Page 14 of Seductive Desires

He raised his hands in surrender. “I promise, I will keep my hands to myself.”

I stood there awkwardly for a minute before I decided it was time to high tail it out of there. There was too much pressure.

“Okay, well, I’ll see you later then. Bye.” I spun on my heel, almost running to the elevator.

“Mariana.”

He was leaning against the door frame, his arms crossed as he grinned at me. “I promise to keep my hands to myself. But if you don’t, all bets are off.”

I felt myself flush but I raised my chin, narrowing my eyes.

“Challenge accepted.”

* * *

I had just gottenhome when my phone rang. Carlos screeched in my ear when I answered.

“Oh my god, Mari! He sent more for the delivery! This is insane!”

I sighed. I really didn’t want to know what amount he sent. It still made me feel a little icky. Holding the phone to my ear with my shoulder, I pulled out my mother’s butterfly clip and ran my thumb over it, smiling.

“Don’t tell me. I don’t want to know.”

“Party pooper. How’d it go?”

I paused, waiting. He was fishing for gossip again and it was so much fun to make him wait. I could hear him pacing, the floors in the studio creaking. When I didn’t reply, he whined at me. “You’re so mean! Tell me!”

I laughed. “It’s not all that exciting. I dropped off the paperwork and the painting, he asked me out, I went home.” Three…two…one…

“He what?! What did you say? Please tell me you said yes! How’d he ask? Was that all? I need details, Mari!”

I snickered. I debated leaving him to freak out for a little while longer but I needed to talk to someone about the date anyway so I invited him over instead. He could freak out on his way here and get details while he helped me pick an outfit.

* * *

“I can’t believethere was a bed like fifty feet away and you left! I mean come on!”

Carlos had been on a rant since he arrived. He didn’t like my taking it slow approach with Mateo. I pointed out more than once that we were meeting for dinner this evening but that mattered very little to him. He laid on my bed on his back, talking to the ceiling mostly, while I got ready for my date. I kept fidgeting with my outfit.

“I think there isn’t much in the world that man could ask me to do that I would say no to. He’s hot.”

“I think your boyfriend might take exception to that. Does this look okay?”

I was wearing an off the shoulder black top with tight jeans. It wasn’t my usual style, I tended to hide my curves in flowy clothes as much as I could. I decided to try something new tonight to get out of my comfort zone a little. Besides, skirts were easy access and I was not losing a challenge to Mateo Ramirez.

“For a date with a guy you picked up at a bar maybe. Why don’t you wear the dress I picked out?”

I rolled my eyes. Carlos picked out the tightest dress I own. I’m pretty sure it doesn’t even fit anymore, I’d be spilling out in more ways than one. “I’m tryingnotto look like a whore, Carlos.”

He waved his hand in the air dismissively. When I went to grab the bag my mother made me, he screeched indignantly.

“Don’t you dare!”

“What?”

“You are going on a date with a rich playboy, you do not need to scream to the world that he’s out of your league. Put that down!”

I scowled. Carlos went back and forth between reminding me Mateo was out of my league to telling me I was great and he should be so lucky to get a date with me. Make up your mind already. I was already regretting agreeing to this.

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