Page 32 of Dangerous Contract: Part 1

“It’s ripped,” he reminded her. “Even if you wanted to wear it now, you wouldn’t be able to.”

“I have to wear something,” she argued. “I can’t leave naked.”

His gaze roamed over her. She swallowed, growing nervous as she waited for a look of disgust to fill his eyes. The same look her ex-husband had often worn whenever he’d walked in on her while she was dressing in their bedroom.

It had gotten so bad that she’d begun dressing in the guest bedroom or the bathroom with the door locked so he wouldn’t walk in on her. That look never entered Orazio’s eyes. In fact, the expression on his face was the exact opposite.

He still looked attracted to her. Did he not see the dimples in her thighs? Did he not see her fupa? Did he not see the stretch marks that no amount of cocoa butter could get rid of? He cleared his throat before returning his gaze to hers.

“I’ll have someone go out and get more clothes for you in the morning,” he told her.

The morning? She needed to leave now!

Folding her arms over her chest, she told him, “Don’t bother. I’ll just call my friends and...”

“I just checked with security. Your friends have already left.”

“They can come back and...”

“While I was waiting for you at the bar earlier, I had security call a driver for your friends. He waited out front for them. When they got ready to leave, the driver escorted them home.”

“But...”

“They were too drunk to drive.”

He was right. They had been too tipsy to drive. She couldn’t call them. Though she knew they’d come, she didn’t want them driving while intoxicated. She’d never forgive herself if they got hurt or if they hurt someone else. She was glad they’d gotten home safely. She was glad he’d looked out for them. Why had he looked out for them? Her gaze met his.

“Why did you call them a ride?” she asked.

“Because they’re your friends. Their safety is important to you. So, it’s important to me.”

More tears filled her eyes.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, rushing to her side.

She shook her head.

“Tell me if I did something,” he insisted.

“It’s not you. It’s me.”

“That’s a line no man wants to hear.”

“It’s the truth. I’m...” her gaze dropped to the floor. “I’m not able to do this.”

“Do what?”

“You know.”

“Sleep?”

“You know that’s not what I’m talking about.”

“But that’s all I’m asking for.”

Her eyes jerked to his. “What?”

“You look tired. It’s late. Let’s go to sleep.”

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