Page 5 of Billionaire's Sins
I glance away. "I, uh, may have peeked a bit."
"Did you like what you saw?"
I jerk my head in his direction, to find him watching me closely. His expression is one of curiosity, like I am some kind of lab specimen whose responses he is clocking in a clinical way. The hair on the back of my neck rises. I want to glance away, break the connection with this man, but I can't. My pulse rate ratchets up. Despite the chill in the morning, my palms begin to sweat. I clear my gaze, force the words out, "Wh....why Eve?"
"You know why." He peruses my features. "And you haven't answered the question."
"Do I?" My heart begins to race. "And what question?"
"You know the answer to both." He folds his arms across his chest and his impressive biceps bulge. Heat blooms between my legs and I resist the urge to rub my thighs together.
"I'm not sure what you're referring to," I say stiffly, "and no, I don’t find you attractive."
His grin widens, and the impact of that smile… Oh, my. His teeth sparkle against the tan of his skin, his features brighten, the charisma pours off of him, and honestly, I can’t glance away. I take in the gleam in his eyes, the hair on his forehand drying and already curling a little.
I blink. "Aren’t you cold?"
The breeze picks up, and a strand of hair whips across my face.
He releases my hand, only to lean down and push the hair aside. Goosebumps pop on my skin. My stomach trembles and my heart begins to race. I watch as his gaze holds mine, as the pupils of his eyes dilate. His nostrils flare, and he straightens. "I’d better be going. Sinclair's expecting me for breakfast."
"Oh, that’s right. Me too." I’d promised Summer I’d join them for breakfast. I jump up, and the movement brings me close to him. The heat of his body slams into my chest and my throat dries. I stare up at him, as he glares down his nose. Something like anger steals across his features, before he schools all expression from his face. A strange sensation grips my chest. I draw in a breath and the oxygen rushes to my head. Shit, when had I forgotten to breathe? He steps back, and the cold air rushes in. I shiver.
He pivots, walking toward the pool house. I take in the tattoo of the snake that crawls diagonally across his back. Whoa! That’s one mean-ass tattoo. It’s as spectacular as it is unexpected against the much paler skin of his back. The forked tongue of the snake is thick in girth, and within it are etched tribal signs that I can’t decipher. The edge of it flows over his shoulder, which is what I must have seen earlier. The scales on the snake are patterned in color and the triangular head has slitted eyes which seem to follow me as I jump to my feet, then tug the blanket around me, hold my book close and follow.
"Hold on," I protest, "your legs are too long."
He slows his pace and I catch up.
"So, you are a friend of Sinclair’s?"
He nods.
"You’re one of the Seven, aren’t you?" I peer up into his face, "I saw you at Arpad and Karina’s wedding."
His jaw hardens. Now what did I say for him to seem angry?
"Surely, you remember?" I mutter. "Didn’t you notice me?"
"I don’t notice every girl who crosses my path."
I blink, then pause my steps, "Now, that’s not fair. I could have sworn that you saw me there. Besides, I am not a girl."
He pulls forward, and I run to catch up. "Did you hear what I said?" I demand. "I am not a—"
"Girl." He stops so quickly that I bump into him. The scent of chlorine, and under that, the fresh-cut grass scent of him teases my nostrils. I draw in a breath, filling my lungs with his earthy essence. Moisture pools in my center and my nerve-endings seem to fire all at once. Why the hell does he have to smell so utterly delectable?
He pivots to face me and the heat of his body seems to turn up a notch. Does this man have a furnace under his skin, or what?
He looks me up and down. "What are you then?" he asks.
"What—" I blink.
"You said you are not a girl, so what are you?"
I tip up my chin. "A woman." I square my shoulders. "I am a woman."
"And I..." He squares his shoulders, "I am sworn to celibacy."
