“I said I didn’t like it, but only because I really LOVE it.” He grabbed me and tickled my ribs, his big body pressing into mine with familiarity. “Like and love—not the same!” I screeched, trying to get away from his tickling fingers. I got in a few good digs of my own before he hauled me over his shoulder, trapping me and laughing in that deep sexy way of his. I dug my fingers into his own ribs as he manhandled me, hoping I was getting to him. I think so because he started to move faster toward our picnic, probably to get me off him sooner. I was laughing too when he dropped me down into my chair, happy to see I’d affected him, even if only a little. It was all so fun with him. Being here with Ivan was fun, and I knew I couldn’t say no to having more time like this with him. He wanted more? Hell, I needed more.

Chapter 4

IVAN

Like and love—not the same.

Her words struck me hard. What was I even doing with this woman? I don’t think I had a goddamn clue. Operating on pure instinct, I just knew I wanted her. I knew being with Gabrielle like this, with her happy and playful, made me feel really fucking good. I didn’t want to overanalyze, but it had been so long since I’d felt this good with someone, it wasn’t easy recognizing the sensation. For now, I’d just have to hold on to the good feelings and hope I wasn’t being a bloody fool over a woman—for what would not be the first time in my life.

Once I was finally seated across from her, and could think for more than five seconds without the distracting desire to fold her over our lunch table and fuck her into next week, I managed to serve the food and pour the drinks without incident.

“You do feed your dates well, Lord Everley, I’ll give you that,” she said over a bite of roast beef sandwich, “this is delicious.” It was very charming to me she didn’t understand how names and titles worked. Being American, she had no reason to know, so I couldn’t fault her reasonable mistake.

“I wouldn’t call you a date.” She was so much more. The two of us were miles beyond dates, even if she didn’t know it yet.

“Well, what would you call me then?” she asked saucily.

“A challenge.” And she was that. I’d barely accepted the fact she was the same woman Ethan wanted to introduce me to months ago. Fate at work. “You are the loveliest challenge to ever put me through my paces, Miss Hargreave.” She looked down shyly and my cock stirred in appreciation. Just one small submissive gesture from her and my inner Dom was running rampant with what I wanted to do with her. I already knew she was a person who dealt in truths, but I wondered if she too believed in fate. Did she have any idea how attracted I was? I doubted it, and I wasn’t planning on sharing that bit of information with her just yet either, because I had her now. Gabrielle Hargreave was all mine whether she knew it or not.