Page 70 of Dancing with the Devil

I tried to hide my smile. “It’s decent.” He looked up at me and I nodded. “Decent,” I enunciated the word and the corner of his lips curled upwards.

“Does it hurt?” he asked after bandaging up my forearm. I pulled my arm away from him, slowly examining it.

“Just a little,” I indicated with my thumb and pointer finger. He took my arm, placed a soft kiss on it and looked up at me.

“Want to know what’s weird?” I asked, not tearing my eyes off of him in surprise and he nodded. “All of a sudden my lips seem to hurt. Here,” I explained. “Yeah, right here,” I gently tapped my finger in the center and he rubbed his tongue on the inside of his cheek. “I think you need to do that whole thing here too,” I said, referring to him kissing my arm.

He humorously shook his head at me, and pulled the chair forward. He lifted my leg, resting it on top of his thigh. He started cleaning a little cut on the side of my thigh that I hadn’t noticed.

“Observative,” I mischievously smiled. “I like it,” I nodded and he kissed my thigh as well.

He looked up at me and I immediately averted my eyes away from him but it landed on the bloody cotton. My eyes grew wide and my head snapped up as I took a few deep breaths.

“What’s wrong?” he asked and I shook my head.

“Blood makes me queasy,” I admitted, tilting my head back to look at the ceiling.

“Blood makes you queasy?” he almost laughed and my head snapped down to him.

“Yes. Why do you sound so surprised?”

“Because, I never thought that something as simple asbloodwould freak you out,” he said, rubbing his thumb along the band aid on my thigh.

“Well, we all have fears. Mine just happens to be blood,” I crossed my arms over my chest. “Deal with it,” I shrugged my right shoulder and he grinned.

“If you’re going to continue being bossy in my chair, you’re going to turn me on,” he confidently said and my heart nearly skipped a beat.

“And if you’re going to continue rubbing my thigh, you’re going to give me third-degree burns,” I said, pulling my leg away from him and we both shared matching smiles. I rested my forearms on the armrests and lifted both legs, placing my feet on his desk to cross them at the ankles. “Still not sorry about being mean to your littlefriend,” I clarified. “She deserved it.”

He crossed his hands on his lap and I swallowed hard, trying to calm my racing heart—the guilt of last night creeping in. “What else? Tell me,” he said—reading me like a book—and I shifted in his chair as my eyes traveled around the room. “Nirah.” When he said my name, his voice was laced with an unfamiliar warning.

“You won’t get mad, right?” I reluctantly asked.

“Depends.”

“Antonio,” I pinned him with a look. “Please.”

“I’m listening,tesoro.”

“Jordan tried to kiss me last night,” I hesitantly said and I didn’t miss how something dark flashed behind his eyes, allowing an unsettling feeling to crawl up my spine. “But,I told him that it couldn’t happen again, because I had a very scary fiancé back home who would give me something I’veearnedif I disrespected him like that,” I clearly explained.

A beat passed between us as his demeanor changed.

I dropped my legs and moved the chair just enough so that I could place my hands on his thighs. “I don’t feel anything for Jordan.”

He dropped his head and ran his tongue across his top teeth. “Then why did you leave with him?” he asked and I shrugged my shoulders.

“Because I was mad at you. I mean, you doubted me when I haven’t given you a reason to.Ever. Plus, you’re swarming with women, but God forbid Ispeakto a man who isn’t you.”

“I gaveyoumy ring for a reason. If I wanted any other woman, you would not be sitting in this chair right now,” he shook his head. “I chose you. And I apologize for doubting you. I know you’d never hurt Rosalia.”

I smiled. “I guess I could accept your apology,” I playfully shrugged my shoulders, glancing around the room as I comfortably leaned back in his chair.

He seemed conflicted between a smile and confusion as to where I was going with this.

“My hand looks a little empty with onlyonediamond ring, don’t you think?” I asked, extending my hand as I playfully examined it. “My wrist too,” I added.

“You want me to buy your forgiveness?” he asked—partially amused—and I glanced up at him.