\[Denali’s POV\]
I take a few calming breaths while I examine my reflection in the steamy mirror. It was official; Rosco was dangerous. Despite swearing I would never allow another man into my heart, I couldn't help but get swept up in his energy, and before I realize it, I'm wanting to believe that maybe he wasn't bad.
‘Keep your guard’, the voice in the back of my head says. He abandoned you for six months and was ready to throw you away earlier in the day.
Right… This was just an act he was putting on to get what he wanted, and that was revenge against my family. That in itself was enough reason to not let him close. Even if I wasn't the one he was after, I still possessed the same blood and was therefore also his enemy.
"This is just an act," I remind myself before grabbing the single T-shirt that hung in the bathroom. Why didn't I think to grab clothes before scurrying in here? "Just an act."
Fixing my face in a neutral expression, I head out and find the devil himself lounging in bed with a book. For a moment, I wonder what he is reading until I spot the cover.
Eyes widening, I rush forward and attempt to grab it from him, only to end up falling on top of him.
"How did you get that?" I demand. "Did you go into my room?"
"Thought you would need clothes," he responds, taking me in as I rise. "But I think you look much better in that."
Cursing my choice, I take in the shirt that hangs loosely around me and then remember I had nothing beneath.
Goddess, what am I doing right now? It looked like I was intentionally trying to seduce him!
"Are you sure you're not interested in trying to fuck me, princess?" He continues, putting my book aside and then flipping us so he is on top. "Because you don't have to play hard to get."
"No!" I insist while my heart and my body begin to do weird things. "I really wasn't trying anything. I didn't have any clothes, and this was all there was. Then you had my book, and I… dammit, what in the world am I doing?"
Grumbling in frustration, I attempt to cover my face, but I am stopped by Rosco grabbing my wrist.
"Don't," he says, fixing his dark gaze with mine. "I like to see your flustered expression."
Liked to see? Was he out of his mind? He was enjoying all of this, while I was the only one embarrassed.
No. I couldn't have that. I couldn't be the only one who was having such a hard time. Not when we have a while to go yet.
Reaching up, I wrap a hand behind Rosco's neck and pull so his face is mere inches from mine. If he wanted to fuck around, then I would do the same, but I wasn't willing to lose.
"Is this what you want?" I ask, taking in the desire that is beginning to form in his eyes. "To get me to melt beneath you?" I knew that I was taking a risk here, and things could take a turn real fast, but I couldn't let him get under my skin first. "You're going to have to try harder than that, ."
With that, I lean up and slam my forehead against Rosco's, and when he lets out a hiss of pain and sits up, I take advantage and scurry off the bed.
"What the hell?" He growls, shooting me a glare. "Why did you do that?"
"To knock some sense into you," I huff. "If you want us to put on this act, then we need to set some ground rules for when we are alone. The first is you not invading my privacy."
As I speak, I reach out and grab the book he was reading, then hide it behind my back.
"The second is that you will not just touch me anytime you please."
"Why?" He asks, taking me by surprise. "Are you afraid you're going to want more? I read some of that book you've been reading. You're a very naughty girl." Letting a grin spread across his face, he gets comfortable on the bed. "His hands danced across her bare skin, sending waves of pleasure through her." He begins to quote. "But just touching wasn't enough, she..."
"Stop!" I gasp, surging forward and covering his mouth. "Don't say anymore."
This was bad. This was really bad. I read these books because, even if I were a virgin, I was curious about what being intimate would be like. After reading my first, I became addicted, and now I couldn't stop."
Chuckling, Rosco reaches up and holds my hand in place so he can run his tongue along my palm.
"Stop!"
"Go get changed," he says when I release him. "It's time for bed."
For a moment, I don't move as I take him in. And when I feel a strange flutter in my chest and even between my thighs, I quickly turn, grab my clothes, and rush off.
"Don't you think about touching yourself in there?" Rosco calls as I enter the bathroom. "That's only for me to do now!"
"Shut up!" I snap, shooting him a glare. "If I want to do that, I will, and you can't stop me!"
"Don't test me, princess." He calls. "Otherwise, I'll have to show you I mean what I say."
“No need,” I gasp, rushing into the bathroom as he begins to get up. “I believe you!”
“Smart choice,” is the last thing I hear before I slam the door shut.
Lifting a hand, I touch my chest and feel my heart racing beneath my ribs. What in the world was wrong with me getting excited over his threat?
No, this wasn’t right; even Alexander never made me feel this way. Sure, I felt the flutters, and he made my heart race at times, but turning me feral never happened. What was this?
“Get it together, Denali,” I sigh, slowly changing into the clothes he grabbed. “You can’t get all riled up just because he looks a little good.”
Shaking off my remaining unease, I take myself in the mirror once again. My cheeks are flushed and my hair is a mess, but I look presentable. Deciding I couldn’t stay in the bathroom all night even if I wanted to, I take a deep breath and head back into the bedroom. Not wasting any time, I climb into bed and tightly wrap the comforter around me while Rosco watches in amusement.
“Burrito,” he chuckles, poking me. “Are you that afraid I’m going to try something?”
“You never know,” I respond. “Now go to bed!”