Page 20 of On Ice

I shiver but say tersely, “Not much.”

He laughs softly. “Enough.”

“Sure, if hardly at all is enough.”

He laughs again, and most of his suspicion and anger seem to fade. He inches his mouth closer to mine. “It’s okay to want me.”

I scowl, desperately trying to ignore how tempting his mouth is. “God, you’re an egomaniac.”

He lifts one shoulder. “Of course. I have every right to be. I’m LucafuckingBarone.”

“Every time you open your mouth, I hate you just a little bit more,” I mutter, giving him the stink eye.

His smile is cocky. “You don’t hate me, Evan.”

“You’re wrong.”

He licks his lips, eyes glittering salaciously. “Maybe I should come by your apartment tonight.”

“What?” I squeak in a very unmanly way.

“We had a lot of fun, Evan,” he purrs. “You know we did.”

“No.” I push against his chest. “Don’t you dare come to my place. I’ll call the cops.”

“You loved our night together,” he rumbles. “Stop pretending you didn’t.”

“That’s because I thought you were a good person. I didn’t know who you really are, Luca. Now that I know, it’s a turn off. I don’t sleep with thugs.”

He curls his lip in a sneer. “You playing hard to get now, Evan? Isn’t it a little late for that?”

“I’m not playing. I don’t want you.”

“Liar.” He slips his hand down, cupping my erection.

I wheeze a little, but manage to push his hand away. “I can’t help what my body does, but mybraindoesn’t want you.”

Irritation flutters through his eyes. “I don’t believe you.”

I let out a shaky breath. “I’m sure you’re used to getting whatever you want, but I don’t sleep with entitled assholes.”

He raises his dark brows. “Ouch.”

“Did I hurt your little feelings?”

His lips thin. “No. Of course not. You’re nobody to me. I just want your body.”

“I’m afraid that isn’t going to happen, Luca. My body is off limits.”

He pushes his tongue into his cheek, looking annoyed. “We’ll just have to agree to disagree.”

Jesus, the ego on this guy.

I need to get out of this cramped closet. He’s not completely wrong about me wanting him, and I’d rather he didn’t know how weak I am. But he’s not making any move to let me leave, so it’s up to me to figure a way out. I decide that with an ego the size of his, he’s probably only too willing to believe I’ve capitulatedto his “charm.” With that in mind, I lean closer to him, brushing his full lips with mine. I feel his surprise, but also his excitement.

“That’s more like it,” he murmurs, his eyes pinned on my lips.

I inch closer and whisper, “You like that?”

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