Page 134 of Love Arranged

“Like?”

He laughs. “I’m not going to tell you.”

“What do you have to lose? If your thoughts are so bad…if they’re truly as awful as you say they are, shouldn’t it scare me away for good?”

The corded muscles in his neck strain, and his fingers dig into the fabric of the couch.

“I think you don’t want to tell me because what if I end up liking it?” I drag my hand up his lapel, noting how his breathing changes from my touch alone.

“What if I want to be obsessed over?” I lean forward and press my mouth to his ear. “What if I want to bepossessed?”

I swear to God, Lorenzotrembles. The seams of the couch split from how hard his fingers are digging into the material.

I kiss the shell of his ear. “Because if you refuse to give me that, then I’ll find someone who will.”

His hand snaps up and wraps around the back of my neck, his firm hold, sending a pulsing sensation through my lower half. “Stop.”

“Why? I’m talking out scenarios with you since you’re so invested in me getting my happily-ever-after and all.”

Within a blink of an eye, Lorenzo flips us until my back is pressed against the couch and he’s hovering over me. He keeps most of his weight off me, which is thoughtful, but I want more.

“You don’t talk about other men while wearing my ring.”

“Let me solve that problem, then.” I reach to remove it, but he grabs both my hands and pins them above my head.

“Take that ring off and I’ll superglue it to your finger.”

“Sounds a bit drastic for a three-month engagement, don’t you think?”

The strained sound that comes out of his mouth sends a wave of arousal through me that is so strong, I end up squirming underneath him. My eyes go round, and he hisses through gritted teeth when I accidentally rub up against his erection.

Because I can’t resist, I repeat the move, this time making Lorenzo groan. “Who knew the topic of me getting with another man would make you so hot and bothered?”

Something visibly snaps behind his eyes, and the beast I was taunting?

He finally decides to reveal himself, and I instantly go from being the predator to becoming the prey.

33

LORENZO

If I kiss Lily right now, in private without an audience, it will change everything.

I don’t want to ruin the connection we’ve built over the last six weeks, but I also know I can’t resist.

Not after she told me she wants to bepossessed.

One kiss won’t ruin an arrangement, right? We are two mature adults who have kissed plenty of times over the last six weeks, so what’s one more?

My mind goes blank as I lean forward and brush my lips across her collarbone. She inhales sharply, and I smile against her skin as I leave a path of kisses across her chest. My mouth traces the delicate curve of her neck before it lingers at the corner of her mouth.

“Don’t forget. You wanted this,” I mutter against herskin.

She nods, her eyes glazed over like she’s under my spell, only for them to slam shut when I seal my mouth over hers.

At first I’m reserved, teasing her with soft pecks that leave her squirming underneath me. Testing, teasing,yearning.

Only for the private moment to be shattered by Willow knocking on the door to let us know that Dahlia took Rosa home because she wasn’t feeling well. Lily shoves me away, jumps off the couch, and calls her sister to figure out what happened.