Opulence by Angelica Chase Read Free Book Online Page B

putting the cart before the horse," I said slyly. "Are we on a date?"
    "I certainly hope so," he said with ‘isn’t it obvious’ humor.
    "Well, what are your intentions with me?" I asked boldly, putting my fork down and matching his steady gaze.
    "Not sure yet, but when I know, Nina, you will too," he said seriously. After paying for the bill, he grabbed my hand and led me to the tiki bar adjacent to the restaurant then steered me down towards the sand. He bent over, removing my sandals then held them in one hand as he laced our fingers together with the other.
    We walked in silence for a few minutes until we reached the edge of the water. The moon was only half full as we strolled through the chilly sea foam.
    We walked and talked for what seemed like hours and I spoke freely about who I was before I became a millionaire, blood-seeking adulteress. We talked a lot about music and our preferences, and I told him how impressed I had been with his bar playlist. He kept our hands firmly clasped as we made our way back toward Tides.
    "So, divorced?" he said sadly, as if he knew the pain I’d gone through.
    "Yes, but it was really for the best," I said, trying to hide the effect of his thumb sliding over the top of my hand.
    "Then why are you so sad, Nina?" he asked as he turned to me, his hands stroking my bare shoulders.
    "I’m not...sad. Or if I seem to be...I’m fine, really."
    "Why am I so comfortable with you?" he asked, his back toward the water. He peered down at me while towering over me, and I damn near gasped at the hunger in his eyes. "Everything in me wants to take your mouth, stroke it with my tongue, snap that dress off with my fingers and bury myself inside of you, but something else is telling me not to."
    Holy...Mary...Mother of God! Please listen to the first voice of reason.
    "I’m not sad," I repeated.
    "You’ll have to convince me," he said, reaching in to stroke my chin and lips. I kissed the tips of his fingers and saw him visibly inhale. I no longer felt like talking. Leaning up on the tips of my toes, I brushed my lips against his. He leaned in to kiss me further, but I stopped him with a hand on his chest.
    "Thank you for dinner, Aiden. But I don’t have to convince you of shit." I heard his laughter as he followed behind me on the walk back to the hotel. I stomped through the sand, certain it was Devin’s voice I had just heard demanding that I adhere to him. Another arrogant man, who assumed I would bend to his will.
    Well, fuck that.
    "Nina, stop," he said, still chuckling. "God, you are a pain in the ass already." He laughed, picking me up so I was cradled against him. "Hard to get your name, lying, and now you’re making me chase you...again," he added as he hugged me to him.
    I pushed at his chest again and swung my legs down. I was forced to look up into his beautiful face to confront him, but I would not let it sway me. "Let me make something perfectly clear to you. A pretty face and good fuck, I’ve grown immune to those as a way of manipulation. So you might want to do yourself a favor and save yourself the trouble."
    "Wow," he said animatedly, and with a hint of a smile on his lips.
    "I know how I sound right now, but I’m serious, Aiden. If you can’t show me something different, treat me differently, I’m walking. I don’t need some demanding horse’s ass telling me what to think, how to feel, and when to come."
    There you are Nina fucking Scott!
    He charged me, backing me up against a post underneath the pier before clamping his hand over my mouth. I uselessly fought him as he whispered in my ear.
    "I have a filthy fucking mind, Nina, and I won’t apologize for it. The possibilities are endless when I look at you and your ridiculous body. I want you." He ground his hips into me so I felt his erection. "It would seem right now you have all the power." I closed my eyes, trying to stifle my moan as he continued. "But I won’t let you ruin an almost perfect first date because