Page 13 of His Son's Brid
The word hangs between us, a challenge. His eyes drop to my mouth, and I watch his jaw tighten like he's physically restraining himself from doing something.
Do it. Whatever you're thinking, just do it.
"But…" I take a sip of champagne, meet his eyes over the rim of the glass. "But I believe in second chances."
Something moves in his eyes. Not quite a smile, but close. "Do you."
“I most definitely do.”
He stares at me like I’m a puzzle he is intent on solving and I almost think he will say something.
"I'm Axel," he says instead.
"Aurora."
"Aurora." He repeats my name like he's tasting it, rolling it around on his tongue. "It suits you."
"Does it?"
"Beautiful. Untouchable. A little dangerous." His lips curve into something that's not quite a smile. "Though I suspect the danger is more than a little."
Heat floods my face, my neck, lower. He's reading me like I'm an open book, and I should hate it. Should tell him to back off, stop looking at me like I'm something he wants to devour.
Instead, I walk towards a quieter part of the gallery and pretend to admire the works there.
"You don't know anything about me," I say, noticing he’d followed me.
"No." His eyes lock on mine. "But I'd like to."
"Why?"
"Because you looked at me last night like you wanted to climb me, and I haven't stopped thinking about it since."
The blunt honesty steals my breath. Most men would dance around it, play games, pretend the attraction isn't screaming between us. But not him. He just puts it out there, raw and real, and waits to see what I'll do with it.
One week. You have one week left before you go home and become someone's wife.
"The feeling was mutual," I hear myself say.
His eyes darken. "Was?"
"Is."
He chuckles darkly, the sound finding its way through my spine down to my core, and I almost shiver. This man is dangerous.
Too dangerous.
His eyes narrow. "Why are you still here?"
"At the gallery? My father's associate is hosting. Obligation."
"That's not what I'm asking."
"Then ask what you mean."
He's quiet for a moment, studying me like I'm a puzzle he's trying to solve. "This is either very brave or very stupid, us talking."
"Maybe both." I reach out, run my finger down his tie. His whole body goes rigid. "Or maybe you and I just know what we want."
