"It's cold. Sterile. Empty."
"Trust me, I'm not sterile."
She couldn't stop herself from grinning. "I didn't mean it that way. I meant it like cold."
"I'm not cold either. Heat courses through my veins." He shrugged out of his jacket and laid it over the arm of her couch.
"I beg to differ."
"Beg all you want. I still won't make love to you."
She would have fallen flat on her face in shock, if she wasn't sunk so deep in the spring-less couch. To his credit, Evan looked a little startled too, as if he wasn't sure exactly how those words had made it out of his mouth.
Stay cool, Josie. He's just playing you. Stop fantasizing. He's a Dorsett. Therefore, she hated him. Plus, she still hadn't figured out his agenda. She took a deep breath, licked her lips, and decided that an Amazon warrior would never ever admit when she'd been thrown for a loop. So she turned toward him, stretched her arm across the back of the couch, slipped down so that her shirt rode up just enough to show her belly button and waggled her eyebrows. "You're quite mistaken."
His eyes slipped to her bared belly for a fraction of a second, and his eyes darkened before he dragged his gaze back to her face. "What am I mistaken about?"
"That you wouldn't make love to me if I begged you."
"What?"
Call his bluff, Josie. Set the parameters of their co-habitation from day one. He was not going to intimidate her, was not going to set the sexual tone in the house, and he was most definitely not the one in control. She moved her hips toward him, only six inches, but enough that his gaze snapped downward as he watched her approach.
"What are you doing?"
She smiled. "Proving my point."
"And what point is that?"
"That if I decided I wanted you to make love to me, you'd do it."
"Not a chance."
"Is that so?" She peeled Zeus off her lap and deposited the ornery feline on the floor, never taking her eyes off Evan's face. "You think you're so hardened?"
"I never said I was hard...-end," he added. "Hardened."
"Just because I never slept with Buddy doesn't mean I'm not a sexual dynamo." Actually, that wasn't true. She was about as far from a sexual dynamo as an old tree stump was, but hey, Evan didn't need to know that. From the look in his eyes, she doubted she'd even get a chance to touch him before he bolted off the couch and realized sexual verbal tango was not the right thing to play with her.
And then she'd be free to cohabitate with him without all that sexual tension hovering in the air.
"What do you sleep in?"
She stopped the sideways slide of her hips. "What?"
"I was wondering that earlier today. The question seems to fit the conversation." He lifted a hand and flicked the bottom edge of her tee shirt. "Are you a tee shirt and boxers girl, or sexy lace?"
Nerves suddenly fluttered in her chest. What was going on? After looking panicked for a moment, he was now looking amused and much too comfortable. As if he'd realized her game and had decided to beat her at it. Oh yeah? She'd lost to one Dorsett already. No way was she losing to another. She had to prove that she was strong enough to handle any man.
Of course, in real life, she'd never play this sort of game, but since she knew they both despised each other and nothing would actually happen, it was almost sort of liberating. It wasn't as if she had to worry about being rejected. She actually wanted to be rejected. Hmm... Interesting situation—permission to be as wanton and aggressive as she wanted, knowing she was striving for rejection and she didn't have to worry about being taken seriously. Rejection would be a victory, a sign of her strength.
Wait a sec. Was she actually healed enough to be able to consider rejection a positive thing? Maybe there was hope for her yet.
"So, Josie? Are you a cotton or lace girl between the sheets?"
She smiled. "Depends." Perhaps it was time to play out the fantasies she'd never have the courage to explore in real life.
"On?"
"My mood." She scooted closer, until her hip was less than an inch from his, wrapping his tie around her wrist. "Sometimes I want to feel the cool silk sliding over my skin as it slides on...and off..." Goosebumps popped up on her arms and she felt a flutter in her belly. Evan better reject her soon or she was going to get herself worked up.
He tugged her ponytail free, releasing her hair to cascade over her shoulders. "Ever sleep naked?"
