turn-on. “Do you need something, Eddie?”
“Cigar?” Eduard looks uncomfortable. I think it’s the way Clayton’s pinned him to the spot with his gaze. I pity him. I’m uncomfortable too, but Clayton’s holding my hand, and judging from the grip, I don’t think he’s going to let me go. God, even the touch of his hand makes me warm inside.
“I left them at the bar.”
Eddie nods and lowers his eyes. I guess he even intimidates his friends. I look up at Clayton and am overwhelmed by his intensity. Standing there holding his hand, I feel like a complete hoochie mama, so I try to pull my hand out of his grasp, but he only tightens his grip and I feel that charge again. He looks down at me, his expression serious.
“You’re not escaping.”
My mouth goes dry. Erik and Orie told me that he’s a hunter and Lord, they were so right.
I am good and trapped.
5
We walk back to my table hand in hand and I almost laugh at the expression on Erik’s face when he sees us. It’s classic. I know I’m going to get a lecture from him about how I should be acting aloof and I fully intend to defend myself. I try again at the table but Clayton stops me cold when he says, “If you gentlemen don’t mind, I’m taking Sophie for a walk on the beach.”
I look at him in surprise.
He’s what?
Stars? Ocean? Night?
Alone?
That’s a recipe for disaster for me. I can’t. I won’t be able to concentrate on a conversation. I’ll just be obsessing about whether he’ll try to kiss me. And about how it will feel. Lord, I’m losing control over my mind!
Erik will save me. He has to save me. But wait. Clayton didn’t ask, he just said . Like it was a done deal. I get the feeling that this man really doesn’t ask permission for anything in his life.
“As long as Sophie is cool with it,” Orie answers because for once Erik is shocked into silence.
Clayton doesn’t wait for me to respond whether I’m cool with it or not. “I’ll see her to her villa.”
I realize I’m standing there like a deaf mute and that I haven’t said two words the entire time.
Erik finally speaks. “We’re headed to the club, 15 Below, to check it out. It’s apparently the only underground club in the Maldives. It’s right over here. Do you guys want to join us before you go on your walk?”
I know he’s doing this to make sure I’m okay. And you know what? I love him for it. I need time to think. If I go for a walk with Clayton I won’t be responsible for my actions.
“That sounds fun,” I answer before Clayton can. I know he’s irritated; I can see it. He doesn’t seem like the club type of guy, but then I’m not the club type of girl either. Since he always gets his way (or so he told me), this new turn of events can’t be sitting too well with him. The pleaser in me wants to make him happy, so I say, “We can check it out and then maybe go for a walk after?” Crap. Why did I say that? Because deep down, you do want to be alone with him , my mind says to me in an accusatory way. Well, who wouldn’t? Look at him.
“Alright,” Clayton says quietly. “We can go to the club for a moment.” He smiles at me and my heart flutters again. God, he’s good looking, I don’t miss the fact that he said “for a moment.”
“Great. I’m just going to get the check,” Erik says as he holds up his hand to get the waiter’s attention.
“It’s been taken care of.”
We all look at Clayton.
What?
“That is completely unnecessary—“ I’m shocked that he’s done something so generous and extravagant and so damn gallant .
“It’s done,” he says with finality, looking at me. He squeezes my hand, I think to silently tell me not to argue with him. Erik looks like he wants to, but then thinks better of it.
“Thank you. That was very generous of you and, as Sophie said, totally unnecessary.”
Clayton shrugs. “My pleasure. Shall we?”
Erik and Orie get up and walk toward the path that will take us to the club.
“Cigar?” Eduard looks uncomfortable. I think it’s the way Clayton’s pinned him to the spot with his gaze. I pity him. I’m uncomfortable too, but Clayton’s holding my hand, and judging from the grip, I don’t think he’s going to let me go. God, even the touch of his hand makes me warm inside.
“I left them at the bar.”
Eddie nods and lowers his eyes. I guess he even intimidates his friends. I look up at Clayton and am overwhelmed by his intensity. Standing there holding his hand, I feel like a complete hoochie mama, so I try to pull my hand out of his grasp, but he only tightens his grip and I feel that charge again. He looks down at me, his expression serious.
“You’re not escaping.”
My mouth goes dry. Erik and Orie told me that he’s a hunter and Lord, they were so right.
I am good and trapped.
5
We walk back to my table hand in hand and I almost laugh at the expression on Erik’s face when he sees us. It’s classic. I know I’m going to get a lecture from him about how I should be acting aloof and I fully intend to defend myself. I try again at the table but Clayton stops me cold when he says, “If you gentlemen don’t mind, I’m taking Sophie for a walk on the beach.”
I look at him in surprise.
He’s what?
Stars? Ocean? Night?
Alone?
That’s a recipe for disaster for me. I can’t. I won’t be able to concentrate on a conversation. I’ll just be obsessing about whether he’ll try to kiss me. And about how it will feel. Lord, I’m losing control over my mind!
Erik will save me. He has to save me. But wait. Clayton didn’t ask, he just said . Like it was a done deal. I get the feeling that this man really doesn’t ask permission for anything in his life.
“As long as Sophie is cool with it,” Orie answers because for once Erik is shocked into silence.
Clayton doesn’t wait for me to respond whether I’m cool with it or not. “I’ll see her to her villa.”
I realize I’m standing there like a deaf mute and that I haven’t said two words the entire time.
Erik finally speaks. “We’re headed to the club, 15 Below, to check it out. It’s apparently the only underground club in the Maldives. It’s right over here. Do you guys want to join us before you go on your walk?”
I know he’s doing this to make sure I’m okay. And you know what? I love him for it. I need time to think. If I go for a walk with Clayton I won’t be responsible for my actions.
“That sounds fun,” I answer before Clayton can. I know he’s irritated; I can see it. He doesn’t seem like the club type of guy, but then I’m not the club type of girl either. Since he always gets his way (or so he told me), this new turn of events can’t be sitting too well with him. The pleaser in me wants to make him happy, so I say, “We can check it out and then maybe go for a walk after?” Crap. Why did I say that? Because deep down, you do want to be alone with him , my mind says to me in an accusatory way. Well, who wouldn’t? Look at him.
“Alright,” Clayton says quietly. “We can go to the club for a moment.” He smiles at me and my heart flutters again. God, he’s good looking, I don’t miss the fact that he said “for a moment.”
“Great. I’m just going to get the check,” Erik says as he holds up his hand to get the waiter’s attention.
“It’s been taken care of.”
We all look at Clayton.
What?
“That is completely unnecessary—“ I’m shocked that he’s done something so generous and extravagant and so damn gallant .
“It’s done,” he says with finality, looking at me. He squeezes my hand, I think to silently tell me not to argue with him. Erik looks like he wants to, but then thinks better of it.
“Thank you. That was very generous of you and, as Sophie said, totally unnecessary.”
Clayton shrugs. “My pleasure. Shall we?”
Erik and Orie get up and walk toward the path that will take us to the club.
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