Page 105 of Heart of Stone

“Then Thai it is. We’ll get takeout and bring it to my place. Then we can start on your list,” he added, flashing me a sexy lopsided smile.

“You want to start checking things off right away, do you?”

“We could jump right to the yellow highlighted things,” he suggested.

“You’re too much,” I said, shaking my head. My stomach rumbled again. “Food first, then we’ll see where the night takes us.”

“Oh, don’t worry Miss Cole. I plan on taking you to many places tonight.”

I could only hope that I was up for the challenge.

CHAPTER 29

Alexander dumped the bags of takeout on the dining room table.

“Make yourself comfortable. I’m going to round up some utensils and plates,” he told me, heading towards the kitchen.

I kicked off my shoes and went to work on emptying the contents of the Thai takeout. When I opened the container of red chicken curry, steam wafted from the entrée, causing my mouth to water. I dipped my finger into the sauce to have a taste.

“You’re still dressed,” Alexander said from behind me, causing me to jump out of my skin. I guiltily sucked the remaining sauce off my finger.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” I asked confused at first, but then I understood his meaning. When he told me to make myself comfortable, it was really a guise for wanting me to strip. “You didn’t actually expect me to be naked while we eat, did you?”

“I saidalways, Krystina.”

“Sorry, Stone. A girl has to eat. I need substance before I can begin your shenanigans.”

“You agreed to try,” he pointed out.

He looked frustrated with me for not cooperating. I wasn’t confident that I could actually bring myself to eat dinner without any clothes, naked under his scrutinizing gaze.

Oh, to hell with it.

It wasn’t like he hadn’t already seen every part of me.

“Fine,” I spat out, aggravated because I was famished. “Where should I go topreparemyself to your liking?”

He frowned at me, his impatience abundantly clear.

“It’s not supposed to work like this, Krystina.” He ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “Forget it. Just sit and eat.”

He hastily sat in a chair and began ripping through the remaining contents of the takeout bag. If I didn’t know any better, I would think that this was Alexander’s version of a temper tantrum. I ignored him, too hungry to care, and dug into my food. The silence stretched on for a good ten minutes before he finally spoke.

“You’re a pain in the ass. Do you know that?”

“So I’ve been told from time to time. But in my defense, I did warn you that I’d be too much work for you. This is all new to me. I didn’t know that you literally meantalwaysnaked. That’s just not realistic. Either way, had I known, I would have mentally and physically prepared myself for it. I’d want a minute to freshen up before you jump on me.”

“Jump on you? Is that what I do?” Alexander asked, amusement alight in his eyes.

I merely smiled in return before taking another forkful of the curry.

“So, I was thinking about a few things earlier today,” I started.

“Uh, oh,” he feared mockingly.

“Cut it out,” I said. I balled up my napkin and threw it at him. “I was thinking about how I know pretty much nothing about you. I mean, my original thought was to keep personal details out of this, but it makes it tough to have a meaningful conversation, at least one not based around sex.”

He smirked at me.

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