Page 39 of Princess of Pride
I rise onto my knees and face him, looking up through my lashes, my cheeks burning. “You do it.”
His gaze dips to the blush on my cheeks before returning to my eyes. “Take. It. off.”
The quiet command has me torn between wanting to please him and the old insecurity I have about my breasts. They’re too big for my body. They look wrong.
He arches a brow. “Off. Unless you’reafraid.”
I raise my chin at his taunt. I’m not afraid. I’m shy, but I’m also strong-willed. “You want my dress off?”
“That’s what I’ve been saying.”
“Fine.” I take the hem and yank it over my head, dropping it beside me.
My nipples tighten more under his heated gaze that’s focused on my breasts. I fight the urge to cover myself. I’m in only my lace thong. It’s the most naked I’ve been in front of a man. The most vulnerable.
He steps back and takes me in on my knees. Heated eyes trail over my lace panties, across my tummy, over my breasts again, and up to my face and messy as fuck caramel hair.
“Touch me,” I beg, his gaze stirring heat to places that need attention.
“Touch yourself.” He walks toward the door. To close it?
I’m confused. When he passes into the other room, I spring off the bed, and grab my dress, covering myself in a rush.
“Where are you going?” I ask as he stalks to the hallway.
“You asked for one night. You got it.” He doesn’t bother to look at me.
“Are you serious? You’re here. Forget what I said.” Am I actually begging him to stay?
“I prefer a challenge.”
Air sucks down my throat. The nerve of him! He chasedmehere. He held me and toyed withme!
I give him the ugliest scowl I can muster. “You’re an asshole.”
At the door, he stops to glare over his shoulder. There’s no mistaking the desire still flashing in his eyes as they roam my barely covered body. “Don’t even think about running.”
“Screw you!” I give him the finger, but my words and the gesture are lost as the door closes.
9
I TOLD YOU NOT TO RUN
Don’t run. Doesn’t he realize his threat would make me do just that?
Arrogant prick!
My stomach gargles with rage and hunger now that my hormones are back to normal.
The last thing I’m doing is ordering room service and hanging out here. I want a good head start before he comes after me this time.
And he can forget me ever offering him my body again. I can’t believe I wasted that significant moment on him. The first time I take off my clothes and bare myself, and he walks out!
I wrench the mini fridge open and plunder the contents. Macadamia nuts, trail mix, chocolate, cookies, gummy bears, soda, vodka. I freeze with the bottle in my hand. Do I want to chug some of this? I can’t form a good plan if I’m drunk.
Dammit. I toss it aside and grab a can of soda to wash the snacks down. It occurs to me after my raccoon attack on the fridge that I don’t have a toothbrush—and I have something stuck in my teeth.
I find the hotel care packet in the bathroom, brush my teeth, and free my tooth of the tiny debris. From the walk-in-closet, I take one of the hotel robes and slip it over my dress. Already I feel more like myself, covered up without worry that my boobs are on display.
