“I had been living my nightmares, Gabriella. Finding you has freed me from them. No one is going to take you from me.” His words are so earnest and unexpected, I can’t stop my hand from reaching out and touching his. He turns his hand and lets his thumb caress the inside of my palm. “And your friends will be safe. I’ll see to it personally.”
I really don’t know how to respond to Dorian’s admission. He seems so confident and protective, I don’t have the heart to tell him that he doesn’t stand a chance against my supernatural assailant. I need to just let him believe that he can help and try to keep him as far away from my secret life as possible.
“Thank you for the massage. It was the best one I’ve ever had. My neck isn’t sore at all,” I say slyly, hoping to steer the conversation into less somber territory.
“What a pity. I like to make you sore,” Dorian remarks. His blue eyes smolder under his dark lashes, and I feel the familiar throbbing down below. The way my body reacts to him always surprises me.
“I like it too,” I murmur. Wow, I’m getting pretty bold. And what’s even more shocking, I really do like it when Dorian gets aggressive with me sexually. I’ve never been into that kind of thing with anyone else, but with Dorian it just seems so damn erotic.
“Careful, little girl. I might take you right here on this table if you keep this up. And I won’t care who watches.”
“Don’t threaten me with a good time,” I giggle. Giggle? Geez, get a grip, Gabs. “As much as I’d love to stay here and talk dirty with you, I do have a job I have to get back to.”
“Will I see you later?” Knowing that Dorian wants to be with me as much as I want to be with him brings an involuntary smile to my face.
“I wish I could. But I probably should go home tonight. Actually, for now, let’s just shoot for Thursday night. I don’t want my parents to start asking questions.” Plus I have to try to keep my distance for your own safety and my heart’s sake. Not to mention Morgan is not too pleased with me always being unavailable.
Dorian nods with understanding. “Good idea. It’s nearly impossible to focus on handling the task I was sent here for when all I can think about is bedding you.”
Good, at least I’m not the only one getting distracted. “So how’s that coming anyway? Any closer to achieving what you’d hoped for?”
“Oh, Gabriella, closer than you could imagine,” he replies icily.
His moods are an anomaly; one minute he’s joking and the next he’s so cold it’s alarming. I sip the last of my coffee, unable to come up with something to say in response. Maybe that’s a sore subject for him and something I should steer clear from in the future.
“Well, I better get back to work. So Thursday, right?” I say gathering my purse and empty cup.
“Sure I can’t persuade you to come see me sooner?” Dorian asks. His tongue skims his bottom lip suggestively and I have to fight the urge to suck that very same lip. He’s so damn sexy; no one has ever aroused me with just a look. Sex appeal like that should be bottled and sold.
“You’re dangerous, you know that?” I snicker, shaking my head. “You’re making me rethink all my decisions and do things I swore I’d never do.”
“Dangerous? Me?” Dorian feigns offense. “Well, that makes two of us. Just think about it. If you feel like you want to see me, don’t fight it. Don’t fight what your body needs.”
Dorian’s words hit me like a ton of bricks. I know he’s right; I shouldn’t fight what I feel. But then again, is this only physical for him? Does he want to keep this strictly about sex? I know I told myself that this was how it should be. It’s the only logical way we could have any type of relationship. And this is the time to be logical. I have to be smart about this and stick to the game plan. Throwing feelings into the mix will only blur the line between sexual and emotional.
“I’ll think about it, Dorian. Thanks for the coffee.”
Dorian stands as I do, like the perfect gentleman that he is. I think to step forward and stand on my tiptoes to plant a kiss on his lips, but that would be leading with my heart. Before I can overthink it anymore, Dorian gently cradles my face and brings it up to his. He pauses just as our mouths are centimeters apart and lets his blue eyes melt into mine. They are burning white hot, becoming the lightest, iciest blue I’ve ever seen. A surge of invisible electricity radiates from them and sends tiny shockwaves throughout my body. They kiss every nerve ending, leaving a prickly trail of pleasure that leads to my own pulsing current down below.