Page 44 of Under His Protection

I paused for longer than I wanted to. I’d already eaten, and I guessed that Nina had too. Nothing should delay me from taking her out to get a dress, something I had been looking forward to all day. Last time, I foisted her onto that sales clerk. This time, I wanted to participate in the selection of her gown. I’d take any and every opportunity to “practice” anything with the woman who was consuming me, body and soul. Something about her just drew me in, and it felt like I was playing with fire to resist her.

“What do you mean?” Eva had been resistant to the idea of having another woman in the house since the first day. Initially, I'd assumed it was a threat to her. That somehow, having another woman challenged her importance here. My niece had always been protective of me and Romeo, and I appreciated it. Loyalty was important in the family, but she took it to another level.

“She was hurt the last time you took her out.”

I shook my head, guessing where she was going with this. That parading Nina as my girlfriend would endanger her. “Those servers were not connected to any of our rivals.”

“Still.” She shrugged and stood. After she put her dish and glass in the sink, she faced me again. “Everyone will be at the gala. Everyone will see you with her.”

I nodded. That was the whole point, the purpose of throwing them all off.

“I can’t shake the suspicion that she’s keeping something from us. From you.” Her arms folded over her chest, but her haughty stance wouldn’t sway me.

“I applaud you for maintaining a high guard, Eva.” I stepped closer to press a kiss to the top of her hair. She was such a ball buster as a child, and she’d grown into a fierce woman—if a little too much sometimes with her attitude. “But Nina isn’t up to anything nefarious.”

I found her in her room, and I took a moment to appreciate her napping on the lounger near the windows. Like this, she looked so peaceful and content, at ease without any rules about pretending anything or remembering to call me a formal name when no one was around. I preferred her easygoing and relaxed, like she was this morning after her workout. I relished her banter and the ease with which she could meet me in the middle with the desire simmering between us.

Tempted to wake her with my lips, I sighed and willed myself to stay strong. The restraint I had around her was slipping. Too soon, I’d deviate from practicing anything and pretending at all. I wanted her with a stubbornness I couldn’t switch off. She was forbidden, delegated as something to fake, not to treasure. Yet, I wanted to, so badly.

“Nina.” I sat next to her, and that slight dip on the cushions roused her.

“Oh!” She opened her eyes quickly, jarred from her nap with a hint of embarrassment. As her cheeks turned pink, I held back a groan. Seeing how far that flush could spread from her face was one of my biggest fantasies.

“Sorry. I just dozed and…” As she sat up, the book she must have been reading fell to the floor. It bounced off my shoes, but I couldn’t be pulled from staring into her eyes.

She rose to sit in front of me, bringing her face—and those sweet lips—so close to mine. A breath away. An inch apart. So close that all I had to do was bridge this gap and pick up where we left off earlier.

“Mr. Constella,” she said quietly, playful and a little unsure. “If you keep looking at me like that…” Her lidded gaze dropped to my lips and she sighed. “We’ll never find me a dress.”

“Is that so?” I slanted closer, keeping my mouth right by hers. Our breath mingled, and I licked my lips.

She nodded, bumping her nose with mine. “Yeah.”

“Then how should I look at you?” I taunted, lifting my hand to cup her face. The first touch of her smooth, soft skin was my undoing. She pulled me to her. I was drawn to her, wanting it all.

She tipped her chin up in an effort to initiate a kiss, but she lowered again as she seemed to think twice.

Suddenly, that was my goal. I’d pursued her every time. I always took the first step. I made the move. With the rules of pretending to date, maybe that was how it should be. But I wanted her to initiate it. I wanted her to act on this magnetism locking us together.

“We should go,” she said, rearing back.

Before she could retreat fully, I slid my fingers on the back of her head and kept her close. “How do you want me to look at you?”

Breathing quickly, she reacted with some kind of naughty idea. But she wouldn’t share it with me.

Slow down. This is too much. I couldn’t assume she was an expert at this game of seduction. Because that was what we were playing with here. We weren’t pretending anything. We were caught in a layered battle of wills, of trying to stay afloat in this desire.

I compromised, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek. “Let’s go.” I took her hand and led her to the car, hoping she realized that I wanted to touch her, even with this simple gesture of our fingers entwined, even though no one was watching.

“More practice?” she teased, squeezing my fingers.

“Yes. Brace yourself for more lessons,” I warned.

“Lessons about what?” she asked at the car.

“About what it looks like to be my woman.”

The ride to the dress store was a quiet one. With the constant thrum of sexual tension and attraction burning between us, it seemed we didn’t need to talk. We conveyed our thoughts with little stolen glimpses of each other. Secret smiles and avoiding eye contact. Accidental brushes of our hands as I shifted the sports car.

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