Page 64 of Scandalous Games

All the silly habits I remember from when she used to stay over with Niall at our house. I knew her better than my stepbrother did just watching her from the shadows.

The elevator dings and opens to my private hallway. Bianca’s gaze widens in awe as takes in the floor-to-ceiling glass wall on either side with the view of the city below. She steps inside and a gorgeous smile lights up her entire face.

“This is so stunning.”

Not more than you, I want to say but I hold my tongue. “Come inside once you’re done drooling, kitten,” I say over my shoulder as I walk to the kitchen and take two water bottles from the fridge.

Grabbing a glass, I pour one into it just as she rounds the corner observing the space. I’ve noticed an inquisitive look deepens her features whenever she’s in a new environment. Like her inner designer can’t help herself.

When her gaze lands on mine that’s watching her intently, nerves and shyness dance in her dark pupils as she stalls on coming closer. Her foot kicks to the side while her teeth bite the corner of her bottom lip.

My hands ball into fists to keep from tugging it free and replacing it with mine.

I badly need the kiss she owes me.

“I thought you said you weren’t scared of me,” I tease as I rest my hands on the kitchen island, tapping my fingers slowly. Better to keep them busy, so I don’t lose the fight to close the distance and touch her.

Fire flares in her big brown eyes as she puffs, “I am not.”

“Come here.” My deep voice puts her into action and she fills the gap, sitting down on one of the stools. I pass her the glass and command, “Drink.”

“I’m not thirsty.”

“Not even after all that crying?” I raise an eyebrow. “Have some.”

Her fingers inch forward and wrap around the crystal as she takes a sip, and I hide my smile when she finishes more than half of it in one go. Stubborn girl.

I can already tell the coming months are going to be entertaining as hell.

Usually, I hate the thought of anyone being in my space since I’m an extremely private guy. I wait for the same dislike to appear for having Bianca here, knowing we’ll be living together for the foreseeable future. Yet the feeling never comes.

In fact, I’m eager and thrilled at the prospect. The urge to do it soon, growing stronger with each passing second. On one hand, I’m desperate to avoid any morsel of intimacy while on the other, I’m craving it all the same.

What would it be like to wake up next to her every morning? To come home to her every night? Is she yearning for these rituals too? Or will she resist?

I shake my head. Of course it’ll be the latter.

My kitten has claws, which she enjoys bringing out around me. Even in between the moments of shyness and softness like right now.

Her back straightens as she tucks her hair behind her ear. I sense a question swirling in that pretty little head of hers before she even whispers it in a breathy and curious voice.

“Why the sudden change of heart to marry me, Dash?”

Chapter Twenty-one

BIANCA

Don’t look down. Don’t look down. Don’t look down.

I chant repeatedly to resist the urge to lower my gaze to his muscular chest and wide shoulders. Which is hard, since he’s standing at a perfect angle and even sitting on a high stool, I barely reach his neck.

Who even has a body built like a damn brick wall?

It should be illegal. Maybe I should file a petition and do all of us women a service. Especially when it makes it difficult to have a serious conversation. Honestly, I’m not sure how to go on, now that he has said yes to my proposition.

Until yesterday, I was simply focused on convincing him, which seemed like an impossibility since he was so adamant in kicking me out of his life. Worse, I kinda liked the chase.

Tormenting and teasing him...

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