Page 15 of Hunt Me
“The ego.” She takes a step back. “Right on schedule.”
“It’s not ego if it’s fact.” I move with her, closing the distance. “And you still haven’t denied it.”
“Denied what?”
“That I’m the best-looking version you’ve met.”
Her eyes narrow slightly. “You’re relentless.”
“You have no idea.” I reach out, fingertips grazing her bare shoulder. Just a touch, testing.
She flinches. Subtle, but unmistakable. Steps back hard enough that her shoulders hit the wall.
“Don’t.”
The word cracks like a whip. Her entire body has gone rigid; chin lifted in defiance even as her pupils dilate. Fight response, not flight.
Interesting.
“Sorry.” I raise both hands, backing off. “Didn’t mean to?—”
“I’m fine.” She straightens, smoothing her dress again. “Just not big on being touched by strangers.”
“We’re not strangers anymore. We’ve been talking for...” I check my watch. “Twelve minutes.”
“Twelve whole minutes.” Her voice drips sarcasm. “Practically childhood friends.”
“Give me twelve more and we’ll be best friends.”
“I doubt that.”
I lean against the wall beside her, careful to keep distance between us now. “You doubt my friendship potential?”
“I doubt your ability to be friends with any woman.” She angles her body slightly away. “You don’t want friendship.”
“What do I want?”
“Conquest.” She says it matter-of-factly, no judgment. “You want to win. I’m just the current challenge.”
“You think pretty highly of yourself.”
“I think realistically about men like you.”
“Alexi.” Dmitri’s voice cuts through our standoff. He appears at my shoulder, face carefully neutral but eyes sharp. “We have a situation.”
“I’m busy?—”
“Now.” Not a request. Dmitri’s already moving back toward the exit.
I turn back to Iris, frustrated at the interruption. “Don’t move.”
“Excuse me?”
“Stay right here.” I point at the floor beneath her feet. “We’re not done.”
“We’re very done.”
“Twelve more minutes. You owe me.” I’m already backing away, following Dmitri. “Don’t disappear on me, Iris Mitchell.”
