He came to a stop at the edge and, sure enough, held it over the water. “Say please.”
“Give it to me, now.”
Benoit pursed his lips then looked at the water. “I don’t know, that didn’t sound like?—”
“Please.”
He slowly turned his head in my direction, and his expression was full of mischief. “Ooh, nowthatI like the sound of. Say it again.”
“I said it once.” I took a step toward him. “That’s what you asked for. Now give it to me.”
Benoit walked over to me, still too close to the water for my liking, but then pushed the computer up against my chest. Then he angled his face up toward mine, and the afternoon sun made his eyes sparkle.
Godhe was beautiful.
“I’ll give you anything you want,mon monstre.All you have to do is ask.”
Fuck I was tempted. So damn tempted. Who wouldn’t be? With his flawless skin, inviting eyes, and sensual mouth, I was trying to remind myself of all the reasons that would be a bad idea.
“You want to,” Benoit whispered. “I can see it on your face. I feel it in your stare. And I’m sure if I look”—his gaze traveled down my form—“I can see it in your body. Why are you fighting it so hard?”
“Because it isn’t real.”
Benoit cocked his head. “What isn’t? My attraction to you? Or yours to me?”
My dick jerked as he slid he tongue over his lower lip. I wanted to give in, wanted to take his lying lips with mine. But I couldn’t seem to get past the idea that he’d only been in my bed for King.
“I’m going back to work.”
I turned on my heel and headed back toward the door, and just as I was about to walk inside, I heard, “I see right through you, Dimitri Stavros. This isn’t just another compound. This is your home, the place you keep the things you’re afraid to lose, and guess what? I’m one of them.”
My feet faltered, but I didn’t turn back, didn’t respond, because if I did I might have to acknowledge the fact that maybe…he was right.
WE CONTINUED TO circle each other like wildcats as the days passed, and I had to face the truth that, for some reason, I didn’t want to let Benoit go. It was irrational. Stupid. I should’ve tossed him off a cliff the second I learned the truth about him, but there he was, in my private study, nosing around. I happened to see him through the half-opened door as I was passing by and stopped to watch him.
He scanned the books lining the shelves, picking one out and flipping through it before putting it back. Was it fucked up that my first thought was that he was thinking of the best way to hide a camera? It was, but no one could blame me.
Considering I hadn’t let him out of my sight or my residence since we’d arrived, I knew he was clean. There was no way he’d be able to get his hands on anything to plant in the first place, and there were no meetings to spy on here.
No, it seemed like he was just browsing, stopping here and there to inspect replicas of old pistols from past wars. His fingers brushed over the worn keys of the piano that sat unusedas he passed, pressing them too lightly to make a noise. Then he stopped suddenly, his gaze falling to the lone framed photo sitting on top of the closed piano lid.
A furrow marred his brow as he reached for the frame, but when he brought it closer, he began to smile.
I swallowed and continued to watch silently, my heart starting to beat a little faster.
“This is your father?” he said, and then looked straight at me.
I flinched at the realization he’d known I was watching him. He was more aware than he’d originally let on, something I needed to remember.
Nodding, I shoved my hands in my pockets and entered the room. “Yes.”
“He’s handsome. He still around?”
“Not for you he’s not.”
Benoit chuckled but didn’t put down the frame. “For you, then?”
I hesitated, then shook my head.
