Page 24 of Negotiating Tactics

“Alex,” I said, my voice low, firm.

When she met my eyes again, I spoke.

“Answer the question. How many?”

She looked down again, but before I could give her another warning, she met my eyes.

“Zero.” She tossed out the word like it was a victory, and knowing Alex, she probably thought she’d thrown me off.

Alex had a lot to learn about me, and those lessons would start now.

I let a slow, lazy smile spread across my face. “Lucky for both of us, that’s about to change.”

Then I stuck out my hand, my question clear, and waited for her to decide.

Five

Alex

I stared at his outstretched hand, wanting to take it more than I had wanted anything in my entire life.

Being too frozen with terror to even consider doing so.

I shifted in the tall bistro chair, the way my sex was heavy and slick reminding me of how much I wanted him.

But I ignored that and then looked into his eyes.

He looked intense, and, at first glance, scary.

But I wasn’t afraid.

In fact, for some reason, his intensity comforted me.

And excited me.

No one—ever—had looked at me with that kind of emotion, that kind of desire.

But then I remembered the source of it, so I leaned back in my chair, trying to keep my body casual even though my heart was racing.

He didn’t drop his hand. His arm didn’t even shift as I stared into his eyes and smiled.

“You really want your room that badly?” I asked.

He blinked, his brows dropping a millimeter before he refocused.

“I don’t give a fuck about the room, Alex. Unless, of course, you’re in it,” he said.

His voice was like silk across my skin, almost intoxicating, but I still didn’t take his hand.

“I’ve heard that you Wilders will go to any lengths to get what you want, but this…”

I didn’t think it was possible, but his face hardened, his expression becoming even more firm. “Give me your hand, Alex,” he said.

I found myself responding to the command in his voice, but by the time I realized it, my fingers had brushed his.

Pulling my hand away now would be impossible, but I stayed still, feeling like I was being shocked at the contact of my skin against his.

His thick fingers were warm, arousing…comforting.

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