Chapter 42 Skylar Misunderstands Christian
“I loved Frascati, but I’m now excited to explore Rome. Won’t we see the Leaning Tower of Pisa?” she chirped while enjoying her Cornetto Crema e Cannella. She licked the delightful cream off her lips as she helped herself to another one.
“Yes, we will. That’s why we’re stopping in Florence.” He watched the cream still sticking at the corner of her lower lip with longing. Why couldn’t she allow him to lick it off her lip in return for everything he did for her? Was it asking for too much?
“Thanks for the date! I liked it,” she said, giving him a brief glance before concentrating back on her dessert.
“I’m glad you did, but the date isn’t over yet.” Skylar glanced up at him with a confused look on her face.
“Where else can we go now? Isn’t it getting late?”
Christian didn’t answer her, but the smirk on his face was enough to alert her. So what was the guy planning to do now? He paid for the food and led her out of the restaurant.
“Where do you wish to go now, sir?” asked his chauffeur.
“Back to the resort, please.” Skylar looked out of the window at the quiet countryside bathed in darkness. Of course, their date was over and they would go off to sleep soon. Why did Christian then say such a thing? Was he just pulling her legs?
“Pack up everything tonight. We will leave early tomorrow to avoid the traffic.”
“I haven’t unpacked much. So, will this be a work trip as well?”
“No.” The look he gave her made a shot of electric current surge through her body. So it would be a pleasure trip! What sort of pleasure would it be? She could feel his gaze glued upon her as they neared the resort. It wasn’t difficult at all for her to figure out what he had in mind. His hooded eyes were enough to give her an indication that he wanted something from her, but what? Would he be satisfied with only a kiss?
However, her mind protested wildly against her heart. Why would she kiss him? Why couldn’t he get his kiss from the woman he loved? Who was the woman he was speaking to last night?
The car dropped them at the resort, and they walked towards the cottage. “Why don’t you freshen up? I’ll just have a word at the reception.” Skylar nodded and walked away, but she didn't miss the way Ms. Rossi rushed down the steps to meet him. So he went to meet her after all!
Again, the crazy surge of jealousy shot up her body, but this time she didn’t wait to witness their interaction. She strode angrily towards the cottage and went straight to the bedroom to take a cold shower.
‘Don’t react, Skye! He’s doing it on purpose to rile you up and admit you’re jealous,’ prodded her inner mind. She felt much better after a shower and lay down on her side of the bed, covering herself well with the duvet. Why should she go to the children’s room because of him? She wouldn’t encourage him at all if he thought he could get something from her. She wouldn’t kiss him nor allow him near her.
After a few minutes, the door unlocked and Christian came in. Skylar was wide awake, but she feigned sleep to avoid him. He entered the room and stood watching her from the foot of the bed.
“I know you aren’t sleeping,” he said in a husky whisper.
“I’m trying to.”
“It isn’t bedtime yet. I was thinking of watching a movie with you.”
Skylar’s blood boiled even more at his indirect offer. She knew what watching a movie with him meant. They would end up kissing or making out! “Why don’t you watch it with your precious Valentina whom you went to meet?” she gritted out.
“Are you still jealous?”
“Wouldn’t you be if I did such a thing with Mr. Costa here?” She yanked off the duvet and glared at him, waiting for his reply.
“Yes. I would have murdered him already, but that’s because I.. never mind. Go to sleep.” He stopped abruptly without finishing his sentence and stormed into the washroom. His weird behavior left her gaping at the man. What did he want to say to her? Now, with her curiosity piqued, she lay fretting about what he was about to tell her.
The door opened, and he emerged, ready for bed in a pair of sweatpants and a soft gray tee shirt. Skylar immediately closed her eyes and turned away from him. He lay down on the other side and kept on tossing and turning.
“Can’t you lie still?” she fumed at the man.
“No, I can’t.”
“You’re weird. Go to your Valentina if you’re so restless. I’m sure she can put you to sleep.”
In a second, he rolled over to her side and pinned her under his weight, his angry eyes glaring back at her. “What if I want you to do it instead?” he whispered hoarsely, his hand pinning her hands above her head.
Christian imprisoned her soft body under him. A gasp of surprise escaped her at the suddenness of his actions.
“I’m not available for you, Christian. Get off me and go to the one you were talking to on the phone earlier,” she gritted out, struggling to get free.
“Stop fighting me, Skylar. It won’t get you anywhere.” His raspy growl made a tremor go down her body. His eyes glittered with determination as he lowered his head to claim her as his. He should have done it long ago instead of waiting for her to take the initiative.
Skylar’s breath hitched when his soft, warm lips caressed her jawline tenderly, trailing them all the way towards her plump lips. A tremor of need coursed through her body and her heart battled with her mind, wanting to surrender to him. No, she couldn’t surrender to him. She needed some answers first. His fingers released her hands as he tangled them in her hair.
“Kiss me, Skylar!” he growled again. However, before Skylar could react, he smashed his lips to hers in a fiery, hungry, and wild kiss. It took her breath away, and she gasped with shock. His fingers gripped her cheek, holding her completely captive as he deepened the kiss to new heights. His tongue stroked hers, swirling inside her mouth, devouring her sweetness. Despite the ferocity of the punishing kiss, there was a lingering tenderness in his touch. It was enough to arouse Skylar, and she threaded her fingers through his silky hair and kissed him back with a passion that matched his.
A deep, throaty groan left his lips as a shock of pleasure coursed through him at her reaction. The kiss turned demanding as both of them battled for dominance. Feeling a raging blaze of passion deep inside her, Skylar forgot her grudge against him. She responded to each of his kisses with passionate ones of her own.
At last, she broke the kiss, gasping for breath while he watched her with hooded eyes. He wanted to tell her how wrong she was in her judgments. He wanted to confess his feelings to her and seek her permission to make love to her.
“Skylar, I want more of you!” he whispered hoarsely. It was enough to arouse her from her delirious state and bring her back to reality.
“No, I will never give you what you want. You tricked me into kissing you. I hate you, Christian.” She picked up her pillow and dashed off towards the kid's room again, before he could stop her. Christian sagged into the bed with a shattered heart. Why couldn’t she accept she wanted him too? It was alright to not be ready for more, but at least they could cuddle and sleep together. That was what engaged couples did, right?
He lay down, closing his eyes to sleep. Why did he have to love someone who would never understand him and his feelings? He couldn’t sleep at all. It was better to get some work done before he left. Pulling on a pair of jeans, he picked up his mobile phone and cottage keys and walked out of the place. He went towards the resort office to sit down and check the file his manager in Venice had sent him. It contained the renovation work details and the breakup of expenses.
Skylar heard the front door open and close and she frowned at what it implied. He might have gone to Valentina Rossi to satisfy his needs!
‘You are disgusting, Christian St. James!’ she muttered angrily, her eyes filling up with tears of humiliation. How could she kiss such a man?
She went back to the bedroom to sleep. Why would she waste her sleep over such a man? She was sure he wouldn’t be back soon.
However, she was wrong! Christian returned to the cottage two hours later, being too upset to get any work done. Why did his mood depend on Skylar’s behavior? At this rate, he would never find his happiness. He would have to learn to snatch his happiness from her if he had to survive this ordeal and win her over. He had to tame the rebel!