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Her face flamed with hot colour now and he regretted being so blunt. Besides, if he was honest he’d admit that he had played with the idea of seducing her. More than played with the idea, dammit. He’d actually been anticipating it. That was really why he resented her perception.
‘So—so long as we understand one another, Mr Souvakis,’ she murmured primly, returning her gaze to her task, and Demetri knew an almost uncontrollable urge to prove to her how wrong she was.
But he made no response and after a few moments she apparently located the missing receipt. ‘I knew I had it!’ she exclaimed triumphantly, and Demetri, who wasn’t at all interested in documentation that his assistant could collect just as easily, gave a mocking smile.
‘I’ll try and contain my excitement,’ he remarked drily, and when she looked at him he saw her flush had deepened.
‘It may not be important to you, Mr Souvakis,’ she declared stiffly. ‘But it’s my job to see that each transaction is satisfactorily concluded. I’m sure your father wouldn’t be happy without the necessary certificate of provenance for the sculpture.’
Demetri shrugged. ‘I’m sure you’re correct, Ms Lang. My father cares about such things, as you say.’ He paused. ‘Regrettably, I do not.’
‘Then why did you offer to come and collect it?’ she asked helplessly, and Demetri could no longer resist the urge to touch her.
‘Because I wanted to see you again,’ he admitted, acknowledging something that up till then he would have denied, vigorously. He ran his knuckles over the downy heat of her cheek. ‘Apalos. So soft.’
‘But you said—’ She jerked her face aside but she didn’t move away. ‘You said you didn’t want to sleep with me.’
Demetri arched a lazy brow. ‘Men and women do many other things besides sleep together, thespinis. Haven’t you ever had a boyfriend?’
Her lips pursed. ‘Of course I’ve had boyfriends.’ She gave him a scornful look. ‘I hope you’re not going to pretend you want to be my boyfriend!’
‘No.’ He conceded the point. Then he grimaced. ‘I do not consider myself a boy any longer.’
‘So what are you saying?’
‘Must I spell it out for you? I’d like to get to know you better. And then, if we find we are compatible, perhaps we will sleep together. Who knows?’
‘I knew it!’ She put some space between them and then turned to face him with scornful eyes. ‘That’s all you’re really interested in, isn’t it? Why don’t you admit it?’
‘Because it’s not true,’ he retorted, his own anger sparking, and was amazed to find he meant it. ‘Hell, do I seem like such a womaniser to you?’
‘I don’t know. I don’t know you, Mr Souvakis.’
‘Precisely. So before you start throwing insults around, perhaps you should give yourself a chance to find out.’
‘I don’t want to find out!’ she exclaimed childishly, and Demetri felt his control slipping dangerously low.
‘Are you sure about that?’he demanded, and, giving in to his baser instincts, he caught her wrist and hauled her against him. His arm wrapped around her waist and he looked down into her startled face with an unfathomable gaze. ‘Are you really sure?’
For a moment she couldn’t look away, but then, with a struggle, she managed to get a hand between them. Her fingers pressed insistently against his chest. ‘Let go of me!’
‘And if I don’t?’ Her slim bare legs duelling with his were a constant distraction. ‘What will you do? You’re alone here. You’ve virtually admitted as much.’
Her eyes darkened. ‘Are you threatening me, Mr Souvakis?’
‘No!’ He was disgusted with himself for creating this situation. ‘Poli kala.’ He released her. ‘I suggest you give me the sculpture and I’ll leave. As that seems to be what you want.’
‘Yes.’
She agreed, though he thought there was a faint lack of conviction in her tone. Or perhaps that was just wishful thinking. She’d certainly not given him any reason to believe she was having second thoughts.
The parcel containing the sculpture proved to be bigger than he’d expected. ‘It’s all the packing,’ she said ruefully, seeing his surprise. ‘Can you manage?’
Demetri’s lips twisted. ‘Why? Are you offering to help me?’
Jane hesitated. ‘If you wanted me to. I’m used to handling awkward packages.’
‘And awkward customers, too,’ he commented drily, and she linked her hands together at her waist and gazed at him with troubled eyes.
