Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 95609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
He’s dodging the issue, and I have to bring him back to it. “Tell me you haven’t already thought about how this plays out.”
“Of course I have. You can’t tell me the other men and women who’ve been in my position didn’t know who their final four were very early on,” he insists. “It’s obvious who we get along with and who we don’t. I suspect they were influenced by the producers the same way I’m being influenced. Joe made a point before the date to ensure that I would be keeping Shelby, despite the fact that I see through her. She’s quite lovely to me, but the minute my back is turned, her claws come out.”
“She makes good TV,” I say.
He points as though I’ve fallen right into his trap. “Yes, and that’s what we’re doing. Making good TV, and if they didn’t understand that before, they do now. Even Hannah. Like I said, she’s smarter and more savvy than anyone gives her credit for. She’s a nice young woman, and she’s going to be fine at the end of this. And so are we. We’re going to be better than fine. We’re going to figure out if this thing can work between us.”
“I thought you already had us married off.”
“In my head I do. In my head I know this can work, but I see you need more time,” he replies. “I’ll give it to you. All you have to do is stay with me. Go through the rest of this process with me and then I’ll show you how wonderful life in my country can be.”
There are so many things wrong about this situation, but I hold on to one. It feels like the one thing that might save me. “Luca, I have a job.”
“You could have a different one,” he counters. “Or you could work with production companies to bring them to our country. You know this industry. When you think about it, you’re perfect.”
That was the problem. “Yes, I get the feeling I’m convenient for you.”
A brow arches over his eyes. “Convenient. I assure you there is not a thing convenient about my life in the last several years, so don’t be surprised if I try to hold on to the one good thing that’s happened to me.”
Just like that my walls begin to shake. So I find the next problem. The one he can’t solve. “You don’t love me.”
His jaw goes tight. “I don’t know about that. I’ve been wondering lately if I even understand that word. I know I want you. I know I think about you all the time. Do you want me to say it? I can say the words.”
I shake my head. “No. I want you to mean it.” I’m getting emotional. Getting? I’m past emotional. I’ve been trapped in this mansion performing like a marionette doll, and I thought I could handle it. “You’re never going to mean it.”
He moves into my space, and his hands come up to cup my cheeks and tilt my head so I’m looking into his eyes. “Verlass mich nicht. I’ll show you. I’ll prove it to you.”
Then his mouth is on mine, and I can’t think straight. I can’t think about anything but him.
I know I should push him away, but my arms aren’t interested in listening to that bit of logic. They wrap around Luca’s muscular form and he leans over, getting his hands on my hips as his tongue surges against mine. Just like that I’m ready to give him anything he wants. Any way he wants it. I’ve never felt this crazy rush of desire in my life. Sex has always been something nice, a pleasant side effect of being in a relationship, but this isn’t nice. This is necessary. This is like breathing to me.
I cling to him as he lifts me up and moves us over to the bed I’ve been using. He lays me out, and I know I’m not going to stop. I’m not going to tell him this is a bad idea. I watch as he drags his shirt over his head and tosses it to the side. He kicks out of his shoes.
“Take off the clothes, Anika. If you like them, take them off now before I rip them off you,” he says, a savage look in his eyes.
That look should scare me. His words should have me arguing, but I simply lift my hips and shove my jeans off as I watch him drop the sweats he’s wearing and get down to his boxers.
He’s a freaking Greek god. It’s not like I haven’t seen him in his swim trunks. We’re on a reality dating show. He’s put in his share of time in a hot tub, but this is different. Those hours spent in a hot tub were playful. This feels real to me. So real.