Undeniably His(26)
“No undue influence, Kalin.” I wrench my hand away from his grasp. “I want a few days to think, without physical contact, and without your master seduction techniques.”
Kalin’s deep and pleasant laugh rings through me. “Master seduction techniques?”
“Yes,” I insist. “Don’t think I don’t know. I would be naive to think you don’t use your advertising and marketing techniques to manipulate others to get what you want,” I snap.
Kalin bites his lip and looks away, holding back a grin. “It works for product placement, business deals, and even one-night stands, Annabelle. I don’t think it’s a good plan for marriage,” he sniffs. He reaches for my hand again and I take it away.
“No undue influence, Kalin. I’m serious.”
He leads me out of the yacht to the green fields swaying in the summer breeze. A girl could get used to this. I inhale the fresh air that fills my lungs and lifts my spirits. I’m already feeling better. Dammit, Kalin. No undue influence.
Kalin walks next to me in the luxury of the green field, and places his arm gently around me. I spin away from his embrace. He winces momentarily.
“Can I ask you something?” I say.
“Sure, Annabelle. Anything,” he says, with those big brown eyes sweeping over my face.
“Have you asked others? I mean, have you had other girls?”
“There have been other girls, but I haven’t dropped this on them,” he smiles. You’re the first. And the last.”
I glance at him and frown. “The last.”
“That’s right. I doubt I’ll meet someone like you. And by this summer.”
“So there is a deadline,” I exclaim.
“There is a time frame for this to work the way I want. But by far you’re the most important ingredient, Annabelle. I would not be doing this had I not met you. I was looking. But I didn’t think…”
“You were searching for your future spouse during a job interview?”
“I was on the lookout.” He smiles. “The job interviews were rather standard fare. Until I saw you.”
Kalin enters the house from the back, tidies up a bit, switches on some security device, and walks me out the front door.
“Why do you keep the contract on the boat?”
“Because anyone up to no good will think it’s in the house. Please don’t mention what we discussed, by the way. At least not the details of the contract.”
I bite my lip and frown at him.
“You understand?”
“Yes. Can I discuss this with my friend, Lia?”
“Yes, just not…everything. No one can know about the contract. Keep the rest between yourselves.”
“Okay,” I agree eagerly.
He folds his lips and smiles, which dimples his face. “I like spending time with you Annabelle. I’m sorry about all the complications. I prefer it just be us. But this is my life.”
“I know.”
“Good.”
We make our way back to the city. Kalin accelerates the bike, and thoughts of wealth, power, greed, corporate coups, raw passion, and earth-moving sex flash through my mind as I watch the white strips of paint dividing the lanes whiz by. My mind is jumbled, mixed, and ambivalent, caught between the routine world I know and the new adventurous, titillating world of Kalin Davis. My mind and my body clash between the two worlds. My mind craves the old and familiar, and my body craves the excitement and adventure of this new world.
Kalin coasts into the apartment drive. He unfastens my helmet, lifts me up and sets me on the ground. Lia steps outside like a worried mother. Her face is so consoling and familiar. “Thank God you’re back alive,” she smiles.
Kalin smiles at her and returns his gaze to me. “I want to see you again, Annabelle.”
“I need some time, Kalin. I need to be away from you, at least for a while.”
“Take good care of her, Miss Marzella.”
“Thanks for bringing her back in one piece on that thing,” she quips.
That adorable half grin curves the side of his mouth.
“Bye, Kalin,” I say with a sheepish grin. He reaches for my hand and pulls me to him, planting a soft and sweet kiss on my lips. I pull away from him, fighting my body again.
Kalin flattens his lips together and nods slightly. “Soon.” He swings his long leg over the seat, revs up the motorbike, flips the stand up with his foot, and skids out of the drive and onto the road. I cross my arms and watch him disappear into the traffic ahead. My heart beats dully in my chest, and I stare ahead with a slack expression. I briefly rub my eyes before turning to Lia. I run up to her and hug her, and she smiles at me.
“What’s gotten into you?” she asks.