Page 18 of Desert King's Forbidden Temptation

‘Flirting with me.’

‘I’m simply being honest.’

‘Well, don’t do that either,’ she snapped. ‘At least, not about...us. I can’t even think about this,’ she said, pointing from his chest to hers, ‘right now.’

‘Then I envy you.’

She growled. ‘I’m serious. You might be master of all you survey, but don’t think I won’t stomp on your foot if you keep saying things like that.’

‘Stomp on my foot?’

‘Sure. Or knee you somewhere significantly more painful.’

He laughed, a deep, husky sound that made her blood bubble and overheat. ‘But then, I’d have to defend myself.’

She shouldn’t ask. She really shouldn’t ask. ‘And how would you do that?’

‘I suspect it would involve your wrists being pinned to a wall, for a start.’

Just the suggestion made her bones melt. ‘Damn you,’ she snapped, but the words were breathy, lacking any true sense of outrage.

‘Relax. I won’t touch you. I won’t flirt with you. Tonight, I will be on my best behaviour.’

She tried to ignore the shearing sense of disappointment, but it was impossible. She bit into her lip and finally nodded. ‘Okay. Dinner. And only because I’m starving.’

‘I’m flattered.’

She scowled. ‘Somehow, I think your ego’s probably sufficiently supersized to survive a few home truths from me.’

He laughed and again, her body reacted with a sharp ping of desire. She forced herself not to reveal it.

‘You know, your reaction makes me think you don’t get kissed anywhere nearly often enough.’

She gaped. ‘I’m not having this conversation with you.’

‘Why not?’ he asked, gesturing for her to step out into the corridor. Begrudgingly, she did so, eyes firing to his.

‘How about, because it’s none of your business?’

‘Is it a big deal?’

She rolled her eyes. ‘No.’

‘A state secret of some sort?’

‘No.’

‘So?’

‘You really want my kissing resume?’

‘Not a full resume,’ he said with a tilt of his head. ‘More of an overview.’

‘And do I get the same information about you in return?’

‘Are you sure you’d like it?’

‘I think I’d be neglectful not to ask,’ she said after a pause. ‘After all, you’re hoping to marry my very best friend.’

---