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“Excuse me for a moment.” Pippa stood. “I need to run to the restroom.” She slipped away, my
gaze trailing her.
Gino rose to his feet as well. “Why don’t we head to the living room for an espresso or perhaps
some Grappa.”
“That sounds perfect. I need to make a quick phone call, then I’ll be right there.” I nodded in
appreciation, then followed Pippa. My true intent was obvious, but I didn’t care. In fact, I preferred
everyone in the room knew exactly where I was going.
I waited for my naughty kitten outside the bathroom, and the second she opened the door, I quietly
forced my way inside.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she hissed once the door was closed behind me.
“I’m having a private word with you.” I stepped closer. She inched back, her backside reaching
the vanity.
“Well, good, because I have a thing or two to say to you. You can’t just tell my father we’re seeing
each other and get yourself invited to dinner. That’s not the way things work.”
The invisible force field lassoing us together coaxed me closer.
“Nothing about this thing between us is normal, Pip. I’ve never in my life met a woman who ran
from me like you do.”
She crossed her arms over her chest and lifted her chin. “Well, get used to it because I’m not
interested.”
“Not interested in what? Me? Because your body disagrees.” My eyes trailed down the column of
her neck, over her fluttering pulse point, and slowly down the perfect swell of her breasts pressing up
at the edge of her dress’s scooped neckline. I didn’t even have to touch her for a shiver to wrack her
entire body.
A renewed spark of anger flared in my veins. I pushed forward, pressing my body into hers.
“Why, Pip? Why the f**k are you fighting this?”
She unfolded her arms and stiffened for a fight before unexpectedly softening. “I told you that I
don’t want to be tied down,” she said softly, her voice betraying her vulnerability.
I wanted to be gentle with her, but I hated the implication. “Tied down? As in stuck with one
man? That implies you want to f**k other people, and I’ve already told you that you’re mine.”
“I’m not yours, Bishop.” Her eyes pleaded with me, though she’d find no sympathy where I was
concerned.
I leaned in and brought my cheek to hers, one hand on her waist and the other splayed flat on the
counter behind her. “Did you know that the first person who discovers a star gets to name it anything
they want?”
She was silent for a second before slowly turning her head side to side. “No, but I’m not a star,
Bishop. You can’t own me.”
“No one owns the stars, baby. Everyone can admire them from a distance, but that one man whose
eyes first sighted that brilliant speck of light and recognized it for the treasure that it is, that man will
always have a special bond with that star.” I trailed my hand up until the back of it grazed the
underside of her breast.
Her back involuntarily arched, pressing her body further into mine. When her lips parted on a
shaky inhale, I seized the opportunity. Our mouths came together like two halves of the same whole,
perfectly shaped for one another. Savage joy filled my chest at the unabashed way she responded to
my kiss. She didn’t just relax into my hold. Pippa met my hunger with a ravenous need of her own.
When I finally pulled back for air, we were both at a loss for words.
“We should probably get back,” she murmured.
I caressed my thumb over her cheek, wanting to memorize everything about the way she looked
when soft and kiss drunk. Her lips were the littlest bit puffy, and her cheeks pink. No one in that room
would have any doubt as to what we’d been up to. Just as I’d planned.
“I hope you don’t think this means you’re forgiven,” she whispered with zero fight behind her
words.
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” I smirked. “Now, come on. It’s time to get back to the others.”
A satisfied grin warmed my face all the way to the living area, where everyone was gathered for
after-dinner drinks. When uncertainty slowed Pippa’s steps, I placed a possessive hand at her lower
back.
“Why don’t you get your guest a drink.” I held Archer’s unblinking stare and winked.
“Um, oh. Yes. Sorry, Archer. Can I—”
Archer shot off the couch, face reddening. “Actually, I really need to get going.” He turned to Mrs.
Revello and thanked her for dinner. “And you, too, Mr. Revello. It’s been great, but I gotta go.”
I drew my brows together in feigned disappointment. “You sure? It’s still early.”
He shot a wounded look at Pippa, then nodded. “Yeah, I’m heading out of town tomorrow. Need
to finish packing.” He waved and made for the entry with his gaze downward. Pippa hurried after
him, no doubt to apologize, but I wasn’t worried. My work was done. And after that kiss, I felt much
more charitable. I could only hope Pippa would start to come around.
Never in my life had I encountered a girl so hell-bent on getting away from me. Especially when
her body responded to my every command. My kitten was a little feral, but I’d show her just how
good it was to be owned. Belonging to a man could be its own kind of freedom—protection,
adoration, support, and companionship. I’d be her damn everything if she’d let me.
PIPPA RESPONDED to my texts the following week but only in the most cursory fashion. It was
maddening in a way I’d never experienced before. I’d thought dinner might be the last of her
resistance and had tried to give her room to get used to the idea of me being around. I got the sense it
wasn’t working.
“s**t, you’re gonna break my damn hand.” Callum took off the training pad he’d been wearing and
shook out his hand. He was a longtime friend who spent almost as much time in the gym as I did. We
took turns doing partner pad training, but this time my thoughts had me getting carried away.
- Writer
