Page 58 of Dark Lover

“What’s that?” he asked warily, staring at the DVD before looking up at her.

She knew in that moment he hadn’t seen it. She was triumphant. “Oh, something you might like—a lot. I’d check it before you go to bed. Hell, maybe you can watch it with her over that white wine. Meanwhile, I am really late. Why don’t you come over when you’re done with her?” She turned to leave.

But he caught her arm again, jerking her back against his stiff body. His gaze was narrow with speculation now. Behind them, Jan said, “What are you up to, Sam?”

“Oh, I’m pretty good at providing entertainment. Call it negotiating, call it foreplay, hey, call it sealing the deal, if you want.”

“What’s on the DVD?” Jan asked carefully.

“It was a gift,” Sam said softly. She looked at Ian. Desire sizzled between them. “From our favorite bad guy.”

His eyes widened. Then he let her go and strode across the living room with the DVD in hand. Sam saw a laptop sitting on an antique desk. Her body was humming and hot. The aching had begun some time ago, maybe way back when they’d first met in Oban. It was explosive now.

Jan followed Ian across the room, her expression distasteful. She gave Sam a dark look as she passed her, clearly not trusting her.

Sam tried not to laugh. “What are you, his shadow?”

“If I understood you, the DVD is from Hemmer,” Jan said. “Have you mentioned it to Nick?”

“Not really,” Sam murmured as Ian sat down at the desk.

Jan walked over to him and said, “You should be careful.” She glanced up at Sam. “Why do I have the feeling that this is a trap?”

“I was given the DVD, Jan. It wasn’t my idea.”

Ian slid the DVD into the drive. “She can trap me any time.”

Jan said, “I hope your jealousy hasn’t shredded the last of what used to be your good judgment.”

Sam couldn’t help smiling. “Yeah, and pigs can fly like his taxicab did yesterday. I am so not jealous.” She wasn’t exactly certain about how Jan would react to the tape, but she hoped she’d be embarrassed—no, mortified.

And Ian was going to be on her hook, squirming. Ian was going to lose all control.

Jan looked from her to Ian and back again as the PC whirred. “You know,” she finally said, “you can be a bitch—but I don’t hate you—even though you hate me. You only hate me because I’m attractive and closer to Nick than you are. I actually respect you, Sam, even if you’re hung up a hundred different ways.”

“Gee, I’m touched,” Sam said, and then she heard her own gasp of pleasure.

Ian had been waiting for the DVD to play, his gaze on the screen. He went still.

Jan glanced at the monitor and turned red.

Sam forgot Jan. She watched Ian. He was rapt. His expression was hard, his gaze riveted now. She knew exactly what he was watching. She’d replayed that first scene and a few others a few times.

Jan walked out; Sam barely noticed.

The air in the room had changed. It was charged now, on fire.

Ian’s gaze never left the monitor as his eyes darkened impossibly. He sat down. She saw his chest rise and fall beneath the dark T-shirt he wore. “Come here,” he said softly.

This was it, she thought. “Only if you say pretty please.”

His shoulders stiffened and he tore his gaze from the monitor. His eyes were blinding, as bright as lightning. “Do ye really think ye can tease me with a tape?”

“I sort of know it,” Sam said dryly. “Wouldn’t you rather come with me to Hemmer’s than stay here with a born-again virgin?”

His gaze skidded back to the screen. He breathed hard. “Come here.”

She usually hated taking orders, but not this time. That harsh command sent desire cascading through her, from her hollow rib cage to her shaky legs. Sam walked slowly over to him, reminding herself that this was what she’d wanted to set in motion. But he was going to squirm—a lot. Not that she wanted a way out. She just wanted him to beg and plead for it.