Page 47 of An Inevitable Marriage

She was wearing the same pantsuit thing she’d had on the first day we’d met, this one was just in a different color. Dark yellow. And just like that day, I wished the cut had been tighter. I wanted to see her gorgeous curves.

The outline of her hips. The way her waist cinched. Her magnificent breasts. To be fair, I’d gotten a glimpse of them at the courthouse, but it wasn’t nearly enough to satisfy. It was more like giving a kid a lollipop and then taking it away after they’d had one lick.

“Morning.” I meant to ask if she’d slept okay, but those weren’t the words that followed my greeting. “Fun night?”

Her body gave a small jolt, but she quickly covered it up and turned to face me. I had the upper hand. I knew she was there before she was even remotely aware of my presence, yet I was the one caught off guard when those eyes landed on me.

So big, so green. So utterly breathtaking.

Until she rolled them.

“Seriously? Do you have something against shirts?”

My gaze dropped to my sweat-covered bare chest. I shrugged. “The material bugs me when I work out.” One corner of my mouth curved up. “The better question is why it bothers you so much?”

She rolled her bottom lip over her teeth and shook her head. With the action, the light above her caught the stud in her nose, making it sparkle. Funny how I always seemed to notice these little things about her.

“I’m not bothered,” she huffed. “I just find it terribly rude.”

My lips stretched into a wide grin. “Let’s pretend I believe you.”

Stepping farther into the kitchen, I went to the fridge, all the while wondering why it was so easy to be like this with her. I’d never bantered with anyone, yet this was how most of our conversations went.

Since any attempt to figure it out was futile, I grabbed a bottled water and walked to where I kept my supplements. Which was exactly where Snow was standing.

A decent man would have asked her to get out of the way. I didn’t do that. Instead, I invaded her space to open the cupboard above her head. That tiny move put us so close, strawberries and flowers assaulted my senses.

Fuck, and all I wanted to do was lower my head and find out what she tasted like…everywhere.

“Do you mind?” Her tone might have been filled with annoyance, but I didn’t miss the hint of breathlessness.

I desperately wanted to hear more of it.

“Not at all.” I feigned indifference as I emptied the electrolyte sachet into my water. Gaze never leaving hers, I gave it a few shakes, brought the bottle to my lips, and swallowed greedily.

Those gorgeous eyes stayed locked with mine for three, maybe four swallows before she followed the water trail sliding down my throat.

Her breath hitched.

It was subtle, but because I was somehow so tuned in to every damn thing she did, I didn’t miss it.

This new part of me that this woman had awoken wanted to step even closer. Wanted her to feel how she affected me. Or better yet, demand she take care of it.

Fuck, the image of her hand sliding up and down my length while those green eyes pierced my soul was so vivid, my erection gave a sharp twitch.

I’d lost my damn mind.

Maybe that was why I discarded the water bottle and planted my hands on the countertop, effectively caging her in.

“Does this mean you’ll start walking around in your underwear now?” Exactly when had my voice become so low and gravelly?

Snow noticed it, too. Gaze snapping back to mine, her gorgeous lips parted a few times before she finally stuttered, “Wh-what?”

My tongue darted out to lick the corner of my mouth. “I distinctly remember you telling me unless I wanted you to strut around in your underwear, I need to keep my shirt on.” I stepped back and gestured toward my bare chest. “No shirt.”

“I only said it because I knew no one would want to see it.” She’d mumbled the words under her breath, but I heard them loud and clear.

Why the hell would she think that?