Tell Me You Want Me (Search and Seduce, #2)(18)

She needed to stop staring at him though, because aside from adding to her list of fantasies, she couldn’t stop thinking about how her body had been on fire in the best way. What aspects of this frustrating man brought out the animal in her. She wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of knowing that.

“Did you come here to rehash last night? Or do you have a purpose?” she asked.

He frowned hard at her. She knew she was using her “snotty” tone. She wasn’t trying to be mean, but he was goading her. She had to get space from him, because he was all rough and sexy and God, she wanted to get dirty again. Really, really badly. Which meant he needed to leave before she threw herself at him.

“I came here to start our next six hours together,” he said.

“Beg your pardon?” she asked quickly.

He took another step toward her, and she held on to the door handle tightly as he got even closer. That scent, his masculine pine mixed with her lilacs danced around him, and she saw the small fingernail marks she’d made on his shirt.

“I have to provide training for eighteen hours to a novice. You made it twelve. So you owe me six.”

She laughed. “I owe you?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Now it was her turn to ask obvious questions like he had last night. “You’re aware you’re standing in my home right now, right?”

“Yes,” he said.

“And you just assume I’ll give you six hours of my time for you to train me?”

“Yes.”

“Have you lost your mind?” she asked honestly.

He looked at her for a moment, considering her question. “I think I’ve regained most of it.”

“Regained?”

He grinned, his lips hovering closer to hers. “Yeah, regained. Because last night my mind took off on me and I could only think with my—”

“I get it,” she interrupted quickly. She knew the feeling, because her mind had taken off on her last night, too, and honestly, she hadn’t regained it completely yet.

“Well I appreciate your diligence, but I’m fine forgoing the six hours.”

“I’m not,” he said. “Like it or not, princess, you’re stuck with me until your training is done.”

“Why? I don’t want to be trained. It was one night.”

“Well, I need to finish this so I can get recertified. So six hours of your time is now my time. When can you start?”

She shook her head, her mouth hanging open. He couldn’t be serious. But the look on his face was just that.

“I can’t start. I have a life. A store to run. I’m not going to give you my time so you can teach me how to—”

“Get dirty?” he said with a wink.

“Yes,” she said with barely any confidence. Because man oh man did another wild, dirty night sound fun. “I think you demonstrated your skill in that department last night.”

“And you were an exceptional student,” he whispered. “But I still need more.”

Her lips parted, and she leaned in just a little…

“Of your time,” he finished and took a step back. “And judging by that growing list of yours, you could use some more of my time and expertise as well. Think of this as a mutual exchange.”

“Maybe I’m looking for someone else to fulfill my To Do list on.” The moment she said that, she regretted it. Partly because his eyes flared in a way she didn’t know was possible, and also because she knew deep down Dex could put her To Do list to shame.

“That right?” he said with a low rasp. “Tell you what then, princess. I’ll make a wager with you. If I’m right in my theory, you finish these six hours with me.”

She raised her chin, waiting for this theory of his.

“I get access to you, your body, and your studious mind for these last six hours of training…” he clarified.

“If?” she asked. Because there was always an if.

“If,” he said, his tone dark and sexy, “my name is somewhere in that book of yours.”

Her face fell, and her eyes shot wide. She’d been writing about him all morning. About how he moved, smelled, kissed. At least five pages alone had the name DEX scribbled on them. And yep, too late, Dex had seen them. He was grinning, victorious.

“Judging by your expression, princess, I’d say I’m right. You ready to tackle these lists of yours?” He tossed her a wink, then finished with, “Or you wanna back out and run away?”

She stifled a growl. He was playing with her. Like he had last night. Taking joy in watching her struggle with her “survival skills,” only for him to swoop in and save the day. Not this time.

“What I’m running is late. Good luck finding someone else to inflict those six hours on.”

“Sorry, princess, you’re the only one I can inflict that on. We’re already over half done. I’m not giving up on you. It’s becoming increasingly clear that you’re seeking independence and experiences. I’m the man for the job.”

She grabbed her purse and was ready to walk past him. “Like I said, I’m busy.”

“Well then, I hope you enjoy your new shadow because one thing about me? I don’t give up easily.”

She believed him. But she held on to her gumption and walked out, shutting and locking her door. She took off down the street toward her little boutique that she was now ten minutes late in opening.