Page 20 of The Devil's Pawn

“You don’t have any clothes here.”

She laughs. “Is that the good news or bad news?”

“We’ll call it a draw, baby girl.”

Her not having anything to wear is definitely a plus…for me.

“So, what’s the good news?”

“I have Colleen stopping by in less than an hour. She’s my personal shopper, and now yours. She’s going to bring a ton of clothes and crap for you to sift through. Go crazy. Buy whatever you want. She has my info.”

Her head whips back. “Seriously?”

“Seriously. I mean unless you plan to walk around here naked, which I’m fully on board with, by the way. On second thought…” I reach into my pocket and take out my cell. “I’m going to cancel that appointment.”

“What?!” She jumps off the seat with a giggle, grabbing my forearm over the kitchen island. “No, don’t do that.”

Her touch forces my lungs to grow heavy. I tighten my jaw, steadying the desire to tell her to keep that hand just where it is.

“Are you sure?” I ask. “Did I mention I sleep naked? I really don’t mind if you do too.”

“Um…” Her eyes widen, her palm falling away. “I hope you’re joking.”

“Maybe.” I grin, standing up and washing my plate before putting it in the cabinet.

“Are you ever serious?” Her face lights up with a smile.

I slowly walk around to her, stepping closer until my front is to her back. My hands fall around the edge of the island, trapping her.

“Only when I’m making love.”

She doesn’t move as I lean my mouth to the edge of her ear, my breaths fanning down her neck. She gasps, her inhales sharp, louder than the blood pulsing through my veins.

I’ve been around so many women, but no one comes close. No one makes mewantthis much.

Leaning my lips down to the back of her head, I kiss her hair, inhaling the scent of jasmine and wanting those long strands laced around my fingers with our bodies skin to skin.

“Bye, beautiful,” I whisper, sliding my mouth down to the curve of her ear. “I’ll see you later today when I bring over the marriage paperwork. Have fun shopping.”

As I stroll away, her loud and hurried exhales make me wish I didn’t have to go.

CHAPTERSIX

RAQUEL

“What do you think of this?”Colleen asks again, holding up another floral dress in the bedroom I now share with Dante.

I’ve tuned her out more than once already, still replaying what happened with Dante before he left. The way he came up behind me. The way he kissed the back of my head.

My body flushes with heat from the memory. I don’t know how I’ll hold out for three months. The more I’m around him, the harder it’ll get. He won’t make it easy, I can already tell.

Right now, I wish I had pushed for separate bedrooms. He needs me just as much as I need him. Maybe he would’ve let me have that one thing.

“Raquel?” Colleen calls, her hazel eyes assessing me as she smiles.

I glance up at her with what I hope is an apologetic expression. “I’m sorry. My mind is elsewhere today. I do love the other floral I tried on. The white with the blue flowers.”

“Great. I’ll add that to the total.” She strides over to one of the suitcases she brought, bending down to put the dress she just showed me back inside.

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