Page 77 of The Boss

“Other than your brother, what pain have you suffered?” I threw back.

He glared at me, his jaw cocked.

“Seriously. What? You grew up with money and all kinds of pretty toys. You’re worth millions if not billions. You could have any woman you want by just snapping your fingers. Hell, you could be a model on some Paris magazine cover. You and your entire family have lived a charmed life.” I wasn’t usually so ugly, but he had the ability to push all my buttons as I did his.

Maybe we’d be better enemies.

“You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Then tell me. Share with me. Dimitrios, please.”

“No.”

“Fine.”

When he jerked me even closer, I decided I wasn’t going to wait around to take the brunt of his anger. I managed to yank my hand free, tumbling toward the door. “Damn you, Dimitrios. You want me to marry you and even though it should be in name only, we crossed a line. I guess I was foolish enough to believe you actually cared about me.”

Before he had time to answer, I fled the room, racing down the stairs as fast as my legs would take me. As soon as I made it outside, I turned away from the house, heading toward the beach. I didn’t stop long enough to see if he was trailing after me.

“Do not run away from me!” he called out.

I ignored him and his command.

Tears burned my eyes and while I knew it was ridiculous to feel this way, I couldn’t stop them from sliding past my eyelashes. How could I feel so close to a man yet not know him at all?

I zigged and zagged my way toward the water, praying I could find some sense of solace because there wouldn’t be any answers. Somehow, I’d managed to keep the towel grasped tightly around me, but I was ready to pitch it away. The thick material was hindering my run.

As soon as I reached the beach, the ache I felt inside was too great. I rubbed my eyes, slowing down from being forced to double over.

He caught my arm and the shock of him doing so, being so close jolted me into squealing. “Let me go.” The towel slipped free, pooling around my ankles.

“I won’t.” He was calmer but the fury remained in his eyes. “I won’t allow you to do this.”

“I did nothing. It’s a room. A photograph. Why can’t you talk to me? Because you really don’t care at all. Do you?”

“That’s not true.” He pushed me back against a tree, keeping the hold while he slammed his hand on the bark over my head.

“Yes, it is. I’m a fool.”

“No, you’re not. Disobedient as hell, yes. Infuriating, you bet.”

“But you still won’t talk to me. You don’t care.”

“I do care. Can’t you see that?”

“No!”

“I don’t want to lose you. I can’t.” His voice was filled with anguish. “You’re the only goddamn woman I want. As far as all those pretty toys you’ve accused me of having. You’re right. I’ve been blessed in my life, Willow, but with every good thing there’s always a bad to counter it. Good versus evil.”

I had no idea what to say to him. I could see by the wild look in his eyes he was on some kind of precipice, ready to fall off the cliff. The moment I touched his face, he softened.

Then he crushed his mouth over mine. As angry as the man could make me, the need to feel him was too severe. I thrust my tongue past his lips, eager to taste him.

Dimitrios released his hold on me, which allowed me to wrap my arm around his neck. Being able to finger his thick hair sent a series of shivers through me. Our desire for each other knew no bounds. He was almost frantic, his kisses rough and demanding.

He rubbed his other hand down my side, the feel more possessive than ever. As he yanked at my bikini bottom, I moaned into the kiss. Our tongues were entwining, battling for domination. It was a fight I knew I wouldn’t win.

With my bikini now around my thighs, I kicked and shifted, yanking it down myself. He broke the moment of heat and fire for a few seconds so he could jerk the wet material the rest of the way off.

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