Angela froze for a second as she mulled over the image in her head with Gael's men in her living room dressed in elves costume, wrapping gifts like they were born to do it while she dressed as a girl Santa—an outfit she had hanging in her closet. She shook her head to brush the thought away and stepped aside, allowing the men to enter her place.

As they strode inside, Gael gave them an order. "Do a clean sweep. Make no corners left unchecked."

"Why? Is something wrong?" she wondered, but her tone didn't sound panicked. She was still a little fazed with them being in her place and slightly distracted as she took in Gael's appearance. He had changed into a custom-tailored black dress shirt and khaki pants, looking every bit like the snack that he was.

"Just protocol. This is a new apartment. I just want to make sure you're safe," he answered naturally, a small crooked smile ghosting his lips when he caught her ogling—she wasn't aware that she was.

His response made her think that he didn't just bring his men here to help her wrap some Christmas gifts. Their presence must have had something to do with security stuff. Should she feel annoyed? A little part of her did. But she pushed it down, knowing that Gael only meant well. Angela believed that even if she'd refuse him, he'd probably still ask his men to do it discreetly without her knowing.

The two were still at the foyer, facing each other. She turned around to observe the men moving about her apartment, but he caught her by the elbow, tugged her, and closed their gap. A small gasp escaped from her because of the sudden movement. Her hands flew to his chest as his arm circled her waist. "Wha—"

"You need to change," his voice dipped lower, sending goosebumps down her arms. He looked at her with a gentle gaze, but there was a slight authority in his voice. There was barely space between them as her chest was flush against his.

"Why? Are we going somewhere?"

"Your shorts are too short. I can see your ass when you turn your back to me."

Angela swallowed, heat creeping up her neck. So he was looking at her behind just now? Why did she like that?

"Something wrong with my ass?" she probed in almost a whisper.

Gael's lip twitched, amusement dancing in his eyes as he held her gaze. Her breathing hitched when his hand that was on her waist slid down to her left butt cheek. He gave it a squeeze, and it was all she could do to stop a moan from coming out of her.

Playful Gael went to hide—sexy and dangerous Gael came out to play.

He briefly glanced at her lips. "They're perfect—if you must know. But I don't want you parading them in front of my men."

Angela slowly turned her head towards the living room to examine his men. They were all busy checking out windows, spaces, and areas of the house, looking for god knows what. They all looked serious, doing their jobs with nearly expressionless faces.

Gael's voice pulled her back to face him again as he told her, "You might not catch them checking you out because they respect me, but they're still men."

"Hmmm. And men think with their pants? Does that include you?" She smiled teasingly before narrowing her eyes at him. "And respect? Don't you mean they 'fear' you?"

He ignored her comment, and his hand slid up past her hip—she immediately missed the warmth of his hand where it was just a second ago. Then he hooked his thumb in the waistband of her shorts, teasing her skin. "Only wear these when there's no one else in the room but me. It goes the same with your tank tops."

"What are you gonna do if I don't do as you say?"

A playful smirk formed on his lips. "You don't want to find out."

Angela cleared her throat and backed away from him, not wanting him to feel the heavy and loud drumming of her chest. God, his effect on her was overwhelming. She strolled into her room, and he followed her.

"I'm changing," she told him as she reached her closet.

Gael stood by the door with his hands in his pockets and nodded casually. "Go ahead," he said as if he was giving her permission.

"Are you standing there to watch, Mr. De Luca?" She chuckled, folding her arms across her chest. This man...

"Why not? I stripped and changed in front of you a few times... Why can't I do the same?"

Her face immediately heated at the memory of Gael's gorgeous body as he unabashedly changed in front of her last night and this morning. The planes of his body had been seared to her brain, making her feel hot. She could still remember how his muscles rippled in his torso when he moved. He had strong arms that carried her to bed like she weighed nothing. Chests and abdominal muscles were firm as if they were ready to work. Even his tattoos and scars here and there, she found them beautiful.

The thought of his half-naked body made her eyes on him go lower, and he smirked as if he knew she was thinking about the bulge in his pants. What was she doing? She imagined his bare body while he was still fully clothed. Her cheeks reddened just as her core burned with need.

Angela tore her gaze away and raised her chin. "Fine. Stay. I don't care." If he wanted a strip, she'd give him a little peek.

She caught the growing smile on his face, but it disappeared quickly when she held the hem of her hoodie and threw it over her head, leaving her with her bra and slinky shorts. She knew he only meant for her to change her shorts, but she couldn't help the tease. He graced her with his shameless stripping last night; she was only returning the favor.

The vein in his neck popped. She swore she could see it pulse as he kept his eyes on her. He did not expect her to do this at all.

Next, she hooked her thumbs on the waistband of her shorts and slowly pushed them down, letting them drop to her ankles, his lustful eyes following her every move. She stepped out of her shorts as he leered over her body, and though she was still wearing underclothes—a matching cream-colored lace bra and underwear that was almost the color of her skin—she felt naked under his hot gaze. He swallowed as he openly checked her out. She felt as though he wanted to imprint her body in his mind.

Angela then turned around and purposely bent down to grab her clothes on the floor without bending her knees. She didn't know if she looked silly or sexy—she hoped it was the latter—while she stuck her ass in the air for his eyes to feast on. She was proud of her buttocks. She worked so damn hard in the gym for it. And now Gael was reaping the benefits. A smile grew on her lips when she heard him hiss from a few feet away.

She straightened up, tossed the clothes in the hamper, and grabbed a white shirt and a pair of black yoga pants from her closet. With her back still facing him, she changed into the new clothes slowly.

When she turned around, Gael looked at her with hungry eyes. He appeared almost pained and angry as he narrowed his eyes at her new clothes, giving her a once over. She suppressed a laugh by biting her bottom lip. The way he watched her was as if her wearing clothes were offensive to him.

She couldn't help herself anymore, and a chuckle came out of her as she sauntered towards him, arching an amused brow. "What's with that look? Didn't you like what you saw?"

"You're wearing that out there?" A crease formed between his brows. Gael was so damn attractive that even his 'angry' expression only made him look hotter.

Angela glanced down at herself. She wore a tight shirt with a V neckline that dipped just at the start of her cleavage, a small indentation between her breasts peeking out, and yoga pants that clung to her like a second skin, shaping her thighs and ass. She worked hard for them; why not flaunt? Her shoulder lifted, and she kept her tone light when she asked, "What's wrong with my outfit? I'm covering what needs to be covered."

She was playing with fire, but Gael did it first. Two could play the game, and she was a willing participant. When he didn't answer, she inched closer and smiled, gliding her hand up his chest to his neck and then his cheek, patting him softly. A naughty glint flashed in her eyes. "Hm?"

Gael groaned when he gripped her waist. He was barely hanging as he gazed at her for what seemed like forever when it was only really a few seconds. Then his shoulders relaxed as he sighed. "Someday...you're gonna kill me, Angel."