Oh, she was very aware of that. “You shouldn’t underestimate Gunn, either. He may not be smart, but he’s mean, and you aren’t.”
“And you?” Niklas said.
She lifted the star to his neck and pricked his skin. “I’m the meanest of all.”
He reached up, closing his hand over the star. He leaned closer to her, which pushed the star harder against his skin. His lips came very close to hers. Just a few short centimeters that could be crossed in one tiny movement.
“I seem to find your brand of mean attractive.”
Her stomach clenched and she felt a low, warm heat move through her. “Maybe you aren’t as intelligent as I thought you were.”
His blue eyes burned with an intensity that threatened to steal her breath. “I will have you, Nera. We both know it’s coming.”
Her heart was beating so hard it hurt. “No.”
He leaned in another centimeter, his breath brushing over her lips. “You’ll scream my name.”
She had to work hard to keep her voice cool, controlled. “I thought you were the least arrogant of your brothers. Clearly, I was wrong.” She hid her shaking hand by her side.
He stepped back, and she gratefully pulled in a breath.
“I have a proposition for you.”
She looked up, her pulse tripping. “Niklas?—”
“I suggest we team up. Work together.”
Oh. “I’m not into teamwork.”
“Just for this mission to Earth. You watch my back, and I watch yours.”
She’d already planned on watching his back…and very fine ass. “I see the benefit in that. I don’t have any friends on this ship.” She didn’t have any friends, full stop.
He extended a hand. “Shall we make it official?”
She shook it, and felt a frisson of something hot and electric skitter up her arm. With his palm pressed against hers, she felt the calluses on his hand, the warmth of him.
Now she raised a brow. “Are you going to let go of my hand?”
He pressed his thumb against her pulse point. “Your skin is so much softer than I imagined.”
Her lips parted a little, and she tried to pull her hand back, but he held fast. “My skin isn’t relevant to the deal.”
“No, but I still plan to explore it.” He pulled her closer, until her chest brushed his.
“No.”
“Let me in, Nera.”
She swallowed. “I…I can’t.”
Frustration crossed his face. “Dammit, I don’t want to hurt you.” The words burst out of him.
Seeing his control snap made her belly clench.
“I want to get to know you, Nera.” His fingers flexed on her skin. “I want to pleasure you.”
She dredged up some much-needed willpower from somewhere. “A business partnership, Phoenix. I’ll watch your back, you’ll watch mine. That’s it.”