"When I'm hoping for a nighttime visitor, I might." She shivered, scooted closer, tucking her foot under her fanny to lift herself closer to his lips...lips that looked really, really yummy.
His hand slipped off the back of the couch and wrapped around her waist, sending trills of excitement whirling down her legs. Steady, Josie. You can handle this. "And tonight? What will you wear tonight?"
"With you across the hall?" She reached up and trailed her finger over his jaw, the roughness of his stubble tough on her skin.
"Uh huh." He moved his head and caught her finger between his teeth, holding gently, nibbling, teasing.
"Tonight I'll wear a suit of armor. I'll lock it and throw the key out the window." But her voice was so husky she wasn't sure he could even understand her words. She certainly had absolutely no idea what she was talking about. All she could do was watch her finger between his teeth, caught, trapped, yet in no danger. "You seem to do that to me a lot."
"Do what?"
"Trap me."
"So you've said."
"Is it your way of trying to seduce me?" Oops, she sounded a little too serious there. As if all this teasing intimacy was starting to get to her. Well, she was female after all. What woman could remain immune with Evan's arm around her and his mouth working wonders on certain parts of her body. And...she leaned forward slightly and sniffed. He still smelled like woods and spice and sophistication.
"Smell good?"
She opened her eyes, not having noticed she'd closed them. Evan's lips were curved in amusement. "I'd have to be dead not to think you smelled good." She grimaced. The tides were definitely turning against her. Time to turn them back. Fast. She couldn't let him win. Couldn't let him think she couldn't resist him, that by inviting her into his house, he'd acquired a bed-mate, or at least a woman he could torture.
No way. If there was to be any torturing in this house, she was going to be the one doing it.
And there was only one way to regain control right now, given that her spine felt like mush and her body was screaming out for his touch. Call his bluff.
Phew. She could do this.
Josie took a deep breath, sat up, and faced the sexiest man she'd ever met. Could she really kiss him and leave him?
Yeah, right.
No, she could do this. She'd simply pretend she was kissing Buddy. That'd be enough cold water to put out a raging inferno.
She'd make him surrender to her sexual dynamism, and then she'd get off the couch and walk away, leaving him terrified, awed, and humbled.
Self-delusions were a powerful thing.
Time to turn her delusions into reality.
She grabbed his tie, wrapped it around her fist, and tugged him toward her...while she stretched upward...until his lips were only a whisper away from hers...and still he didn't stop her...so she grabbed onto her courage and kissed him with all the passion and sexual tension that had been multiplying in her body since she'd met him.
His lips were so soft, so gentle, nothing like the fierce hardness she'd expected. Wonderful. He tasted wonderful. His lips moved under hers, tender, coaxing, sweet caresses that made her whole body tremble.
Wasn't he supposed to be running away now? Stunned by her power?
His hands moved over her back, tracing her spine while he took over the kiss. Deeper now, more demanding, more like the Evan she'd met. Tough, yet gentle. In control of her, of the situation, yet fiery hot.
No, this was wrong. She was supposed to be the one in control. She was supposed to be remaining detached and clinical.
His fingers dug into the back of her neck, massaging and coaxing. A little groan escaped her lips and she felt herself lean into him, her breasts flat against his chest. Just for a second. She'd indulge herself for a second, and then she'd pull away and humble him.
What would it be like to kiss Evan for real? The way she'd kiss someone she really liked? She had to know...this would be her only opportunity...she'd wonder forever if she didn't try...just for a minute or two...that's all...to satisfy her curiosity...in the name of scientific research...so she could better manipulate him in the future...
Satisfied with her reasons, she gave herself permission to lose herself in Evan's kiss. She slipped her hands around his neck, rolled onto his lap, and let all her inhibitions go.
Chapter 11
The moment she straddled him, her body exploded into flames. Heat careened down her inner thighs, scorched her belly, and burned her heart. She was barely aware of Evan's hands grabbing her hips and pulling her down onto him, but she knew instantly where he'd settled her, the thin material of his suit pants giving his body the freedom to respond, just as she'd intended when she'd first kissed him.
