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That's not what made me angry. It was the fact that Serenity, even once she’d seen it was a man in her dressing room, a total stranger, approached me wearing so little clothing.
The photo of her as a teenager doesn't do justice to her beauty. She's the type that would make heads turn as she passes by on the street.
A petty side of me is pleased that she doesn't leave the house much, and I push the selfish thought to the back of my mind. "Did you think that what I sent was an invitation?" I ask, even though I know I should leave.
She shudders almost imperceptibly and, instead of answering me, goes to a rack where a bag is hanging. Without saying a word, she takes out her phone.
I should give her space to get dressed,force herto get dressed, but Serenity doesn't seem concerned about her semi-nudity and I can only imagine it's because she either likes to tease or she's too innocent to understand the danger of being that close to a man.
My gaze slides over the rounded curve of her firm ass. Large, compared to her build. Her hair is so long it almost covers it. A full and perfect ass for...
Fuck me. I'm completely insane. It's the only explanation.
"Get dressed. I'll wait for you outside."
To my surprise, she turns to me with a wry smile—or at least what should be one but looks more like the face of an upset angel. "Yeah, it wasn't really an invitation. It was an order," she says, shaking the phone she is holding. "Still, I'll have to decline, Mr. Kostanidis."
"Dress for dinner with me, Serenity. Don't try to challenge me. I have seven years to make your life hell if I want to."
Her beautiful eyes, already naturally large in proportion to her face, widen even more. "You didn't even bother to give me your phone number through my old guardian, and then you show up and say you can make my life hell? Why? You've already made it clear that you don't want contact. Please know that it's reciprocal."
She's right, I was wrong, but I'm still determined to take her to dinner because I'm a controlling jerk who doesn't like being contradicted.
"I don't intend to give you trouble," she continues. "I just want to dance. You won't even hear from me for the next few years."
"I believe you, but I wanted to meet you. You're right to say I should have come sooner," I grant her. "My mistake, Miss Blanchet. I'm trying to fix it."
I smile at her like I do when I want a woman to give in to me. I know it's not fair, as she's very inexperienced, but I never said I played fair.
I can see the gears in her brain turning and also the exact moment she will say yes.
I reach for a switch near the door, because only indirect light brightens the room.
There are two reasons why I do this: I want to see her better and I want to break the atmosphere of intimacy in the small space.
"Are you going to be a good, obedient girl, Serenity?" Now, I can admire her beauty and also the way her cheeks blush intensely.
She nods. "Yes, Mr. Kostani?—"
"Just call me Ares. You have five minutes to get ready. I've already given in too much. Don't get used to it."
I walk out and close the door behind me without giving her time to argue.
It would be a waste of time for both of us. I always win.
Serenity
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
I'll be late,I'm sure.
After he leaves, I lock the door, even though I know Ares won’t come in again. On the contrary, he seemed angry that I continued to look at him even though I was wearing so little clothing; I'm still trying to understand what possessed me not to run and put on my robe.
Maybe he's a bit of a wizard. Yes, that’s it. The evil Greek sorcerer mesmerized me.
You are crazy, Serenity Blanchet, I scold myself.
Why in heaven was I so aggressive, telling him I wasn't going to dinner with him? I need Ares to be my ally, not my enemy. For seven years, since I don't plan on getting married until after I'm twenty-five, he will be responsible for my money. It's stupid to confront him like I did.