Noah looked at the vehence in Gianna’s eyes, noted the satisfaction curling deep in his chest, and did his best to curb the smile that threatened to spill across his lips.
She actually did hate Zane.
She actually was done with the fellow. She actually wanted the latter’s empire to co to a crushing end.
He loved it.
He wanted to tell her to repeat herself, just for the pleasure of hearing the words again, to let the music of it sing once more to his ears, but he curbed that urge too, contenting himself with the knowledge that the woman he wanted was out for a rival as well.
It would make things so much easier.
"That’s... convincing," he finally said, cocking his head lazily to the side as he watched Gianna. She looked as calm as a cucumber under his appraisal, but he could feel the contempt radiating off her in quiet, potent waves.
"We would make good partners then... because my presence in this state..."
He paused, choosing his words with care, testing their weight.
"I want to be the best. I want us to be the best in the field. And as much as Whitman was accused falsely, I’m not exactly concerned about him. It’s actually good for business."
Gianna said nothing at first, only studying the man who was supposed to be her fiancé.
"You are right," she said finally, exhaling softly before looking ahead and sitting upright on the bench.
"You are right. I checked my ratings before I ca for dinner, and they have skyrocketed, while his... well, it keeps tanking. I think it will be a while before his empire recovers, especially the jewellery arm."
"And that’s why you should strike while the iron is hot," Noah continued smoothly. "Get more designs out there, go for more interviews, grab more opportunities, put your foot down. Because Whitman, as much as we are rivals, I respect his ability for a coback."
He paused, then muttered, almost to himself, "Though I am not sure how he will, from this. The saga appealed to the emotional side of people, especially won, whom your industry is mostly for."
Another pause. "But Zane has never had problems with won, so I’m sure he would find a way around that, with ti. All the sa, what I am trying to say..."
"I get your point now," Gianna interrupted calmly. "And thanks for your advice, but I can handle it. You don’t have to worry about that."
Noah hoped so. He was banking on her taking his advice.
"So enough about Zane..." he deftly switched the topic.
Gianna smiled then. "I thought you would never stop the fangirling."
Noah scoffed. "I’m not fangirling. I’m just being realistic."
"Whatever helps you sleep well at night, old man."
Noah frowned, looking at Gianna with incredulous eyes. But she wouldn’t et his gaze, instead focusing ahead, though he could see the teasing tug at her lips.
She was holding herself back from bursting into laughter...
"What did you just say?" he played along.
"I said..."
He imdiately grabbed her to himself, her instantaneous laughter easing sothing hard within him, around his heart, making him forget montarily what he had been about to do. She laughed freely, beautifully.
She has a good laugh, he mused, his eyes drifting to her lips, which had never stopped enticing him since that night at the bar, when she had danced fantasies straight into his head.
A distraction that had been worth looking into.
"Are you just going to keep looking, old man?" Her eyes held the gleam of a seductive vixen, lashes batting down, fanning her cheeks as she looked up at him.
Heavens, Zane was an idiot, he thought, before he claid her lips.
Kissing her tasted different from the others, ant different too, he realized as her mouth opened to welco him, as her tongue reached out to dance with his in a deeply entrancing, heady rhythm that made him dizzy with sothing he could not afford to na.
And when he heard her moan, it felt like a sharp connection straight through him, and he pulled her closer, impossibly closer, her body heat driving him mad with want.
He wanted her. He needed her. He needed to satisfy the cravings that sotis made him forget missions entirely.
"No... ah..." she cried when his hand began trailing along her back, over bare skin, lingering where fabric ended.
And then there was a clearing of a throat.
Noah would have killed.
Gianna instantly broke away sharply, the mont severed, and when he looked up with angry eyes, he saw Mason’s blank ones staring at them.
What in the freak was this buffalo doing here? Noah wondered, irritation flaring hot as he felt his cousin growing too confident, crossing limits.
"Sorry to interrupt..." Mason’s voice did not betray the tremor beneath his skin at seeing Gianna co undone in his cousin’s arms.
It should have been him. It should have been him hearing those sounds that had ignited sothing feral inside his chest.
"But Grandfather wants to see her before he retires for the night."
However, he did not move after delivering the ssage.
He stayed, compelled, watching as his cousin helped pat Gianna’s dress back into place where it had slipped, watching in silent rage as Noah dropped a brief kiss on her lips, murmuring reassurance when Gianna seed uncertain.
To keep his hands from balling into fists, Mason shoved them into the pockets of his slacks.
"Is there anything else, coz?" Noah asked, noting that Mason was still standing there.
Mason inhaled, then shook his head. "Later then."
He turned to leave, then stopped, redirecting his attention to Gianna, who still looked breathless. "When will you resu work?"
"Next week," Gianna answered, a little shy at being caught in such a vulnerable state. "Tell Daphne not to miss too much."
Mason managed a light chuckle before turning away and leaving the gardens.
Inside his father’s mansion, he paced the empty living room. The others were gathered on the other side of the estate, beyond the porch, where another garden lay, one far more private for his grandfather.
anwhile... what to do? He wondered, the restless need in him refusing to fade.
A maid hurried past with a basket of clothes, heading sowhere inside the house, probably to fold them...
Mason did not care. He reached out, pulled her toward him before she could slip away, and kissed her roughly, desperate for release.
Reviews
All reviews (0)