Page 24 of The Mech Who Loved Me
She staredathim.
And suddenly he knew exactly what she was thinking about. That night in the Garden of Eden lingered between them. His breath exploded out of him. "Me. You were thinking of me, and what happened thatnight."
"Nothingdidhappen."
Kincaid ground his teeth together and crossed his arms over his chest. "Deny it all you want. There was a moment that night when I was tempted to kiss you, a moment where you touched me, and you were thinking about it too. And let's be honest. Ever since then you've not been shy in staring at me when you think I'm not looking. Pretend all you like, kitten. I know you shiver when I touch you. I know you blush every time I look at you. I know you think wicked thoughts whenever I flirt with you. It's written all over your face, in the catch of your breath, the way your cheeks flush with heat." He reached out and caressed said cheek. "The way they'vepinkenednow."
Ava broke free from beneath his touch, taking several paces away from him with her arms wrapped around her middle as she sucked in an enormous breath. It wasn't a rejection. He turned to watch her, and she suddenly spun around, looking like a startled doe. Her eyes were black, a sure sign she felt the press of the hunger rise within her. Animal passions, she'd called it once. Bloodlust. Or just plain lust. He'd slowly learned thedifference.
Do notdoit.
Do notsayit.
"If you want to lose your virginity," Kincaid snarled, his cock giving a tempting stir behind the flap of his trousers as he took a step closer to her, the distance between them evaporating into a heated space. "Then you don't need a stranger. I'mrighthere."
Ava's eyeswidened. "What?"
"I'll give you time to think about it," he snapped, despite the thought this was a terrible idea. Kincaid waved the list of questions at her, feeling both utterly furious and aroused. "If you want passion, then I can give you passion, and you won't have to worry about what a stranger might do to you. It's a perfectly logical, rational decision, therefore it should appealperfectly."
Then he turned and stormed out before he saw the answer onherface.
* * *
"If you wantto lose your virginity, then you don't need a stranger. I'mrighthere."
Oh, God. What had she done? What had she said? Ava slammed Dr. Erasmus Cremorne's diaries closed, unable to concentrate on them or the task at hand. She'd used them to research the transformation from blue blood todhampirwhen Byrnes's life hung in the balance, and only her ability to create theelixir vitaeherself and give him the next doses had been able to save him. She'd wanted to find if there was any mention of something that might affect thedhampirin a Black Vein way, but Kincaid's words kept ringing inherears.
A perfectly logical, rational decision? Ha! What was logical about this incessant ache? She could barely think. She'd read the same page several times over, until the words all blended into eachother.
Who did he thinkhewas?
Ava pressed her fingers to her temples. He'd given her time to think about it, and so that was what she was going to do. She wanted Kincaid. He was correct in that assumption. She'd wanted him in some sort of physical way ever since he’d looked at her that night and told her to touch him. But what about... all the problems that might arise if she let him be herlover?
They were working a casetogether.
She'd see him every day, regardless of how thisended.
What if there was some argument? Some unpleasantness? She could not escape him if there was, and she liked her new job working for Malloryn. It gave her purpose, and a sense ofexcitement.
And speaking of Malloryn, he certainly wouldn'tapprove.
Ava sighed, going to make herself another pot of tea. She needed to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of thesituation.
Lust was not alwaysenough.
Though it was a very, very convincingargument.
* * *
"Here's something,"Kincaid said, striding into the laboratory at Malloryn's safe house and finding Ava curled up in an armchair, asleep, with a cold cup of tea sitting beside her. He'd spent six hours questioning Mr. Thomas's neighbors, though he had to admit he'd beendistracted.
Who wouldn't be when the one woman who got under his skin professed a sudden desire to lose hervirginity?
He paused as he stared downather.
She'd tucked her feet up underneath her skirts, and her head rested on her outflung arm, a diary of sorts in her lap. It looked terribly uncomfortable, but for a moment, looking down into her heart-shaped face, he had a feeling of... something. And it vexed him to not know what thatsomethingwas.
"Ava?" He shook hergently.
