“A friendship gift from Vegas,” he answered with humor in his voice.
She got nervous when she saw the label of an exclusive jeweler on the lid. She fumbled with the top, finally letting it fall to the floor as it came free from the bottom.
“Oh, my God. Julian. No.” The delicate black pearls were stunning, each one of them just a little different from the others, making the set unique. There was an equally elegant bracelet, and earrings to match.
Wordlessly, he took the box from her hands and dumped the jewelry into his hand. He carefully put the necklace on her and fastened the catch, then the bracelet. He took her hand and dropped the earrings into her palm.
“You’ll have to do those. I don’t want to hurt you, since your ears are pierced.”
Stunned, Kristin fingered the beautiful necklace. “I can’t take these. They probably cost a fortune.”
“I’m rich,” he reminded her with a Hollywood smile.
“I’m not,” she retorted, reaching for the catch on the necklace.
“Don’t.” Julian caught her wrist to stop her from taking off the pearls. “It’s perfect with your dress, and I like seeing you wear them. It gives me pleasure.”
“Why?”
“Because when you’re wearing something I gave you, I feel like you’re mine,” he answered candidly. He paused before adding, “Don’t be stubborn, Scarlet. For me, it’s a small thing.”
For some reason, Kristin was reluctant to throw the lovely, thoughtful gift back in his face. Pulling her wrist from his grip, she turned and walked to the mirror near the couch and put the earrings in.
There was nothing gaudy or ostentatious about the set. They suited her dress perfectly, and they were small but classy.
She turned and faced him. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Nothing. Or thank you would be good. It’s generally the appropriate thing to say when someone gives you a gift.”
She hesitated, but couldn’t quite bring herself to refuse his gift. It obviously made him happy, and for some odd reason, she didn’t want to hurt his feelings right now. Maybe it was the flash of vulnerability she could hear beneath his casual sarcasm. Or perhaps it was because he told her she looked beautiful in a way that almost made her believe him. “Thank you. It’s the nicest thing anyone has ever given me.”
It was also thoughtful because he’d gone to the trouble of finding out what color she was wearing in order to choose a gift. Why would a guy as busy as Julian do that?
“You deserve the world,” Julian answered. “But I’m still not happy about that dress. My dick will be hard as long as you’re with me. And for Christ’s sake, don’t bend over.”
“Should I run away so you don’t have to protect me?” she asked lightly.
He caught her up in his arms and growled. “Try it and I’ll find you wherever you go.”
His fierceness took her breath away. She took his head between her hands and gave him a tender kiss on the mouth, lingering before pulling away again. “I’ll have the hottest date a woman could ever want. You look gorgeous in a tux.”
Actually, she was pretty sure he looked good naked, but she wasn’t going to go there. But with his blond hair partially tamed, and in formal wear, Julian was the hottest guy she’d ever seen. If she’d thought casual was his style, maybe she was wrong.
“I never get the bow right,” he said unhappily.
She took a step back and played with the bow, adjusting it until it was completely straight. “There. Now it’s perfect.”
“I just noticed you’re not wearing a bra,” he mentioned gruffly.
Looking down, Kristin was mortified when she realized being close to Julian, inhaling his masculine scent, had made her nipples hard. They were sensitive as they abraded against the silken material every time she moved.
“Then try to tone down the testosterone,” she admonished him, still embarrassed that her breasts were giving him an aroused salute. “I already feel naked enough in this dress.”
Julian stepped forward and ran a gentle finger down her cheek. “I like it,” he argued as the tracing finger went down her neck. “I just wish you weren’t going to send every man around into a lust-filled frenzy.”
Jesus! She wished he’d stop saying those things to her. Maybe he was attracted to her, but she still found that fact pretty surreal. “I think you’ll be the only one looking.”
“I hope so, sweetheart, but I doubt it. But if I catch some guy staring at you, it will piss me off.”
The covetous note in his tone made her shudder as his finger reached her breast. She couldn’t move as he tracked her hard nipple with his index finger. One touch and she was destroyed.
He pulled her into his arms, his hands running over every curve of her body. “I love the way you feel. Don’t ever say you’re dumpy or overweight. Your body is perfect.”
“My butt is too big. And my hips are ridiculous. I’ve never been thin and I never will be,” she answered sadly.