Sunny swallowed hard as she nodded slowly. “May I see some identification, please?”
He looked startled at her request. His eyes widened for a second before his expression shifted. Something in his eyes began to glow with what she could only identify as approval. He smirked as he pulled out his wallet and flipped it open. Holding it up, he allowed her to study it. George Hartland III was the name on the small piece of plastic. The face was the same, but the picture showed him wearing his hair in tight curls to his shoulders. This was indeed Geo, the man Gigi had sent to ferry her to the hotel.
“Satisfied, Sunflower?” he asked after a few seconds when she had studied his picture and then glanced up at him several times before looking away.
She nodded. “Yes, thank you. And please, call me Sunny.”
“No, I don’t think so. Do you have any other bags we need to get?” he said, looking toward the carousels.
“No, this is everything,” she said, her gaze dropping to the black sports bag and almost briefcase at her side.
He looked shocked then reached for her luggage. “Allow me,” he said.
Standing the carry-on up, she released it but pulled off the briefcase, and slung its long strap over one shoulder. That bag had her computer, purse, and entire traveling life. No one would carry it but her.
By the time they reached his big black pickup truck at the far side of the parking lot, she had practiced the breathing techniques her Reiki master had taught her to use to relax, and felt a little better. But the man at her side who was a good eight inches taller than she was still intimidated the hell out of her. He was too beautiful, too masculine, and had an aura of knowing exactly who he was and being happy with himself and his place in life. She wished she could be that confident.
After placing her bag into the back of the truck, between several boxes and a couple of other suitcases, he came around to the passenger’s seat but stopped before opening her door. Her stomach dropped, and her * gushed when he crowded her against the side of the truck. He smelled sooo good. Placing a hand on either side of her shoulders to keep her from bolting, he bent forward until they were eye to eye and mere inches separated them.
“Are you submissive as well as being shy, sweet Sunflower?”
She looked into his eyes as long as she could, trying to call up a sassy, snarky answer, but the dominance she saw in the depths of Geo’s golden brown eyes sent a shiver through her. She was submissive, especially in the face of such obvious power. She knew and accepted that she was shy, so shy that she would never be able to open up enough to find a man, especially a dominant one like this one, of her very own. It would be a lonely rest of her life, but at least she had her books, where she could build the perfect relationship, and there was always a happily ever after.
Once again, she found she could not speak as she stared into his eyes, though she did force herself to straighten her spine and hold the gaze instead of looking away. After a handful of seconds, he lifted one eyebrow. Then one corner of his full lips tilted up slightly.
When he cocked his head just the slightest bit to the right and then tilted it forward, she broke. She dropped her eyes, and then tilted her head forward. Maybe this weekend was not such a good idea after all. Maybe it was not too late to catch the next flight home.
“Well, that answers that. Now, on to the more important question,” Geo said, gently wrapping his right hand around her left wrist. He lifted her hands to shoulder height and studied her fourth finger. “No ring, but these days that doesn’t mean a hell of a lot. So, the question is, do you have a husband, boyfriend, Master, or significant other cluttering up your life?”
Tempted to make up a man just to see what he would do, she glanced up into Geo’s chocolate gaze, and the momentary surge of sassiness withered away. Slowly she shook her head side to side.
“Good,” he said softly. “By the end of the weekend you will.”
He looked smug as his hand lifted her chin, and he leaned closer. He did not stop until his lips brushed over hers. Once, then again, they slid along hers. On the third pass, they settled in for a stay. She was stunned when the emotional walls she had placed to keep herself from feeling other people’s energy crumbled, and his energy swept around her. It was unlike anything she had ever felt before. He radiated a fuzzy sort of warmth layered over a pulse of pure strength. Like a teddy bear with an edge.