Page 83 of Dangerous King
"Don't." Enrico takes my hand, presses it, guessing once again where my mind went.
Thankfully, the sight of his Hummer parked just past the fountain turns my mind away from my family. The thing is matte black, hulking and sleek—like a predator crouched and ready to pounce. It looks like it could survive a war and win, just like Enrico.
"I don't think I'll ever get used to you driving a tank."
He grins. "You approve?"
"It looks like something from the military." I can't help but express.
He opens the passenger door for me. "Wait until you see the inside."
I climb in and sink into buttery leather seats that hug my body like a glove. The last time I was in here, Manollo had been driving, and I wasn't exactly in the headspace to appreciate the Hummer's sleek interior. Rugged and military-grade on the outside, but inside, it's all luxury and cutting-edge tech. The interior smells of expensive cologne and brand-new power. Every inch gleams. It's not cold or military at all; it's warm, opulent, and quiet. Suddenly, the nerves in my stomach twist into something else: Anticipation. Adventure. Desire.
I glance at him as he closes my door and rounds the front to get in beside me. This is really happening. I'm on a date. With Enrico Sartori!
He climbs in beside me, settling into the driver's seat like a king returning to his throne. He places one hand on the wheel, and the other reaches calmly forward to hit a button that lowers the ambient lighting. A soft, golden glow pools along the floorboards and consoles, making everything look as though it's dipped in honey.
Enrico glances at me, and my pulse leaps. His black eyes gleam in the low light. "Nervous?"
"A little."
He chuckles, amused. "Don't be. We're only going to dinner."
Easy for him to say. He's made of stone and steel and all things solid. I'm… fluttering.
"Besides," he adds, pulling onto the drive, "you're with me. Nothing's going to happen that I don't want to happen."
I look at him then. "Is that supposed to be comforting?"
"It should be." His lips tug into a crooked smile. "Because what I want tonight is for you to relax. Eat. Smile. Maybe let me kiss those beautiful lips when no one's watching."
"Just there?" I ask, trying to sound teasing. "You can kiss me anywhere… if no one's watching."
The words tumble out before I can stop them. Oh God. My heart lunges into my throat. A million warning bells go off. I should be mortified—but I'm not. Not completely. Part of me wants to stuff the words back into my mouth and pretend they never happened. But the other part? The stronger part? Meant every syllable.
A shiver rolls through me at the thought of his mouth, his hands, moving lower. Exploring. Claiming. My thighs press together instinctively, and I throw him a glance from under my lashes, trying to gauge his reaction. But deep down, I know: Iwanthim thinking about it.
More than that, I want it to become more than a thought.
I sit straighter. Pulling my chin high. I'm breathless, but certain, I won't take the words back. I want this. I wanthim.
Even if he wrecks me in the process.
The first thing I notice is how his knuckles are tightening slightly on the wheel. The second is the way his jaw flexes, the muscle ticking like he's working to stay in control. His eyes stay forward, but something changes in the air between us, becomes thicker and hotter. Like a live current just snapped into place.
He doesn't say anything right away, and the silence is suddenly loaded. Tense. Electric. Then, slowly—deliberately—his handslides from the steering wheel to rest on the center console, his fingers drum once before they still. "You have no idea what you just did," he says at last, keeping his voice low, rough, and full of heat. "But you will."
My breath catches. I turn to look at him, but his eyes stay fixed on the road, as if he knows that if he so much as glances at me, he'll pull over and make good on the promise simmering beneath his words.
My whole body feels like a live wire—too hot, too aware. My pulse drums. Then, finally, he shifts his gaze, just for a second. His black eyes are dark and intense, filled with a possessiveness that constricts my throat and makes my heart beat even faster.
God help me… I feel it between my legs.
I swallow hard. My voice is a whisper when it comes. "What if I want to know?"
His mouth curves slowly, dangerously. "Oh,Piccolina," he murmurs. "You're going to learn."
I don't know how to reply. This is as far as mydaringnature dares to go right now. Silence engulfs us. I wish I knew what he's thinking, but when his hand lands on my upper thigh, all thoughts disappear, and I just relish the moment of being near him.
