My Summer in London (My Summer #1)(46)

“You’re mine, Serena. I won’t allow another man to have you,” I breathed out with fervent conviction. “You’re mine and that’s that.”

The statement held true to my heart. There was no way I was going to lose her. I would fight her tooth and nail if she threatened to walk away again.

It wasn’t long until she and I reached our release, and just like the first time, it shook me to the core. The rational side of me ought to ponder what could result from such affairs, but I was too shaken, maybe even a little disturbed, to take a moment to reflect on it.

Watching her carefully in the mirror, my eyes grazed her tinted cheeks and how her green eyes seemed at bliss.

“Why …?” she trailed off, hesitating. “I mean, why don’t you ever come inside me anymore? That’s the second time that’s happened, and I’ve begged you not to pull out.”

Had I granted her request twice, I wouldn’t be able to control myself. It felt too overpowering, as if it meant to unman me, and I wasn’t prepared for that. No man would unless, of course, she was willing to be mine and not just for sexual purposes, but to be exclusively with me and not because I could arouse her sexually.

Don’t get me wrong; our sexual compatibility was off the charts unbelievable, but I needed more than that. I wanted to possess the woman beneath the beauty and striking body. Her soul, her mind … I saw the woman underneath it all, and clearly, she wasn’t ready for that. Until then, we could simply dance around this madness. Though I wasn’t too pleased about it, I had no choice other than to work around it, or I would lose her altogether to my lothario of a brother or to some hopeless chap.

“In due time, but not today,” I said nonchalantly, walking away to clean up.

“It’s because you already f*uked someone else today, so our sex wasn’t all that special; is that it?” She folded her arms, clearly infuriated.

There was no doubt in my mind that she was ticked off. Instead of focusing on what she was saying, I was more engrossed in watching her face come alive with emotions. She was furious, and she had no idea how endearingly bewitching she looked.

Drawing my mind back to her accusation, I wasn’t sure if she was jealous or simply angrily repulsed that she had come after someone else. She was giving me mixed signals, and I loathed not knowing what she was thinking.

Emotions were such fickle subjects to observe, and the last thing I deserved was to have my good intentions being mocked. As a result, it was best to appear indifferent. That way, I could secure my sanity whilst protecting my pride at the same time.

“Why ask such questions that would surely complicate things between us, Serena?”

She growled before reaching for a hand towel and irately throwing it at me. “I complicate things by asking important questions? Go f*uk off, Cruz!” she lashed out before harrumphing out of the bathroom then outwards, possibly back to her desk to curse the living daylights of me.

I was maddeningly, hopelessly crazy for her, yet she didn’t seem to believe me. She had reservations; I was well aware of it, but would it be difficult to give me a chance instead of blocking this phenomenon that was developing between us?

I had fought her in the beginning and irrevocably lost. She must know where I stood. I had risked everything. I was all hers. All she simply had to do was claim me.

There was no way I was able to privately speak to her the next day because she was adamant not to be around the areas in the building where she knew I was. Even my refreshments were delivered by a newly minted intern. I could have stretched my power just to see how far she would bend to please me, but I wasn’t that much of a bastard. I knew she was still reeling from yesterday’s nonsensical upheaval.

I could have sat her down after we shagged and asked her to voice out what her concerns were, and I could have easily provided all of the answers she was looking for. However, she and I were at odds, and this constant, greedy need not to lose this bloody war she had silently waged against me was wreaking havoc with my very existence. Therefore, I decided to keep still, steadying myself even though I was in turmoil each time I saw her.

One of us needed to give in, but until then, we would keep on with this madness. Simply put, I was waiting for her to come to me, no holds barred, unbidden, and with no artifice or hidden agenda.

Just her…

Just Serena.





Chapter Twenty-Three





“Could you possibly dare look at how gorgeously sexy I am in this blasted outfit? The price is outrageous, but I’m rather inclined!” Nessa twirled before me in delight.

The strappy lace number screamed her, so I was wondering why she bothered even asking me. The woman had impeccable style in a badass, rock chic way. I admired her edginess and unapologetic attitude.

She snapped her fingers at me before waving both of her hands in the air. “Oy, earthling, have we landed, or are we still floating in mid-air?” She arched her brow at me, waiting.

I blinked at her a few times before shaking my head, clueless. “Hmmm? Earth floating what?” Was she asking me about the dress or some astrological question? I couldn’t be sure.

Nessa rolled her eyes before checking herself out in the mirror and whistling at herself. “Slay, bitch, slay!”

Count on Nessa to be her own cheerleader. I couldn’t help laughing at her silliness. There was something about her that made me feel happy just being around her. Her confidence and positivity were infectious. I loved it. Now, if I could channel some of that zeal into my turbulent relationship with Cruz that shamed the word “complicated.”