Page 55 of Undercover Desires

“You would’ve, huh? I doubt it,” she scoffs, her skepticism evident. “You got what you wanted. Shouldn’t you be off chasing your next victim?”

“I’m not finished with you,” I assert. “Have you forgotten we have a contract, sugarplum?”

She raises a brow, intrigued. “What exactly do you want with me?”

“Right now, I want to spin you around the dance floor in that pretty dress. Have I told you how stunning you look tonight?”

A soft smile plays on her lips. “No.”

I take her hands in mine. “Well, you do. You’re the most beautiful girl in the room, and I need my hands on you.”

“It’s a bad idea, Kobe,” she warns, but I can tell by the way she looks at me that she feels the same. She had only been dancing with the other man to pass the time, and she’s grateful that Icame to her rescue. My brothers will be pissed, but I can deal with them later.

“Yep, but that’s never stopped me before,” I respond, pulling her into my arms. We sway to the music, falling into a seamless dance, lost in the pulsating beat. I drop my lips to her ear. “And it’s Mr. Rivera.”

Bella giggles, relaxing into my embrace, and we move together as if we’ve done this a thousand times before. The scent of her perfume envelops us, a delicate blend of lilies or some other floral note, and I inhale deeply, savoring the moment. Everything feels so natural with her, so easy. In the past, my intentions on the dance floor were often straightforward, focused on one thing. But with Bella, I find myself wanting to be near her, to bask in her presence. It’s all so natural with her.

I have to shake myself back to reality, reminding myself of who she is and what she’s trying to do to us. I'm struggling to avoid being completely enchanted by her. Right now, I know I am. And with both Maeve and now Hazel on my case, I know it’s not just in my head. This is real. And it can’t be.

CHAPTER 23

ARABELLA

His warm body pressesclose to mine, and I close my eyes, allowing him to sweep me across the dance floor. I’m aware that I’m walking on thin ice, and at any moment, the fragile surface could shatter, submerging me. But for now, I need to hold on to this moment. No one has ever made me feel the way Kobe does.

The way he looks at me alone is enough to unravel me. He’s incredibly charming, so swoon-worthy, and nothing like what I was expecting when I first started investigating him. But is it all an act, or is this the real him? Was his player lifestyle just a cover for something more meaningful? Am I foolish for even entertaining such thoughts? I remind myself of the truth. This is just a job. I can’t allow myself to get entangled in a sordid love affair when I know what I have to do.

My eyes flutter open, locking with his piercing gaze. I know I need to walk away from him right now. I attempt to pull back, but he holds me tighter against him.

“Stop overthinking it, sugar,” he says, like he can read my thoughts, his voice light and playful. That’s how he always getsme. Keeps me in the moment with him. How can I walk away when what we have right here and now is so tempting to hold on to?

“Your family is all here. What will Leo think of you dancing with me like this?” I say, panicked, knowing I’m falling for him more and more as each second passes.

He laughs, totally unaffected by my excuses. “Who cares?”

“I work for you,” I breathe, getting lost in his blue eyes.

“There’s no rule that says I can’t dance with one of my employees.”

“Kobe, you know what I mean,” I plead, desperation creeping into my voice. I have to get away from him, but I can’t. And I don’t really want to. I want him like crazy. What we shared the other night awakened something within me, something I’ve never experienced before. It ignited a fire, and I want more. My pussy throbs with need, a need I know only he can fill. Of course, he was right, I was only dancing with the other guy because I didn’t think I could with him. Or maybe I was aiming for exactly what happened. I knew he would get jealous and be forced to do something about it, instead of just staring at me like he wanted to.

The song ends, and I gently pull out of his grip. “I need some fresh air,” I say, glancing toward the outdoor patio.

“Good idea.” He smirks mischievously, and I know it’s a terrible idea, but I feel too many sets of eyes on us, and I hate being the center of attention.

“Kobe, behave.” I playfully slap him, and he wraps an arm around my back as he guides me off the dance floor and outside. The cool night air hits my face, a welcome relief from the heat that had been radiating off my cheeks from the champagne and dancing. I keep walking, moving farther into the garden where it’s quieter. I find a white gazebo with grape vines growingthrough the wooden beams, twisting all the way to the top where they cascade down. It’s magical.

“Feeling better?” he asks, taking my hand to stop me from going any farther, dragging me back to the gazebo with him.

“Yeah,” I reply, letting out a sigh of relief. “I was overheating.”

Kobe smiles, his eyes fixed on me, his hand dusting up my arm and settling on my face. It’s dark in here, but I can still make out the desire in his gaze. It makes my heart race with anticipation. “You looked stunning out there, sweetheart.”

I feel my cheeks flush. I want him to be engrossed in me, knowing he ignites something inside of me. “Thank you. You’re not so bad on the dance floor yourself.”

The unspoken tension between us hangs heavy in the air. The chemistry is undeniable and addictive.

Kobe leans in a little closer. I lick my bottom lip, my mouth feeling terribly dry suddenly. I shouldn’t be out here with him. “What the hell is it about you that makes it impossible to stay away?” he says, his voice low and filled with sincerity.

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