“Jonas? Are we friends now? Do you feel closer to me because I am a wretched soul and you believe you are my sainted healer?”
She nodded. “I thought it was appropriate to remind you that I am your friend.”
“Well,Ailis,” he said, rising from his chair in a sleek, predatory movement and stalking closer to her, “you are quite mistaken if you believe I consider you a friend.”
His words stung, but she refused to flinch. “But I am not your enemy.”
Dear heaven.
He looked awfully big now that he was up close.
She took a step back and then another, until she found herself pressed against the door through which she had just entered.
There was no escape because he had put his hands on either side of her body, leaning his palms against the door so that she had no chance of opening it.
Heat radiated off him, no doubt because those flames of anger and frustration burned through his veins.
Yet his scent was divine. Hot and male and dangerous. He must have been caught by Viola just after a shave and bathing, because Ailis also caught the scent of lather and sandalwood on his skin.
He growled softly. “Do you think our kissing bargain has made you somehow special to me?”
“No, I would not presume to be anything more than a casual amusement for you.”
His laugh was bitter. “You do amuse me, for you are like no one else. Almost thirty and still untouched. Almost thirty and never been kissed until this week. Almost thirty and still have a body that can bring a man to his knees with longing. Big eyes. Soft lips. Even softer…”
He stopped himself before he spoke of her bosom, but she knew that was what he was going to say because he had glanced down at her breasts, which were heaving, and he had noticed.
He eased off her the slightest bit. “But you do not amuse me just now.”
“I see. Then I will not ask for kiss number seven yet. But since I am here, you ought to write out the bank note for kiss number six before you toss me out on my ear.”
She had caught him off guard with her impertinent request.
She had done it on purpose, of course.
He wanted to stay angry and intimidate her into leaving. But if he truly wanted her gone, he would not be keeping her trapped between his arms, would he?
“Gad, Ailis,” he said finally, letting out a groaning breath. “You are a nuisance. Of all the things to say to me. You shall have your bloody bank draft number six.”
She nodded. “I know. You are too honorable ever to renege.”
“Then why mention it now? Did you think that catching me off guard would calm me down? But you are ever practical, aren’t you? Tame the dragonandcollect the charity donation.”
She looked up at him as he continued to loom over her. “Actually, you remind me more of a lion with your dark mane and deep, angry roar. But you would make a very handsome dragon, too.”
“Handsome? Have you not heard? I am disgusting to look at.”
“Is that what Lady Viola said? Or is it justyouhating yourself? And why would you ever care about any stupid thing that girl says? Or what any of those silly geese say?”
“I don’t.”
“Then why are you so overset? So what if people know you are scarred? How does it change anything of the life you have made for yourself? In truth, you ought to thank Viola for shaking you out of this prison you have built around yourself.”
“Thank her? You do not know what you are talking about, Ailis.”
“Then explain it to me.”
“No. Go away. Our kisses do not give you any special privileges over me.”
