucking ring of blood would not scrub off. His lips travel over every vein and ridge in my hands, front and back, and then ever so slowly, he makes his way up my wrists. His thick fingers unbutton the cuffs of my blouse, allowing his mouth to pay homage to my forearms and the dip on my elbows in a way I didn’t know was possible.

I love the way he loves me. I know he does, though he hasn’t said it, and I have no right to claim it. He shows me every day with his exquisite care, carnal need, and generous heart.

By the time we pull up to my building, he’s released the first two buttons on my chest, working his way to Smokey. My dragon. When the car stops, Arlo gives that guttural breath of his own that reminds me of a dragon.

“The sooner we get out. The sooner we can get up.”

“I’m up. In case you haven’t noticed.” His lips trace the line of my collarbone as he speaks.

“Believe me, I’ve noticed.” I shoot my hips forward, pressing his erection that I’ve been gently massaging with my cunt harder between us. “Which is why I want you out of this car and up…in my apartment.”

Reluctantly, I pull his mouth from my skin, grab his hand, open the door, and drag us onto the sidewalk, and then across it.

“Miss? Your painting?” his driver calls.

“Keep it safe for me.” I wave him off. “I’ll get it later.”

I hate that I’m being rude, but I need Arlo to myself immediately. I need him like I need my next breath. Having him rushing to keep up behind me is too far away. Now that I’ve cracked open my chest, I need him inside it. I need him as close as he can possibly be.

“Yes, miss.”

One hand up, I push through the rotating door and drag Arlo in behind me. We weave our way through the light crowd perpetually taking up space in the lobby and score an elevator without waiting. There are several other people inside, but I don’t see them. My gaze is only for Arlo.

We’ve made this journey from a car to my apartment many times over the last two weeks. This time feels different. It is different. I’m different.

I lean in, rise onto my tiptoes, and whisper into his ear. “When we get to my apartment, I don’t want you to tie me up and torture me with my toys.”

His gaze narrows as he leans back to study me for a second. He dips his head low and kisses my cheek. “Okay. Do you want to order in, snuggle up with Plink, and watch trash TV?”

“No.” I smile up at him.

“What do you want, Hailey?”

The elevator jars to a stop, and a young couple gets off.

“I want you to fulfill your promise.”

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