“Good class.” Dom was close behind her as they walked out the door, and the thrill of his nearness raised goose bumps on her arms.
“Thanks. I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, though.”
“What are you talking about?”
“First of all, you can’t just waltz in anywhere you want to. I was teaching a class. These people paid good money to take it. They don’t need their teacher distracted by an…unexpected visitor.”
“I distract you?”
“You know what I’m talking about.”
“Actually, I am a student. At the silent auction, I was the highest bidder on this.” He waved a piece of paper with the City Art School logo. “Lucky me. Again.” Despite herself, she felt her face heat. “You donated a six-week session of art classes, remember?”
“Of course, I remember,” she snapped. Okay, now it made sense. When she’d checked to see how much money her donations had raised, she’d noticed someone had filled out the buy-now price on this item. It washim.She wasn’t sure whether to be flattered or pissed off.
“I didn’t plan on taking the classes, but?—”
“Then why did you buy it if you didn’t intend to use it?”
He shrugged. “It was an impulse purchase. Besides, many people buy certificates at auctions with no intention of ever using them. They simply consider it a donation.”
The temperature of her blood shot up. She didn’t care that he’d paid much more for the classes than what they were worth. Damn the Alzheimer’s Foundation.
“So, when you left the tape measure, I thought I’d drop it off. Besides, I enjoyed our conversation. The way you describe things is...intriguing.”
“Intriguing?” Her anger began to fizzle. She didn’t remember exactly what she’d said last week at the loft. What she did remember were his thinly veiled taunts and innuendos.
He leaned against the door frame. She almost grazed his hip when she reached for the handle.
“Thank you, I guess.” Shutting the classroom door with a bang, she locked it and turned on her heel.
“Have dinner with me,” Dom called, before she got to the top of the stairs. “Tomorrow night at the loft. I want to cook for you.”
Mackenzie stopped then spun around to face him. Her eyes danced in obvious anticipation of what she was about to say. He tuned in to the beat of her heart as it pounded in his ears.
“What, so you can christen the arrival of your new bedroom painting with the actual subject matter?” The words spat through her teeth, twisting his gut in a delicious fashion. She was clearly on edge. He should stop and try to calm her down, but her feistiness lit a fire inside him that he wanted to keep smoldering.
“How interesting. I hadn’t thought of that.”
She scowled at him. “Well, I’ve got news for you. What happened at the auction was an anomaly. An accident. A horrible mistake.”
He closed the distance between them, and her eyes flashed. Toe to heel, she backed away from his advance but he continued until she could go no further. With both hands on the wall, he caged her between his arms and leaned in, stopping just before their bodies met. His eyes were drawn to the pulse fluttering below her ear, and he licked his lips.
“An anomaly, yes. A horrible mistake, no.”
He heard the breath catch in her throat as he dipped his head to hers. He knew she expected him to kiss her, and that’s why he didn’t. A brown curl tickled his cheek as he inhaled and pulled her scent into his lungs, his erection throbbing between his legs. He repositioned himself, wanted to press his length hard against her hip—God, she would feel good—but he didn’t. She arched closer as if she sensed his desire, her body contradicting her words.
“What are— Who do you think— Just so you know, I don’t do these sorts of things with strange men. Ever. I’m sorry I gave you that impression.” Her halting voice betrayed the effect he washaving on her, and he grinned. Although she was a head shorter than him, with a defiant lift of her chin, she managed to look down her nose at him through her lashes.
His gums throbbed as his fangs threatened to break through, but he willed them to stay put. “I’m not really a stranger, though, am I?”
Her green eyes were glued to his lips. Was she hoping he’d kiss her? Even the tip of her tongue darted out for a moment, but still he didn’t make contact. He wanted her to touch him first, and he wasn’t disappointed.
Her palms were cool against the heat of his chest as she tried to push him away with anoomph.It was half-hearted at best. He moved away from her slightly, although he could tell she was caving and desire simmered behind her eyes.
“What do you think you’re doing? I have no idea what came over me that night or what kind of person you think I am, but it ain’t happening again.” She thrust her finger at his chest and he jumped back playfully. Oh, he was so loving this.
“So, if you think—” She took a step forward, poking him in the chest with a short pink nail and he took a step back. “You can ask me to dinner—” Another step, another poke. “Just to get me into bed, you can forget it.”
