Page 89 of Dex

“No.”

“I didn’t like the way he looked at you,” he repeats.I wait for more questions, but he doesn’t push, and I respect him for that.He just keeps going, undoing button after button, his movements growing slower.More deliberate.His knuckles graze my spine again, and I shiver.

His fingers still.

The last button is undone.

I exhale, about to step away, when the dress slips, sliding off one shoulder.I turn slightly, catching the expression on his face.Knowing full well what I’m doing.

Dexter Knight is never at a loss for words.But right now?He looks like he’s been struck dumb.His gaze tracks the silk and my naked shoulder.

His jaw tightens.

My stomach clenches.

I should tease him.Tell him to put his tongue back in his mouth.But the way he’s looking at me makes my pulse pound in my throat.

“Thanks,” I murmur, my voice husky as I fix the shoulder back on.Then I step away, moving toward my overnight bag in the corner of the room.

And then it happens.

I lean down to grab the bag, and the dress, delicate, weightless and with all buttons now undone, slips off entirely and pools at my waist, exposing my champagne-colored satin bra.A soft gasp catches in my throat.

Before I can react, he’s there.Close.His body heat pressing against my bare back.My insides sizzle with want, and when Dexter’s fingers brush mine and I suck in a breath.My heart pounds so loudly I’m sure he can hear it.I make the mistake of turning around and his gaze rakes in my bra, before flickering over my breastplate and to my mouth.

My breath hitches and in that instant we’re frozen, caught in the weight of something dangerous.Something electric.Something that pulls us together like magnets.

“I’ll get that,” he says roughly, breaking the spell.He steps back, muscles flexing as he lifts the bag.And just like that, the moment shatters.

But the tension still lingers.

“Thanks,” I manage to say, scrambling to hitch my bodice up to preserve my dignity.I look around wondering where I’m supposed to get changed.

As if he’s just realized my dilemma, he says, “I’ll give you some privacy.I’ll be outside.”

This place, with everything in one room, the windowed shower unit in the corner, all beautifully done, but so … naked.He can see me having a shower.See me getting dressed.Thankfully, the toilet is behind a partition.At least he can’t see me …

For most newlyweds this place would be perfect.

For me and Dexter?It’s like an escape room we’re stuck in.

Chapter 22

DEX

I wake up groggy, disoriented, my brain sluggish as I adjust to the dim light filtering through the villa.It takes me a second to remember where I am.

The private villa.Our wedding night.Daniela.She’s curled against me, even though this bed is huge.Big enough to fit half the Knights on it, and yet, when we got in, we made sure to stay as far apart as possible.A solid meter of space between us, maybe more.

So how the hell did we end up like this?

She’s lying on her side, her body molded to mine, one arm slung over my stomach, her breath soft against my skin.My arm wraps around her protectively, keeping her close.Liking the feel of her soft skin against me.

She went to bed in silk pajamas that were delicate, expensive-looking.I’m in a T-shirt and light shorts, even though I normally sleep naked.Figured that wouldn’t be the best idea tonight.

It took me forever to fall asleep.The heat.The awareness of her in the room.Remembering last night; and the sound of the shower running while I forced myself to stay outside.All I could do was imagine her stripping, stepping under the water, steam curling around her.My frustration was already stretched to the limit like an elastic band about to snap.I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel something.

Damn it, just undoing her dress buttons was the sexiest thing I’ve done in a while.And I’ve done some really sexy—some might call them depraved—things when I’m with a woman.

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