“Fine,” I say with a sigh, trying and failing to talk myself out of an idea that settles in. “I can’t drive you home in this state and unless you have a friend that lives close by, then we’ll have to go to my place. It’s not too far from here.”

“Y-your place?”

“Yes. I have a spare room for you to spend the night.”

“Your place.” She shivers so I tighten my arm around her shoulder to ward off the cold but it’s getting chillier by the second. I need to get her to a warm place soon before she gets sick.

“I’ll call your father and tell him–”

“No,” she cuts me off, her eyes panicked. “He won’t let me stay with you if he finds out. He’ll demand I book a hotel room for the night. I’ll text him instead and tell him that I’m staying at a hotel. Tell him the same thing if he calls you.”

“Princess, I am not going to lie to your father.”

“He won’t let me stay with you otherwise.”

“What happens when he finds out you didn’t spend the night at a hotel?” Constanzo will have my head is what.

“I… I’ll tell him I’m staying with a friend instead,” she says eagerly, her eyes locking on mine, and I find myself caving. Christ, does this girl have some kind of spell over me?

I shouldn't give in. It was my idea in the first place, but I should not encourage her lying and yet, saying no to Aria isn't something I am capable of doing. For a year I have been around this girl and I've wanted her… craved her more than anything in my life before and now I just set myself up by offering to spend the night under the same roof.

How the hell will I manage to keep my hands to myself?

When there is no one watching us, what's going to stop me from backing her up against the walls of my home and ramming my cock into her tight little pussy. My control is at an all-time lowand with the way Aria is staring at me, I can tell she is going to test how far she can push before it completely snaps.

I should drive this girl to a hotel room and guard her door so she doesn’t leave or let anyone in. I should not bring her to my home.Or touch her.

“Please?”

There is no denying this girl. I just have to figure out how to be alone with her and not touch her. Fucking hell!

Chapter Three

Aria

A million butterflies flutter into my stomach as my bodyguard lets me into his penthouse. I’m suddenly enveloped by a warm, inviting atmosphere that instantly puts me at ease.

I’m here, in his home.

I’ve daydreamed about seeing his place a thousand times over. At times, when I wasn’t trying my best to seduce him, I would pry into his private life. Toss in a question or two about his personal life, but he was always tightlipped about it. He never spoke about his work or his life outside of work.

And now, I'm in his home. This is the chance I need to look around and get to know more about him. Surely his private space will reveal the kind of person that he is. Is he the kind that prefers monotone colors for his furniture? Are there paintings on his wall? Does he have two toothbrushes on his bathroom sink?

Does he have a secret lover?

I have – had – questions but in the face of things, I haven’t taken my eyes off him long enough to look around his space. All I can think is that we’re finally alone. Here, I can push him a little further and test his control without fear of someone walking in on us.

“I’ll show you around,” Orlando says gruffly, nodding for me to follow him deeper into his home. “Are you hungry?”

Not for food, I'm not. "Thirsty," I say instead, sliding his coat off my shoulders. I notice his eyes drop to my chest and trail down the rest of my body before lifting back to meet my gaze. My heart beats hard against my chest and my palms grow sweaty the longer his gaze stays on mine.

I wait for him to do something. To kiss me or tear off my clothes and have his way with me. Sure, I know very little about sex, but I’ve heard Alexa and Agnes go on about how fun it is and I want that. With this man. I know the first time isn’t going to be fun but this is Orlando so I can’t imagine it being anything but perfect.

Do it!I dare him with my gaze and he must get a good reading on my desire because his jaw tightens and something primal flares in his eyes causing my breathing to grow shallow and the spot between my thighs to pulse with heat.

“Princess…”

Take me!