9

Chapter 9 - Irrational Desire

"You're a box of surprises... Brenda Harper," Giovanni said with a hoarse voice, swallowing hard.

"I'm just practical," she shrugged. "I didn't like the way people looked at me, as if they pitied me."

He chuckled, needing to lean against the wall for a moment as a sudden dizziness washed over him.

"Let me take you to bed..." he requested without thinking.

"Excuse me?" Brenda's heart skipped a beat.

Giovanni smiled, despite the unintended implication of what he had said. It hadn't been intentional, but he found the girl's reaction quite amusing.

"You're about to fall..."

"I can do it myself."

Despite her words, she stumbled again, and Giovanni caught her in his arms, ending up even closer to her than they had been on the dance floor.

"Are you sure?" he raised an eyebrow, looking at her teasingly. "Let's suppose I believe you, what will you do when you smash your pretty face against the floor?"

"That'll be my problem," she snapped, annoyed, and Giovanni mov