Chapter 8
Carina
He’s staring right at me.
Rhett.
The man sets my body on fire with just one look.
With his eyes still on me, he strides in my direction.
My heart is thundering.
A sudden bout of nervousness washes over me. I turn to leave—okay, to run and hide—but he reaches out and clasps his warm, calloused hand around my wrist.
I turn around to face him.
I’m going to melt.
I look down at his hands.
God...
They’re so big.
And masculine.
And veiny.
And strong looking.
My breathing grows ragged as I think of all the things those hands could do to me.
Big Hands.
Big Feet.
Big—
Stop it.
Get your mind out of the gutter.
I draw my attention back to his face and straight into his enchanting eyes. I lose myself in them. Searing heat blooms in the center of my chest and bursts into a needy ache between my thighs.
Sweet Jesus.
I need to get a bucket of ice water to douse the butterflies doing the salsa in the pit of my stomach.
“You aren’t going to slip away from me again?” Every word drips with the local accent.
I shake my head.
“Good.” He flashes a seductive pantie-melting smile.
I smile in return, but I feel like it’s a bit shaky, a little bit wobbly––like I’m about to lose my balance and dive into his ocean.
You’re sinfully gorgeous and dangerous, mister.
“I’d hate to have to spend another two weeks tracking you down,” he says, closing his hand a little tighter against my wrist.
God, that deep sexy voice.
My heart pounds faster as his warmth seeps through my entire body.
“You—you what?” I’m sure I misheard him.
“After our brief encounter, I was desperate to figure out who you were.”
“You were?”
“I was obsessed. I went back to that spot where I first saw your beautiful face every day at the same time. A few times, I went back twice in the same day. I thought if I changed things up, I might get lucky. I never saw you again. It’s like you disappeared without a trace.”
“I had to... I mean, Riley... My boss—”
“It doesn’t matter. I caught you now. And you’re mine.” He growls.
His heated gaze bores into mine, marking me, branding me, leaving an imprint on my soul. It’s like he’s taking my clothes off, tearing the dress from my body, so he can have his way with me.
Yes, please.
My heart is pounding so hard, I swear it’s going to burst through my chest. All the blood rushes through my body like a torpedo navigating straight to my lady parts.
Good God.