Page 70 of Break Me

“Which makes you what, a lieutenant or maybe… A thug.” Every laugh brought another wave of desire, this time strong enough I reached out intending to yank her against me, only finding control at the last second.

“Something like that.”

“Well, as I said, I can take care of myself. Now, go find another trophy.”

She tried to close the door in my face and maybe I should have been a nice guy for a change and honored her wishes.

But I didn’t.

I purposely put my foot beside hers in the doorway, pressing my hand against the door and inching closer. Her breath hitched, the nervous tic on her mouth shifting to a heavy increase of her pulse as evidenced by the wild thumping in her neck. Her scent had already driven me wild, although I also detected a slight hint of smoke.

She’d been involved in another fire.

The rather chauvinistic man my father had taught me to be rushed to the surface. I not only wanted to possess every inch of her, I wanted to protect her. To make her life better.

And nothing she could say or do would deter me from doing so.

“I’m not leaving, Halle. Not right away. I don’t want to destroy your life. Just the contrary, but there are some things you need to know.”

We were now so close I could lower my head and kiss her soft lips, taking her into my arms and forgetting about everything but the intense cravings furrowing deep inside. When I dared slip my finger under Halle’s chin, lifting ever so slowly, I could tell by yet another flash in her eyes that there was a part of her, however small, that longed for the same thing. The moment was captured with labored breathing and a quick dart of her tongue across her bottom lip.

My fucking God, I wanted this woman.

“Mommy. I’m hungry.”

Emily’s little voice immediately broke the spell.

While Halle’s expression hardened, the fact she reached out gripping my shirt was a good sign. And one I planned on taking full advantage of.

“Fine. You can stay, but you will be required to work.”

Her words were so unexpected I laughed. “What does that mean, Captain?”

“That means you interrupted girls’ pizza and movie night.”

“Would you like me to order a pizza?”

At least her laugh was different than before, no longer laced with utter sarcasm. She finally took a step away, allowing me to walk into her home. “You rich people are all alike. You can’t see the beauty in creating things for yourself. Homemade pizza, Mr. Dmitriyev. The best pizza pie you’ll ever consume.” She grabbed the bottles of wine from my hand and I could tell by her quick look she was surprised at my selection. Or maybe pissed since it was evident she knew they were pricy.

Had I been trying to impress her?

Absolutely.

Even as she turned around, laughing at my suggestion, I wasn’t insulted in the least. As I closed and locked the door behind me, I realized that my feelings for her far surpassed just physical attraction into something much deeper.

Much stronger.

I enjoyed her company. I simply wanted to spend time around her. However possible. Including with her daughter. How strange. How… different.

“Ah, is he having dinner with us, Mommy?” Emily peered up at me with such imploring eyes, eyes that were entirely her mother.

“Is that okay with you?” I asked.

She scrunched up her little nose. “Do you like Dumbo?”

Halle placed her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing.

It took me a couple of minutes to even figure out who the little girl was talking about. “I don’t think I’d like to meet him in person. Scary.”