Page 24 of One Wild Ride

Alex turned back from inspecting the wall. “Yes. Clearly, it’s the best. It shows my love of all art but you added your take on the great masters of the past. I have to say, Aria, I’m blown away.”

Damn it. Why was he so nice, too? No man in the world was this perfect. I’m being set up.

I began walking around the room, picking up knickknacks and glancing under the bed.

“What are you doing?”

I stood after I had made sure under the bed was clear. “Looking for hidden cameras.”

Alex folded his arms and shook his head. “What? Why would you do that?”

“Because you aren’t real. None of this is real.” I spread my arms out wide. “There is no man on this planet as perfect as you, Alexander Hawthorne.” I came over to him and pointed at his chest.

Okay, maybe I didn’t point. Maybe I smoothed my hand up and down his chest. But that’s not the point. The point was he’s tricking me in some manner.

He glanced down at my hand currently rubbing a hole in his sweater but he didn’t remove it. “Why is this okay, Aria? Why do you think coming into my home and putting your hands on me is something okay to do? What if I did that to you?”

I stopped moving my hand but left it resting on his chest. “Then do it.”

“What? You actually want me to rub your chest. You think that’s fine to do? It’s okay if a stranger comes up to you and starts to rub your chest?”

“I never said I was okay for a stranger to do it. I said I was okay for you to do it.”

His eyes widened and I knew he would make an excuse. Alex lifted his hand toward mine but I grabbed his wrist before he could get to mine.

“Here, let me help you.” I pulled his arm up and placed it on the center of my chest.

We both stood there not moving.

“I’m waiting,” I said and couldn’t help the smile that crept over my mouth.

This man wanted me as much as I did him, and his views on not being with a cheap woman or whatever excuse he used looked like they were about to falter.

I really hoped they crumbled.

“You want me to grope you?” Alex asked with wide eyes.

As much as I wanted this and much more, it was becoming frustrating. It seemed if I wanted him to touch my body in any way I would have to force him, and that was not okay. I may be a tiny woman and he may be a giant of a man, but I would never force anyone to do anything they didn’t want to.

I lowered my hand. “I only want you to do what you want to do, Alex. If your physical attraction to me really disgusts you that much, then don’t do anything. I’m not an idiot, I saw your boner last night so don’t deny you’re attracted to me.”

Wrapping my fingers around his arm I tried to pull his hand off my chest, but he wouldn’t move.

“I never said I was disgusted with you, Aria, or what feelings I have for you.”

I rolled my eyes. “You said I was cheap.”

Alex shook his head and puffed out a laugh. “No, I said I would never give you cheap. But what I have to give you might not like. You may run as far as you can from me. Then I would lose a chance to have your beautiful talent on my wall.”

It seemed like Alex was about to say more but he stopped and dropped his hand from my chest.

“Why would I run? Is it really tiny?” I said as I crinkled my nose.

He dropped his eyes to the floor as his face grew pink. I thought it was cute that he embarrassed so easily.

“I don’t think so.”

I took a step back and focused my attention on his crotch. “Did you compare? Or maybe other women might have mentioned you were big? I have to warn you, if women have never mentioned your size before then it’s probably small.” I frowned and gave him a supportive slap on the arm.

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