Page 38 of About Love and Revenge

Until our . . .interactionon the plane, I intended to keep things impersonal because I thought that even if we had sex, it would just be what it used to be for me: a few chance encounters.

The thing is, I know myself. After what happened on the plane, the intense chemistry between the two of us, I will be even more careful about her well-being. I take care of what's mine, and as long as we're together—and eventually we will be, I have no doubt—Elina will be treated as my woman.

I know I won't be able to leave her anytime soon. I'm starving for her. Everything she said was on point; she nailed it when she brought up my need for control. Controlling my world is part of who I am. I anticipatepeople's reactions to understand how to make my next play. I rarely relax around another human being, which is why it's so strange to have disconnected from everything when I took her in my arms on the plane.

I look at the woman who is now walking around the apartment's living room as though she’s trying to take in everything around her.

The furniture is white, and the sofa is a light gray.

Despite being a three-bedroom property, not a mansion like the one she grew up in, Elina looks dazzled as she wanders around every corner.

I'm standing there, hands in the pockets of my suit pants, watching her every move. I have a feeling that if she was alone, she would spin around like she did that day in the library. She looks happy.

“It's incredible.”

I don’t answer. I'm still not in a good mood. I haven’t yet found a way to make our relationship work, which has put me in a hellish state of mind.

“Come. Let's see the rest.”

Before I think about what I'm doing, I reach out. Unlike on the plane, this time she gladly accepts my hand. The feeling is foreign. Not just because she gave in, when she's usually skittish, but because it feels right to hold her. Have her with me.

“The apartment is huge.”

“No, it's average, but I think you'll be comfortable.”

“Are you kidding? We could fit ten of my bedrooms in here.”

“Your home in Greece wasn't just your bedroom.”

“For me, that was what it came down to. It was the only place I could be myself.”

“What does that mean?”

“It’s nonsense. As I said before, you turn me into a chatterbox.”

“I don't want you to hide anything from me.”

Yes, she can—and maybe should—send me to hell for what I've just said, but instead, she shrugs.

“You'll have to earn the right to know my secrets."

I stop in the middle of the hallway and make her face me. "Are you flirting with me, Elina?”

“No.”

“Don’t lie.”

“Sorry. It won't happen again.”

I grip her hips, my desire already fully rekindled. “I'm going to kiss you again. Say you want it.”

“Would it make a difference?”

“It would make all the difference. You can always say no to me, Elina.”

She looks at my mouth. “Just one more.”

I lean her against the wall and put her arms around the back of my head. If a kiss is all I'm getting for today, I'll make sure she has something to think about when I'm gone.

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