But no gloating sense of satisfaction and completeness roared through her. Want. Need. Painful desire rushed through her veins. She wanted more. More of him. More of his kiss. More of his skin. Against her. Now.
As if he could read her mind, Evan's hand slipped under her shirt, his hands hot against her bare back. Touch me, Evan. She caught the words at the tip of her lips, before they fell free into the air.
His hands slid upwards, his fingertips sliding beneath the elastic of her bra, his thumbs tracing the bumps of her spine.
She wanted him.
It wasn't a game anymore, a taunt to see how far she could take it.
His hands moved along her ribs toward her sides...toward her breasts.
Yes.
She whimpered and shifted slightly to give him access...hold on a second. She whimpered?
Wait a sec. She wasn't detached. Stop, Josie. Stop!
But she didn't want to.
His hands slid around her sides, his thumbs brushed against the sides of her breasts. Her body jerked in response, involuntary and completely out of her control.
"No!" Josie pushed herself off him, tumbling to the floor in an ungraceful heap, her chest heaving with embarrassing desperation. Heaving? Her bosom was heaving. How completely mortifying.
She propped herself up on her elbows and glared at Evan...who was breathing just as hard as she was.
There were beads of sweat on his forehead. Sweat.
God, she was good.
No need for him to know that he was even better. "I told you that you wouldn't be able to resist me." Amazing how smug she'd managed to make those words sound, even as she wondered whether the blood would return to her head soon enough to keep her from passing out on the blue carpet she'd brought from her apartment.
Evan wiped his arm across his forehead and scowled at her. "Don't ever do that again."
"Do what?" Did she sound innocent enough?
"Kiss me like that."
"Why not?"
"Because you belong to Buddy."
It took her almost a full minute to remember who Buddy was. But when she did..."Buddy? I belong to Buddy? What in the world are you talking about?"
"You. Him. Together."
"Do you see him anywhere?"
"No. But we'll find him."
"And what?" Anger giving strength to her still mushy body, she grabbed the couch and hauled herself to her feet. "We'll find him and what? Get my money back?"
"He didn't steal your money."
"Yes, he did!"
"You're lying." Evan stood up, leaning over her and scowling, no doubt trying to intimidate her.
Well, it wouldn't work. She jabbed him in the stomach with her elbow, smirking when he let out a poof of air and grunted. "Don't try to intimidate me, Dorsett. Back off."
"I have no idea why Buddy loves you," he muttered, rubbing his stomach.
She was so angry at him, she barely thought about offering to rub his stomach for him. "Loves me? Buddy wouldn't know love if his own mother was run over by a truck in front of him."
"Don't bring my mother into this."
Oh, right. For a moment there, during the kiss, she'd actually forgotten that he and Buddy were brothers. Well, no more. "Tell me the truth, Evan. Why did you bring me here? It wasn't because you felt like you owed me. Why?"
He dropped his hand from his stomach. "His poems."
"Those rotten pieces of garbage and filth? I don't understand."
"They aren't porn."
"They're not exactly public library material either."
"The fact they aren't porn means he loves you."
"Whoa." She took a step back, wondering if it would be uncool if she passed out from shock. "You think he loves me?"
"I'm going to get you two back together again." He stuttered over his words, but recovered nicely.
"You have got to be kidding."
"My brother means everything to me. I'll do whatever he needs."
"He needs a parole officer."
"I'm sure there's a misunderstanding about the money. All we need to do is find him and clear it up. Then you guys can live your happy little life together."
"A happy little life? With Buddy? Are you insane? Deluded? Using psychotic drugs?"
"He's a good guy."
"No, he's not. He's a crook, and I wasn't attracted to him enough to sleep with him even before he stole everything from me. Now? Now I'd rather sleep with a rat-infested corpse than him."
"You're feeling a little emotional right now. Once you see him and hear his explanation, everything will be fine."
