A Burning Flame by Daniella Kunz (book recommendations txt) 📕

Gianna said to her father. Who the fuck is that, and why am I so enraged that she is marrying him. My fists grip the wheel tight, turning white under the strain. Forcing a deep breath through my nose, I try to relax. I shouldn't be getting worked up over it at all. You need to stay the fuck away from her. She isn't something you can mess around with. I try to talk myself out of wanting her. Not to mention you just gave your word that her father could do as he pleases if something happens to her.

It's okay though, no big deal. You can keep your hands off her.

Even though her skin is satin-smooth and she smells like spiced cinnamon. I groan as my cock twitches in my pants. I shift uncomfortably in my seat as I try to focus on the road up ahead. Nico wanted me to check on something before we fly out tonight, and I have a few places to stop to do it.

***

I looked around, pulling back up to her apartment, not seeing any guards stationed in their previous positions like before. Climbing out, I decide to play it safe and climb up the fire escape to her apartment like before. I glance through her living room window, seeing a couple of bags on the floor by the doorway. At least she is ready to go. Jimmying the window lock, I slide it open, climbing inside before settling it back down. I'm straightening myself when I hear her light steps padding down the hallway towards me. Looking up, my gaze travels up her body, staring at her long, lean legs to a pair of jean shorts, followed by a slim tantalizing waist and her breasts wrapped in a lace bra. My mind backpedals. Glancing up, I see she is mid-process of pulling a shirt over her head as she walks in. Oh fuck. There goes my pep talk from earlier. My hands ache to grab hold of her and pull her into me, wrapping her in my body. Imagining just how easy it would be to lift her as she wrapped her legs around me while I fucked her. My cock hardens at the thought.

Finally dressed and now looking up, she freezes. Glancing down at my erect cock straining against my pants, she gives me a flirty grin. "Like what you see, Hercules?" She mirrors the first thing I said to her when we met at the club.

"I could show you just how much I like it if you want?" I step forward, eager to touch her again.

"Sorry, but I'm an engaged woman. What kind of person would that make me if I betrayed that sacred bond." She says sarcastically with resentment.

Jealousy rears its ugly head at her confirmation that she is taken. "One who knows what she wants," I say back, knowing she does want me. Her expression drops instantly from flirty to frustrated.

"I know what I want, and it's not you. Sorry to burst your ego-filled bubble." She tries denying what we both know as she plays the hard to get card.

"Whatever you say darlin', but you know it's not true."

She places her hands on her waist, jutting out her hip. "You are seriously so freaking full of yourself, aren't you?" Her mood suddenly drops from frustrated to something bitter. I'm confused by the whiplash as her tone throws me off, making me match her attitude in an instant like flipping a switch.

"And you're a scared, spoiled little princess terrified of her feelings."

"And you're an asshole." She narrows her eyes at me.

What the hell is her deal? She continues to just glare at me, unmoving. "Anyway, we need to be going. You ready?"

"Yes," she bites out, responding with a clipped tone. Rolling my eyes, I move to grab her bags. I can feel her eyes on me as I reach down for them. I make my way out of her apartment, not bothering to wait for her as I go.

Walking out to the car, I'm left confused, not sure what happened to make her freak out upstairs. Tossing her bags inside, I grab a smoke out of my pocket and light it, leaning against the door. Shaking my head, I draw in a deep breath. Exhaling slowly, trying to calm my nerves that she got riled up. I usually pride myself on my control, but that woman has a way of drawing out daggers when she shows her own claws. That is why you could never be with her. You two would be toxic. I tell myself. But fuck if I don't want her still.

Without realizing it, I had burned through the whole cigarette in record time. Looking down at the stub leftover, I flick it onto the ground just as Gianna finally comes out of the building. "You know smoking is bad for you, right." She calls out, making me roll my eyes again.

"That's not the only thing bad for me," I grumble low under my breath. Opening the door, Gianna slides in before I walk around the car climbing behind the wheel. As we drive to the private airport strip, she is quiet, seemingly lost in thought as her forehead creases. She stares out the window until we reach our destination, and she glances around.

As we settle onto the plane, I anticipate a quiet trip while she continues to simmer and silently ignore me. Fuck if I wasn't wrong, though. The moment we take off, I can see her shoulders tense. Getting up, I grab her a drink before settling back down in my seat. I know having a drink helped Liliana her first time on a plane, so maybe it would help relax her too. Tipping back the contents like a shot, I stare at her in astonishment. "You know that was $200.00 scotch you just threw back like a cheap shot of liquor."

"Wasn't the point to drink it to help me relax? Isn't it the faster