“Of course he does,” I sigh, stowing my lock in the front pocket of my backpack before standing. Reluctantly, I lift my gaze and study the man who towers over me. He’s self-assured and attractive and hyper-focused on me, making it very hard to simply get on my bike and ride away. Even though that’s exactly what I should be doing. “You and I don’t have a lot to talk about, sir.”
A muscle jumps in his cheek over my use ofsir.
“How do you know?”
“We live in different worlds.” I search for the right words. “Even if we’re able to have a nice conversation, we both know you only want one thing from me. Because while you might have a lot to offer me, I only have one thing to offer you. That’s why you’re here.”
“You really get right to the point, don’t you, Vida?” he says dryly.
“Am I wrong?”
He exhales, crossing his arms. The ocean breeze ripples around us as the seconds tick by.
“Look, you’re not wrong,” he finally responds, stepping closer to me. Close enough that I can smell his addictive scent of musk and grapefruit. “I’m here because I want to sleep with you. After yesterday, that should be obvious. But I also want to take you to dinner tonight. I want to get to know you, Vida.” He reaches out and catches some wavy strands of my hair between his fingers, tucking them behind my ear. “I’m sure you’ve encountered a lot of douchebags while working here. I probably know a lot of them. But I’m not them.”
“That’s what youwouldsay. If you were a douchebag.”
His masculine lips twitch with humor.
How did I manage to make a joke when he just confessed out loud that he wants to sleep with me? There’s a wave of hot tension traveling up from the tops of my thighs into my tummy and I’m trying desperately not to show how he affects me.
“I don’t think associating with you is a good idea,” I whisper, imploring him with my eyes to let this go. To let whatever is building between us die. “I’m out of my depth and you know it.”
He doesn’t bother denying it. “Let me take you out. Once.”
I purse my lips. “You think that’s all it will take to get me into bed?”
Giving me a slow once-over, he drags his tongue along the inside of his bottom lip, and I feel that contact beneath my belly button. A twisting lick of flames.
“I’ll take you out as many times as it takes, angel.”
“As many times as it takes to…”
“Fuck you. There. You wanted me to say it? I said it.” He eliminates the distance between us, pushing his open mouth up against my temple, his knuckle tracing my exposed skin just above the low waistband of my shorts. “I want to fuck you. I’m also willing to put in the time to make sure you’recomfortable enough to let me. Especially after what happened.” His breathing accelerates. “Especially because you’re a virgin.”
Heat swamps me. “How do you know that?”
Using my belt loop, he tugs me up against him. “Never felt anything tighter.”
Am I supposed to like having my private parts discussed out loud?
Am I supposed to feel a fizzy yearn all the way down to my toes?
“Let me take you out and spoil you. Let me earn it.”
Spoil me?
Every fiber of my being rebels against that suggestion. I don’t want to be bought. I don’t want to be seduced with fancy things. This man might be capable of buying everything he wants in this world, but I’m not going to be one of them. I’m going to be the exception.
Plus, if I allow him to spend a lot of money on me, doesn’t that create an expectation to sleep with him? Because that is not a foregone conclusion. Iwillmaintain the right to say no.
“No,” I say, just as his mouth brushes against mine.
He lifts his head. “No?”
“No, I don’t want to be taken out and spoiled. If you want to go out with me…” Am I really doing this? Against all common sense? “I’m picking the place and we’re splitting the check.”
His half grin is decidedly disarming. “Like fuck we are.”
