Page 269 of Trouble from Abroad
“No,” I tell him honestly.
“No?” He raises an eyebrow, and I chuckle. “Which part threw you off? The many orgasms? The big dick? Please, enlighten me.”
Now I burst out laughing and splash him.
“It was better than I could’ve wished for and,ugh, I kind of hate that.” I turn to him and brace my arms around his neck, baring even more of myself. “I was going for simple, Preston. Transactional, emotionally hygienic.”
His head drops, forehead leaning on mine. “Yeah, big fail.” If he thinks that cheeky, ridiculously sexy smile is subtle, he’s dead wrong.
“Catastrophic failure. Honestly, I should demand a refund.”
“You didn’t pay me, Mia.”
“Exactly. What kind of escort even are you?”
“The kind who fucks you senseless, will tick that whole list in record time, and then demand you write a new one,mileslong.”
How the hell can I feel feverish when naked and inside a pool? Oh, right. When sharing said pool with a dirty-talking man who won’t take his eyes off me.
“See, that’s why an escort would’ve been easier. Tick and run.This”—I gesture between us with my chin, never letting go of him—“wasn’t the plan.”
His smile fades, and although he’s not angry per se, he looks a bit pissed. “Again, Miss Thorne, tell me. Which part did I get wrong?” He turns us around and pushes me against the wall, trapping me between his arms. My thumbs trace his jaw while my hands stay put on his neck.
“The part where I actuallylikeyou, you fool.”
That wipes the pissed look right off his face, stopping him cold.
“Is that so bad?” he asks, and a shadow of sadness in his eyes makes my heart shrink.
I can’t give him an honest answer, so I joke instead. “Horrible. Sickening. I’m getting hives already. See?” I hold out my forearm for him.
“I’ll add a warning label next time.Caution: may develop feelings.”
He throws my arm right back where it was, pulling me in for a kiss before I can come up with a halfway decent comeback. Which is very convenient. ’Cause I have nothing. Just heart palpitations and wet hair.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
mia
Someone is ringing the bell.Paying closer attention, there’s knocking too.
“That’ll be lunch. Time to feed you,” he says, then wraps a towel around his waist. It’s too much to ask of the poor thing to hide his erection.
“You’re not answering the door lik?—”
He turns to me, full teeth on display. Abs too. “I’m sorry, you were saying?”
“Absolutely nothing.” I splash some water around and avoid his eyes. I willnotgive him the satisfaction. Even though it looks like he already took it.
“Baby?”
“Hmm?” I answer, but face Central Park.
The smile in his voice is giving me serial killer instincts, since I don’t think killing him once would be enough to soothe my annoyance.
“I’m really enjoying getting to know you.”
I turn around, mad and confused, and find him halfway to the door, with the added layer of asoggy robe.
