Page 10 of Dallas
He’s right. I don’t respond.
He holds out a hand. “Come here, baby.”
I hesitate but find it impossible to disobey him. Shoving off the wall, I step closer. When I’m close enough, he gently circles my wrists with his hands and slides his palms up my arms until he’s holding my shoulders. “I knew you were gorgeous, but, Arianna, you are beyond stunning. You can wear this tiny dress anytime you want when we’re alone, but you’re not allowed to wear it out of our bedroom.”
My breath catches in my throat. Our bedroom?
He slides his hands around to the back of my hair and starts pulling bobby pins out of my bun, carefully making a pile in his palm. When the last one is removed, my curls fall around his fingers. There’s still a ponytail holder, but he carefully removes that next.
I can barely breathe as he sets the pins and rubber band on the end table and threads his fingers in my hair, combing it over and over. I close my eyes because it feels so good. It’s been forever since anyone played with my hair. Not since my mother did when I was a child.
A soft moan escapes my lips, and Dallas growls and tugs my head back with his fingers fisted in my hair. “Do you have any idea what you do to me?”
I shake my head. I don’t. Not really. I don’t get it. I understand he’s attracted to me, but it’s not something I’ve ever let myself experience before. When men are interested in me, I ignore them and never absorb their looks. It’s unavoidable with Dallas.
Chapter 5
Dallas
* * *
Fuck me. My girl is stunning. Beyond words. I knew she would make my cock harder than ever if she removed the costume she hides behind, but the level of my need to own her has gone through the roof. It’s going to be challenging keeping my hands off her.
God, her hair. It’s fucking mesmerizing. Long, thick unruly curls. I’m going to want her to wear it down when she’s not playing the librarian role. I won’t make her change her public persona. I know it’s important to her, and I’m equally certain it’s for a good reason.
She hasn’t shared her secret with me yet, but she will. I just hope she wasn’t lying when she told me she was not in danger. She won’t be able to sit for a week if I find out she lied and someone is after her.
I lure her toward the couch. I’m not interested in sitting across from her. I want and intend to touch her. When I sit and pull her next to me, she tries to scoot away and fails. She has no place to go since I settled in the center, leaving her only enough space between me and the arm of the couch.
I turn my body sideways and cup her face. “When was the last time you were kissed, baby?”
She meets my gaze and stares at me. Her cheeks turn pink. “Has anyone ever told you you’re too forward?”
I chuckle. “I suspect I am. It’s either in my blood or the water supply here in Wilde. After spending a few weeks with my cousins who are clearly on a mission to get their women wed, bedded, and bred, I’ve caught the bug. So, yes. I’m going to be direct with what I want. Right now, I want to kiss you. Answer my question.”
She gasps and shakes her head. “I don’t want to answer your question. Did you just say wed, bedded, and bred?”
I laugh. “Yes, baby. It’s rampant in the mansion.”
She does not laugh. She shudders and leans back. “I think I should avoid your kisses then.” She pushes away from me farther, almost bending over the arm of the sofa.
I chuckle. “You can’t avoid kissing me forever. It will get weird at some point, especially after we’re married.”
She gasps. “You can’t be serious.”
“I’ll never lie to you, baby.”
“We don’t even know each other. You’re putting the cart way before the horse.”
“We know each other better than Tiago knew Reagan or Ryder knew Claire before either of them got engaged.”
“They were both engaged for like a week,” she argues.
“Yes. I’ve been dragging my feet. We’re behind.” I chuckle.
Her pretty brown eyes go wider.
I’m pushing her. I don’t want her to feel pressured, so I lean back, giving her space but taking her hand in mine. I like that she looks slightly disappointed by my retreat.
