Gentleman Sinner(38)

‘But you still don’t like it.’

‘Oh, I love it, trust me. But I don’t trust myself, Izzy. My reaction is ingrained too heavily into me. I can’t help it.’

‘Reaction?’

He shrugs. ‘I don’t like being touched.’

I get the feeling he won’t expand on that, so I fire another question. ‘Why?’

‘Who are you afraid of?’ he counters, evading my question and hitting me with his own.

I try my hardest not to tense. I fail terribly, my muscles aching in an instant under the pressure of his question. He’s already figured out that someone hurt me. I can’t venture into my painful past again. ‘Tell me,’ he demands, levelling an expectant gaze on me, his hand drifting down to my tummy and circling over my scars.

I shrink and shake my head, indicating that I’m not prepared to go there, just as I now know he won’t be indulging me. ‘I need to go find Jess,’ I mumble. He doesn’t push me, and I’m grateful. I can live without his secrets if he can live without mine.

Theo squeezes me a little before lifting me to my feet. ‘Then I will take you back.’ Releasing me, leaving me feeling a little lost, he steps back and indicates across the room to the bathroom. ‘Help yourself to a shower.’

I smile my thanks and gather up my things before scooting across the soft carpet and shutting the door behind me. I drop my clothes to the floor and fall back against the door, covering my face with my hands. The needy ache overwhelming me feels suffocating. I haven’t just dipped a toe into Theo’s world. I’ve dived in headfirst.





Chapter 9

When I call Jess, she tells me they’re in the Chandelier bar in the Cosmopolitan, a few hotels down the Strip. There’s no need for Callum to drive me back, and I see both disappointment and worry on Theo’s face when I tell him.

‘It’s an easy walk,’ I say as he escorts me to the elevator. ‘I’ll be there in a few minutes.’

‘Vegas isn’t a place where a young woman should be roaming around alone.’ He reaches for the call button and straightens out his jacket. ‘I’ll walk you.’

‘You say it like I’m decades younger than you,’ I muse, gazing up at him when I feel him cock me a sideways look.

‘Go on,’ he prompts, his lip curving. ‘Ask me.’

‘How old are you?’

‘Thirty-one. You?’

I smile, delighted. ‘Twenty-seven.’ I return my focus forward and catch his small smile in the reflection of the mirrored doors. I return it until he shakes his head a little, looking down.

‘Izzy White,’ he sighs, just as the doors open.

I look to Theo, not wanting to step in at the same time as him and collide with his big body. He nods for me to lead, which I do quickly, Theo following. The elevator stops at a few floors on the way down, more people boarding. As Theo moves to the back of the cart, I watch him, wondering what would happen if any one of these people were to catch him unexpectedly on the arm. I can see he’s going out of his way to ensure that doesn’t happen, his eyes wide and watching carefully.

When the doors open, he waits for everyone else to exit before stepping forward himself, but someone waiting outside the lift starts to enter. Theo moves speedily, leaning back to miss the flailing arm of the person rushing inside.

I look on, stunned. ‘That was some fast moving,’ I say, waiting for him to join me. His hand comes up between us, showing me his palm before he slowly takes it to my lower back and pushes me on.

‘I have a lot of practice,’ he says quietly, for the first time making me wonder if one of Callum’s many duties is to guard him from being touched. His bodyguard. It seems ludicrous, yet since Theo hasn’t told me the consequence of an unexpected touch, I can’t appreciate the level of seriousness.

We exit the hotel and wander down the long curved path past the famous fountain display, my instinct putting me on the inside of him so no one standing by the concrete barriers admiring the show can accidently knock him. He looks down at me and smiles, like he’s privy to my intention.

‘I can’t believe you came all this way,’ I muse, settling into his side when he wraps an arm around my shoulders.

‘And just to get my leg over, too.’

I laugh loudly and look up at him, probably more dreamily than I mean to. ‘Business,’ I remind him.

‘Oh, yeah. Business first and foremost, of course.’

I shake my head to myself. I’m the business. ‘Well, I hope the business was worth your while.’

‘It was more than worth it,’ he says wryly, returning his attention forward and moving to the side when a tourist armed with a camera barrels toward us. Theo gets us on our way again once the path is clear. ‘But do me a favour,’ he adds.

‘What?’

‘Don’t let my business wear that skimpy swimsuit again.’ He tosses me a disapproving look, and I laugh. He’s a smart man. After seeing my stomach, he knows very well why I wore that particular swimsuit, though he’s not letting his discovery divert his disapproval. I don’t know why that makes me happy. ‘The answer is, “Yes, Theo.” ’

‘Yes, Theo.’ I chuckle, feeling him nudge me playfully.

Our short walk to the Cosmopolitan is comfortably quiet and very fascinating. He weaves through the crowds expertly, keeping me close, not only ensuring no one brushes him, but no one touches me, either. When we reach the big glass doors, he opens them for me and places a cheeky palm on my arse when I pass him. I turn to face him once we’re in the foyer, my way of telling him I’ll be okay from here.