Page 15 of Dylan (Bad Boys After Dark)
She sighed and pulled her hand away, earning another low chuckle. Chalk that up to his hard-to-resist qualities.
“You’re nervous,” he said thoughtfully.
Damn it.
“No, I am not.” She stalked to the front door carrying her belongings against her chest like a shield.
“You are.” Amusement swam in his eyes. “Well, well. Isn’t this interesting?”
When she grabbed the doorknob, he leaned over her shoulder and pressed his hand to the door. His body loomed over her, heating her up all over again.
“Did we hit a ten? Is that why you’re all flustered?”
Ten? That was a fifteen for sure.
“Eight and a quarter. Tops.” She glared at him to try to convince herself she wanted to leave. “I have to go.”
“Let me take you out tomorrow night.”
He said it so sweetly—like hereallywanted to go out with her. She was having a hard enough time detaching from what they’d just done. She still felt his hands moving over her flesh, his mouth buried between her legs, and his breath—God, his hot, sensual breath—ghosting over her skin. Goose bumps rose on her arms. He probably had a harem of women he used all the same lines on.Autumn. Beautiful.Please!
“No, thank you, Dylan. I told you this was a one-time thing.”
“We both know that’s not true.” He leaned down and touched his lips to her cheek.
She closed her eyes, willing control back into her body. When she opened them again, he was watching her with a coy smile.
“Do you mind?” she said firmly. “I have to leave.”Before I climb you like a mountain and plant my flag.Oh boy, she was really losing it.
“I do mind, but you can rectify that by saying you’ll see me again.”
She grabbed the doorknob again, gathering all her courage. “Nothappening.”
It pained her to say it, because she’d had a great time, and it wasn’t just because the sex was amazing. Dylan was smart, funny, sexy, and thoughtful. He was dangerous to her in ways no man had been since college, and that petrified her. But she’d been down this heart-palpitating, toe-curling, dead-end road before. That painful memory solidified her need to get her head on straight. She was far too busy building her business to get dumped and lose her mind. She’d come a long way since that time of her life, and she wasnevergoing back to being the kind of woman who relied on a man for anything.
“Why?” He pressed several scintillating kisses to her neck, and her traitorous body reacted instantly.
“Really, Dylan? You want to know why? Most guys would be like,cool. See ya!”
“I’m not like most guys.” He kissed her again. “And you’re not like most girls. So tell me you’ll see me again.”
She glared at him again. “Why?”
“Because I like you.”
She laughed. “You like hot sex.”
How could helikeher? She wasn’t that likable anymore. She was cold, untrusting, and consumed with work. The pit of her stomach sank with the realization. She’d known it, but until this very second, she hadn’t realized how much of herself she’d lost over the years. Those adopted personality traits had dragged her out from the swamp she’d fallen into after losing the man she’d built her life around and the best friend she’d trusted with all her secrets. They were also the very qualities that allowed her to be laser focused and become a success.
“That, too,” he admitted, going in for another kiss.
She ducked out from beneath his arm. “I’m too busy, Dylan. Tonight was fun, but it was a one-time thing. Between my clients and finding office space…”
“You need office space?”
“Yes. I’m having a heck of a time finding suitable space, but…” Why was she explaining her business issues to him? “I have no time for…this.”
He crossed his arms, locking those smoldering dark eyes on her. “Make time.”
