Page 73 of Between Desire and Denial

“That’s what I said.” I looked in the mirror at him and his green eyes were ablaze with hunger now.

“I’m dying to touch you every single night. You get that, right? You realize that every day I spend nearlyallday talking myself out of it.”

“Dimitri—” I started.

“Please tell me you’re going to put on another shirt.”

I grabbed for my small purse and frowned. “What for?”

“Are you serious?”

His jaw worked up and down, up and down before he dragged one of his big hands over his face. “I’m positive that if you don’t cover up a bit, I won’t be making a good impression on anyone tonight.”

“You’re a big boy.” I patted his chest. “You can control yourself.”

“I’m aware. I’m just not sure other men will and I’ll end up mauling all of them.”

“I can take care of myself.”

“And yet, when you have a boyfriend like me, I’m inclined to take care of you instead.”

I rolled my eyes. “There will be tons of other women there to look at tonight. Melly normally invites all her friends. You’ll see. Your eyes—and every other man’s—will be glued to them.”

“You’re the only woman who holds my attention, Olive Monroe. I don’t think it’s ever going to stray from you again.”

I chuckled at that. He was about to be reminded that there were much prettier women in the world than me. “I think you’ve been cooped up too long.”

He sighed. “I’m starting to think you don’t have a high enough opinion of yourself.”

“I have a realistic one,” I told him as I slipped on my wedge heels and pointed to the door.

“Realistic? Have you looked in the mirror lately, Honeybee?”

“I just was.”

“So, then you must not be looking.” He stopped me and turned me back toward the mirror. “Really look at yourself, because some god took extra time on you.”

“Dimitri, I’m standing at about five four to your what? Six foot four or something insane.”

“Little over six six.” He smirked.

“And do you work out every day for like five hours?”

“I work out enough.”

“Right. I go for a light jog or walk only to spy on the neighbors and my family.”

“I’m starting to think you’re as nosy as Lucille.”

How dare he. “I’m doing it for you.”

“Keep telling yourself that.”

“Anyway, I appreciate you trying to make me feel confident, I do. But it’s not like I’m fighting off the masses.”

“You seemed to have a lot of matches the other day.”

“To hook up,” I told him. Didn’t he get the point of the app?