"No, Evan. This time you're wrong. About your brother, about me, about everything. You're going to have to come crawling on your knees to beg my forgiveness for calling me a liar and for being so insulting as to suggest I would ever be with your brother again."
She walked over to the windowsill and grabbed Zeus, who'd been enjoying the summer breeze in the only peaceful part of the room. "I'm outta here."
"Moving out?" There was a tinge of worry in his voice.
"No, I'm not moving out. Sorry to disappoint you."
"You're staying because I'm right."
She stalked across the room and stood toe to toe with him. "I'm staying because your beloved brother stole my entire savings from me, got me evicted and fired and made it impossible for me to start school this fall. Not only am I staying until I figure out what I'm going to do, but if I can find a way to swing tuition, I'll stay for the whole year and live off you."
"Stay. It'll give me that much more time to find Buddy."
"Give it up, Evan. The only Dorsett I'm remotely attracted to is you, and I find you way too annoying to ever want to kiss again." Even if you did make me whimper. Her ex-husband had never made her whimper. In fact, no one had. Either she'd led a deprived life or Evan was a man to be reckoned with.
"Don't be attracted to me," he ordered.
"Then don't kiss me like that."
"You kissed me."
Ah, good point. "A mistake I won't make again."
"You sure?"
"Just keep being yourself and I'll be so annoyed with you all the time I won't be able to remember that you're the first man to make me whimper." Argh! How could she admit that to him?
"I am?" He had the gall to look pleased.
"Yeah, big deal. So what? I've already forgotten." If he called her a liar now, she had no defense.
"Not that it matters. You belong with Buddy, not me."
"I belong with neither of you."
"We'll see."
He was so aggravating she felt like stomping her foot and screaming. Instead, she shifted Zeus, cradling her against her chest. "Listen, Evan, obviously we're not going to agree on Buddy tonight, so let's give it up. I'm tired and I have to go put my head in a grinder so I can forget about the kiss befor
e I'm going to get any sleep."
"I swear I didn't intend to kiss you like that."
Oh, and now he was apologizing, like she was a pathetic waif he needed to protect. Appear strong, Josie. She flipped her hair haughtily. "It isn't your fault."
"What isn't?"
"The kiss. You had no chance against my incredible sexuality."
The corner of his mouth curved up, and he touched her cheek. "Thanks, but I can take responsibility for my own actions."
Something about the intensity of his voice struck a chord, and then she knew the guilt he was feeling. As misplaced as his trust in Buddy was, it was obvious how dearly he loved his brother. Kissing the woman he thought his brother loved would no doubt torture him. How bad could a man be who would be so driven by brotherly love that he'd see past imperfections the magnitude of Buddy's? So devoted to his brother that he'd actually host a woman who drove him crazy just because he thought his brother loved her?
Okay, so the man had some redeeming qualities.
Just none of them were aimed in her direction.
Which was fine.
She wasn't going to be aiming any of her assets his way either.
But, dammit! Why did he have to have a decent, humane quality? It was one thing to be attracted to him while hating him, but if she had to start respecting him or even liking him...that simply wouldn't do! How was she supposed to resist him then?
She shuddered at the thought of what a mess her life would become if she became involved with Evan. Another Dorsett. Another man, with the power to hurt her. She simply wasn't getting involved with anyone again.
"Why do you look so annoyed?"
Jerk. And he was even perceptive. "Stop it."
"Stop what?"
"Being decent." She glowered at him. "I absolutely have no intention of liking you one bit, or wanting to get involved with you. Physical attraction is one thing. Even if we went ahead and had a brief affair, if it's just sex, then it's all fine. But don't you dare try to make me like you."
He looked surprised. "I don't want you to like me. You're supposed to like Buddy."
"Good. Keep talking about that. Reminds me how much I can't stand your idiotic logic." It was all she could do to stop herself from catapulting through the air and crashing into his arms with enough force to knock them both into the couch, tearing her clothes off on the way.
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