Page 19 of My Playboy Neighbor

"Thank you," Maya said, accepting the cup he offered.The coffee was perfect—dark and rich with just a hint of cream."Dom, are you okay?You seem..."

"I'm fine."His response was too quick, too controlled."We need to talk."

Maya's stomach dropped.Here it came—the morning-after conversation where Dom would politely but firmly establish that last night had been a mistake.

"About last night—" she began.

"Last night was incredible," Dom interrupted, finally looking at her.But there was something guarded in his eyes now, walls that hadn't been there when he'd whispered her name in the darkness."But Maya, I need you to understand something about me."

Maya set down her coffee cup, bracing herself."Okay."

Dom moved to the window, putting the length of the room between them."I don't do relationships.I don't do emotional attachments or morning-after conversations about feelings.It's not who I am."

The words hit like a physical blow, but Maya forced herself to keep her expression neutral."I see."

"I'm not saying this to hurt you."Dom's hands clenched at his sides, and Maya caught a glimpse of the internal struggle he was trying to hide."I'm saying it because what happened between us last night...it was more intense than I expected.And that scares the hell out of me."

At least he was being honest about the intensity, even if he was running from it.

"My career is hanging by a thread right now," Dom continued."I can't afford distractions.I can't afford to care about someone in ways that make me lose focus."

"Is that what I am?A distraction?"

Dom turned to face her, and for a moment his mask slipped.Maya saw his desire, the way his eyes tracked over her body in his shirt, the visible struggle between what he wanted and what he thought he should do.

"You're the biggest distraction I've ever encountered," he said quietly."Which is exactly why this can't be anything more than what it was."

Maya’s heart cracked, but she lifted her chin."And what was it, exactly?"

"Good sex.Great sex."Dom's voice was carefully controlled."Between two adults who are attracted to each other."

"That's all?"

Dom went very still, and Maya saw the moment he made his choice—to hide behind his reputation rather than acknowledge what had really passed between them.

"That's all I can offer anyone right now," he said finally.

Maya nodded, swallowing the hurt.She'd known this was a possibility.Dom's reputation preceded him—the playboy who didn't do commitments, who kept things physical and uncomplicated.She just hadn't expected it to sting this much.

"I understand," she said quietly.

"Good.Because I'd like to continue...this.What we have.If you're interested."

"What exactly are you proposing?"

Dom moved closer to the bed but stopped just out of reach."We're both adults.We're attracted to each other.And we're going to be working together for the next few weeks."His voice dropped."It doesn't have to be complicated."

Maya studied his face, seeing the careful control, the way he was holding himself back.This wasn't the confident proposition of a man who was comfortable with casual arrangements.This was someone trying to protect himself from feeling too much.

"No strings attached?"Maya asked.

"No strings attached," Dom confirmed."What happens between us stays private.We keep it separate from work.And when the assignment is over..."

"We go our separate ways," Maya finished.

"Exactly."

Maya considered his offer.She needed this assignment—her career depended on it.And despite the hurt of his emotional withdrawal, she couldn't deny that she wanted him.Last night had awakened something in her that she wasn't ready to walk away from.

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