“Are you teasing me?”
“Why would you think that,
belleza
?”
His subtle challenge made her doubt it, but insecurity didn’t go away that simply.
“I’m sure I looked about as coordinated as an elephant on roller skates out there.
And almost as big as one, too.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Who told you that you’re less than beautiful?”
“No one, but I’m not blind.” She shook her head, flustered. “Look, I appreciate your
kind words, but—”
“No buts. I find you attractive, and I see no reason to lie about it. You aren’t beautiful
in the way I typically see.” When she stiffened, he went on. “That’s a good thing,
belleza
. You’re not wearing five pounds of makeup, haven’t slathered on false eyelashes,
or had your teeth bleached. Your nails aren’t covered by acrylic talons and your toenails
aren’t dotted with daisies or glitter . . . or whatever the trend of the moment is.
You’re not wearing a skirt so short that I can see whether you’re waxed or shaved.
Your gorgeous breasts aren’t silicone, and you haven’t been on some stupid starvation
diet that makes you look as if you’ve barely survived Auschwitz. You look good in
your own skin. Natural. Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve seen a woman like
that?”
She frowned. “Since when do men like women less than perfect?”
“I can’t speak for all men. There are a ton of douche bags out there who don’t care
how fake a girl is as long as she looks hot. I know because I used to be one of them.”
He shrugged. “But I’ve gotten to a point in life where I prefer what’s real.”
London blinked at him, head cocked, and peered at him intently. “I don’t know how
to take you.”
“Are you always this suspicious?”
With a little flush, she sat back, casting her gaze slightly down and wincing. She
should stop annoying Xander and let him do his worst, which would undoubtedly be the
best thing that had ever happened in her admittedly dull life. “It’s just that . . .
I don’t have a lot of experience. I’m guessing you do.”
“A great deal. I won’t lie about that. But that also means I know what I like.”
“So you’re not kidding?”
Xander dragged her to her feet, captured her waist, and brought her back to his chest.
“
Belleza
, does this feel like I’m kidding?” He rolled his hips against her ass and pressed
his hard cock into her. “Like I thought you didn’t look incredible and I wasn’t desperate
to touch you?”
London froze, and Xander pressed a lingering kiss to her neck that made her shiver,
her breath catch.
“You don’t have to flatter me. I know how I look.”
“You have no idea how you look to
me
.” His voice dropped, going both husky and hard. “You’re sweet.” He dragged his lips
across her neck again. His tongue slipped out and he tasted her skin. “Soft.” He caressed
his way across the slight bulge of her abdomen, over the curve of her hip, then down
her slightly parted thighs.
London gasped at the tingles spreading across her skin as Xander skimmed across her
thigh, planted his palm on the extra-soft skin just inside . . . then began to work
his way back up. “So supple.”
When his thumb crept just inches shy of her moistening secrets, she began to tremble
all over. “I want to touch you,
belleza
. Tear your clothes off and feel just how wet I can make you. I want to show you how
much pleasure I can give you.”
And wouldn’t she like that, too?
“Don’t.” Her voice trembled.
He removed his hands and took a half-step back. “Don’t what, touch you? Compliment
you? Want you?”
“No.” London drew in a shaking breath. “Don’t stop.”
Chapter Four
S HOCK pinged through Xander’s system. The girl who wanted him to turn around so she could
dress in privacy now wanted him to seduce her? That would absolutely be his pleasure.
And, very shortly, hers, too. Mentally, he