The Risque Contracts Series(43)

“Matching?” I managed to croak.

“Yes, as in, neither of us have anything on under our clothes.” Her sweet laughter tinkled in the air and she winked at me. Son of a bitch. She was naked under that dress. How was I supposed to focus on anything else now?

Fuck the restaurant, I have my dinner right here. The thought prompted me to stride over and bend to pick her up, but she danced out of my reach and laughed when I growled in frustration.

“You bought me this beautiful dress, waited for me to get dolled up, the least you can do it take me to dinner before you mess it all up.”

I huffed in annoyance. “Fine, let’s go before I rip that dress in two and feast on you.”

Again, she laughed, and the sound brought a smile to my face. I loved everything about this woman, but her laughter was at the top of the list, right next to hearing her scream my name.

I picked up a cashmere coat and held it out for her to slip her arms in. She shook her head ruefully. “You have to stop spoiling me, Brysen. I feel like a gold digger.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re going to be my wife, baby. What’s mine is yours. And, even if you weren’t...” the thought made me frown, “these things are gifts. Now, move your sweet little ass.”

Giggling, she turned around to let me help her with her coat and I got my first glimpse of the back of the dress. “Oh, fuck no. Get back into that room and change,” I boomed.

The scrap of fabric that had no business being called a dress was completely backless. Attached at the side of the front piece was a strap, keeping it in place. But there was nothing else, and it rode so low, I would have been able to see the string of a thong, had she been wearing one. That’s when I remembered she was bare underneath. Yeah, that wasn’t fucking happening. “Now,” I stressed firmly.

Elisa whirled around and snatched the coat from my hands. She glared daggers at me as she slipped it over her shoulders and buttoned it up. “Thank you, Brysen, for telling me how beautiful I look tonight. How sexy this dress looks on me, and that you can’t wait to show me off. That’s what you meant to say, right?” I didn’t respond, my anger fuming, but slowly deflating at the hint of hurt in her voice.

“I’m sorry, baby,” I said, stepping closer. “You look absolutely amazing. But no one should see you practically naked, except me. I don’t share.”

“Brysen, you bought the dress for me, don’t tell me you didn’t notice the back.”

I cleared my throat, slightly embarrassed. “Yeah...I had my assistant pick it out.”

Elisa rolled her eyes. “Serves you right for not picking it out on your own, babe. You have only yourself to blame.”

My eyes narrowed, my ire sparking again, but it quickly burnt out. She was right.

“Will you at least put on some underwear?” I grumbled.

“Oh, fine, you big baby,” she said as she walked into the bedroom. A minute later, I was helping her into her coat again, doubly thankful I’d planned a dinner where I’d have her all to myself without needing to worry about every guy in the room watching her with hungry eyes.





Chapter 10


Elisa


“I’m speechless.” Understandably so. There were no words to describe how incredible our night had been so far and it had barely started. When Brysen took me to the gondola, I assumed we were going to have dinner at the restaurant on top of the mountain. When we got on board and there was a bottle of champagne chilling and no other passengers, I figured he’d made arrangements for our ride up to be private. Then a waiter served us crab stuffed mushrooms when we reached the first stop and I realized this was our dinner date—the two of us hanging over the mountain, completely alone, as we ate a gourmet meal with all my favorite dishes.

“It’s only fair since the sight of you often leaves me without words,” he murmured, trailing a finger up my arm. “I guess they’re right when they say love makes you speechless.”

It seemed like time stood still as what he’d said registered in my brain. My heart leapt in my chest while butterflies swirled in my stomach. Brysen Mariano, the renowned playboy quarterback, had just used the four letter word every woman wanted to hear. And he’d said it to me. Okay, he hadn’t quite said it directly to me, but the sentiment was there just the same. I was even more shocked by how I wanted to respond. We hadn’t even known each other a month, but I already had his ring on my finger and love in my heart. It hadn’t hit me before this moment, but I loved Brysen. I should have realized it when I told him yes this morning, but I’d fooled myself into thinking my feelings would grow into love as we got to know each other better.