68. Aarya #3
His head tilts back as he laughs. “So you’re hoping I collect toenail clippings? That would make you feel better?”
I scrunch my nose in disgust. “I mean no, but I just want to find out what’s wrong with you.”
“Maybe there’s nothing wrong with me. Maybe I’m just a normal guy.”
I shake my head. “No way.”
His arms squeeze around me, drawing me closer. “I think you’re trying to find something wrong with me so you can stop yourself from liking me so much.”
I roll my eyes. “I don’t like you. I tolerate you.”
His chest rumbles against mine with his laughter. “Sure, you do.”
I hate the way it feels like he can see right through me. I do like him. As a person. As someone I’d consider a friend. As someone I can trust.
And that scares the shit out of me.
I step back from him, and tug his elbow. “Come on, Big Man. Let’s go before your head fills up this entire room.”
After I showed Alexander every inch of my favorite parts of the museum, we head back to the main entrance.
An even bigger crowd than before awaits us.
“I’m going to talk to them as we walk to the truck,” Alexander says. “You can smile and say hi if you’re comfortable. Otherwise, just hold onto me and keep your head down.”
I stick my arms into my jacket as he holds it out for me, and my eyes survey the scene outside. “I can say hi.”
Alexander slips his hand into mine and waves goodbye to the security guard. “Thanks for being here tonight, Billy.”
“Anytime, Mr. Krum. Good luck out there.”
I suck in a deep breath right as we push through the door and exit the museum. Cameras click and the shouting begins.
Alexander flashes the paparazzi a killer smile as he lifts his free hand to wave at them. “Have a good night, everyone.”
“Krum Cake, who is this you have on your arm tonight?” someone shouts.
“This is my girlfriend, Aarya.” He glances at me and his smile widens. “Isn’t she beautiful?”
The shouting gets even louder, more questions being fired at us as we make our way down the stairs.
I try my best to lift my head and smile, but the flashes are so bright, I can’t see a damn thing.
“Can we get a kiss for the camera?” another man yells.
Now would be the perfect opportunity to kiss me while everyone’s watching.
Alexander gazes down at me, a slight smile tilting his lips.
His eyes bounce between mine before dropping to my mouth.
I grip onto his arm, readying myself to put on a show in front of all of these people like we’re animals at the zoo.
But he doesn’t kiss me.
Instead, he leads me to the SUV and tucks me inside.
Disappointment flares in my gut during the ride home, but I shove it down. It’s not that I wanted to kiss on camera; it’s that Alexander finally had an excuse to kiss me, and he chose not to. This man will probably go the entire fake marriage without setting his lips on me once.
It’s quiet in the vehicle on the ride back to my apartment, and as soon as Sam pulls over in front of my building, I hop out and toss a quick goodbye over my shoulder. “Thanks for tonight.”
“Aarya, wait.” Alexander chases after me as I quickly make my way across the sidewalk toward the stairs.
“I had a great time. Let’s just leave it—”
Before I can finish my sentence, Alexander grips my wrist and spins me around to face him. “I didn’t want our first kiss to be for them.”
Them. The paparazzi.
“And why’s that?”
“Because I want it to belong to me.” He brushes his nose against mine. “Because I’ve wanted to kiss you since the first night we met.” His hands come up to cup my face. “Because I don’t want you to think I’m doing this for the cameras.”
I fight to slow my racing heart. “No cameras around now.”
His eyes drop to my lips.
I hold my breath, waiting for him to make the first move—needing him to be the one to do it.
And then his mouth covers mine.
One large hand snakes around my waist to hold me against him, while the other settles at the base of my head, sinking his fingers into my hair and keeping me where he wants me. His tongue surges between my lips, taking all of my air with him as he deepens the kiss.
All I can do is fist his shirt and try to keep up with him, my shoes barely touching the floor, completely at his mercy as he claims me. My entire body comes alive—my skin heating and desire pulsing between my legs. I can honestly say that I’ve never been kissed with such fervor, such need.
Possession.
I take both of his hands and guide them to my ass, letting him know what I want and granting him the permission I know he needs.
He groans into my mouth as he squeezes two overflowing handfuls and hauls me against the front of the building.
I lift my legs and cross my ankles around his waist as he lifts me, not caring that I’m in a dress or that anyone can see us.
The only thing I can focus on is the fact that this giant, beautiful man is kissing me like his life depends on it.
He massages my tongue with his, sending shock waves straight to my clit. The kiss is slow and sensual, yet strong and demanding at the same time. That’s exactly how Alexander is, an oxymoron of soft and hard, gentle and firm.
I suck his plump bottom lip into my mouth and bite it, eliciting another deep groan from his chest. I want more of those noises, want more of him to unravel until he’s no longer in control of himself.
But he pulls back too soon.
I pout in protest, nowhere near ready for the loss of his mouth.
He drops his forehead against mine, holding me steady against the building while his chest heaves. “You’re going to be my undoing. And I don’t know how to stop it.”
“Maybe you don’t stop it.” I trace his plump lips with my index finger. “Maybe you just let it happen.”
He sets me down on my feet and hits me with a pleading gaze, like he’s begging me to stop tempting him.
After what he shared with me tonight, now knowing what Giuliana’s awful mother did to him, I realize how much he needs to be in control. I can’t pressure him to take me upstairs and ravish me, as much as I want him to. That decision needs to be his.
For the first time ever, I don’t want to be a man’s lust-filled impulse.
I want to be his choice.
I give Alexander a playful shove and lighten the mood. “I guess it’s time for me to go. I officially have a standing date with my vibrator every night since you took me off the market.”
His eyes close as he stifles a groan. “You’re not going to make this easy for me, are you?”
“Not a chance, Cream Puff.” I shoot him a wink and jog up the steps of my apartment building.
“Hey, Aarya.”
I spin around at the top of the stairs.
His eyes bounce between mine. “How did I do on our first date?”
“I think you’ve ruined me for all other dates.” I shake my head, still in disbelief that this man went through the trouble of renting out one of the biggest art galleries in the world. “No one will ever be able to top the MET.”
A sly grin spreads across his face, as if that was precisely his plan.