No Strings Attached

Chapter Three

"This is what you do, right? Is this what you do? We've known each other a freaking day. Do you honestly think this is going to work on me?"

"I don't like facades. You believed today that I didn't find you attractive. Now you know otherwise. And you're sitting here, acting all self-righteous when I know you've thought about what it would be like to fuck me. The time we've known one another, the platonic words we've exchanged don't matter when it comes to this. I can see it on your face now. You cannot hide from me, Scarlett."

My eyes are wide with horror. "I just met you. You know absolutely nothing about me."

"I can see you've been hurt, just as I have. I can see you don't realize your worth. You have absolutely no idea how good-looking you are and no idea how to show it. Not everything needs to be so life and death."

"It does when you are my client."

"So, if I wasn't?"

I glare at him beneath hooded eyes. "Giovanni."

He slowly grins, and I realize I've said his name. Fuck.

"Tell me," he murmurs, softer this time, walking closer to me. "If I wasn't your client, if I was just some man you came upon on a normal day, what would be your intentions?"

I can't breathe. He is coming at me full force in the middle of my damn hotel room. This man that literally looks to be a modern-day Romeo, an Italian Don Juan... he is stalking me like prey, and I'm stuck in place, refusing to move an inch despite my brain desperately telling me to run.

"That is not our case."

He slows as his head tilts down to look at me, now close enough to touch. "Indulge me, Scarlett."

His eyes locked on my own, I witness them begin to move over the features of my face, my wet sopping hair. I follow his gaze, completely silent. I don't think I could speak if I tried. Suddenly, he's nearly pressed against me, his eyes appraising my soaked-through blouse, and I realize that my hardened nipples are visible beneath the thin material.

Normally, I'd go beet red, immediately finding a way to cover up.

But feeling his gaze on my body, watching his eyes pry and inspect as if he's memorizing the lines and curves he can now suddenly get glimpses of beneath the sodden clothing, I can't help how my blood excites, wanting more... so much more.

It's then I realize that Giovanni has the power to make me need him without even trying. It's that exact reason that makes me back up as soon as his hand grazes my hip, determined to pull me closer, determined to seal the deal.

"I... I do really think we should talk about something else."

His eyes flicker to mine, boldly confident. He's utterly prepared to rock my world. "Are you sure?"

I nod, licking my dry lips, pressing down on them as I back up even further, intoxicated drunk by the smell of him. "I'm sure."

I'm surprised that he doesn't push me further. He knows I'm only a second away from breaking. Instead, he nods, reaching into his pocket. I watch as he removes two bills, twenties, and sets them down on the bed.

"What's that?"

"The money from our uneaten lunch. I asked for the meeting. I pay."

I roll my eyes, crossing my arms over my chest, breathing in. I still don't know what to say, what to do. The tension between us has been raised to excruciating levels.

"Well, I can order room service? It's supposed to be pretty good here," I offer awkwardly, pointing to the stiff menu on the oak nightstand. "We can finish our meeting... that is if you don't have somewhere to be."

"I can push it back," he replies, shrugging, and glancing around at the confining quarters. Damn, maybe I should have suggested another restaurant.

"All right, I can pay since I offered." I muster up a smile as I grab the menu, handing it over to him. I catch his eyes slant disapprovingly as he grasps the leather binding, but he doesn't argue on it.

"I'm... going to get into something less cold and wet. Just figure out what you'd like."

He nods, his eyes refusing to leave mine as I stalk to the clothing on the hangers. I put them there to try to alleviate the wrinkling. Now, I pull off a pair of light jeans and a plain white t-shirt, body tense as his gaze bores into my back, unwavering.

I hurry into the bathroom, shutting the door firmly behind me, exhaling when I'm alone. My head is throbbing, my thick blood racing.

I haven't been with anyone since Dixon. Haven't even thought of it.

And now this ridiculously tall, dark and handsome herculean wants me, and I can't do it. I would be betraying Norman, who's put so much on the line to get me into my position. If I slept with this man and he fucks me over, we'd have lost the largest client we've ever gotten, all because I couldn't keep my legs closed.

What scares me is that this feels like I have no control.

Right now, I have common sense, but when he's in front of me, I'm basically salivating, floating towards him for the taking.

I don't know what it is about him. Sure, he's got god-like beauty and charm, but it's something else.

His brazenness?

His sleek and elegant style?

His graceful, calculated movements?

I wish I could tangle my fingers into his unruly curls, finding them untamed by a long night of wild passion... I'd pull myself onto his strong lap, basking in the scorching burn of his gaze as he looks up at me, feeling his long, slender fingers digging into my bare skin so tightly that I wouldn't be able to breathe...

My eyes re-open in the harsh white light of the hotel bathroom.

Fuck, I'm in trouble.