Page 34 of The Arrogant's Redemption

With every step he takes, my body reacts like it has a mind of its own, blood boiling, every sense tuned to him.

Even if I never see Jasper again after tonight, I know he’ll be burned into my memory, and some foolish little voice inside me whispers that from now on, he’ll be the standard by which I measure all other men, even though I know we are from different universes.

Is this what rock band fans feel like when they meet their idols?

"Can I make tonightmine?" he asks seriously, and I realize this is no longer about just walking on the beach or hanging around the boardwalk.

"It wouldn’t be that easy. I wouldn’t give up my special night without a good fight," I say, finishing the last of my ice cream, which now tastes like nothing compared to the heat sparking through my body from being near him.

Jasper watches every move, saying nothing, even as I chew through the cone—more as a distraction from him than out of any real desire to eat it.

When I swallow the last bite, he’s already standing right in front of me.

"All done?"

A breeze brushes past us at that exact moment, carrying his scent to me—something musky and intoxicating.

And in that moment, looking up at him, I realize what it is about Jasper that’s gotten under my skin. It’s not just his looks, even though he is, without a doubt, the most gorgeous man I’ve ever met. There’s something raw beneath that polished billionaire exterior. A purely sexual pull that tells me one night in his arms would never be enough. I’d remember it forever.

I close my eyes for a few seconds, trying to get a grip on my senses. Not looking at him helps me think more clearly.

The reckless woman who wants this gorgeous stranger to pull her into his arms and kiss her breathless isn’t me. Tomorrow, I’dwake up feeling awful, alone, and used. That finally brings back my strength—and my common sense.

"Yes, I’m done. And now it’s time to go. I have to be up again soon. Thank you for your company." I don’t give him a chance to reply—I just run off. But before I can get more than five meters away, I hear his voice:

"I thought you worked the evening shift."

I should ignore him. Pretend I didn’t hear. But instead, I find myself saying, "I’m not waking up early for work. I’m coming back to this beach to surf." I keep running, even as I ask myself why I gave him that information. I could have just said I was going surfing, not where.

Because you want him to chase you,my subconscious answers, and I’m honest enough to admit it’s right.

I do want Jasper to chase me, even if I’m terrified of what might happen when he finally catches me.

Alexis

CHAPTER NINETEEN

I expected him to come,but still, I wasn’t prepared to see Jasper in board shorts, shirtless, with every muscle I’d only imagined he had on his perfect body now fully on display.

Nor had I ever pictured someone like him surfing, yet I couldn’t hide a smile when I saw him standing on the sand, watching me, the board resting at his side.

“You’re late.”

“I don’t remember agreeing to surf with you,” I say boldly, dropping my own board to the sand.

He walks toward me—and this time, he doesn't stop until his hand is wrapped around the back of my neck. “You wanted me to come.”

I look down, suddenly embarrassed.

God, what am I doing trying to play games with a man like him?

“Yes,” I admit.

“Even after I warned you that getting too close to me wasn’t a good idea.”

Part of me screams I should run, but apparently I suffer from some kind of paralysis when it comes to this man.

Still, I'm tired of pretending to be someone I'm not. Confidence isn't my thing—so why keep up the act?

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