“Stop trying to sway me with your silver tongue. Words are just that—empty promises when they’re not backed up by actions.”
His eyes widened, and he held his hands out as though to say,but look at all of this. “Haven’t I shown you what I can do for you?”
“You mean lie, steal, and murder to get your way?”
“Don’t forget the cookies.”
Out of everything he could say, that took the wind from my righteously indignant sails. “Cookies laced with lies.”
“They were not,” he shot back, genuinely affronted. “They were made with love.”
I laughed. “You wouldn’t know love if it bit off your dick.”
“Why would love do that? Seems a bit counterproductive. I think if you gave it a chance, that would be the last thing you’d want to do to it.”
“Try me,” I practically growled.
For a man who just got threatened with castration, he looked far too pleased with himself.
“Why are you smiling?”
“You’re bantering with me.”
“Threatening you, you mean.”
“What’s a little foreplay amongst star-crossed lovers?”
“Star-crossed lovers usually die in the end.”
He shrugged. “I see it as progress. We’re just another step closer to being where destiny wants.”
“You’re deluded.”
“Thank you.”
My God, he was infuriating. “That wasn’t a compliment.”
“It sounded like one. You’re so cute when you flirt with me, crabapple.”
“Stop calling me that.”
“But it suits you so well. I rather like it.”
I think I growled at him, but I couldn’t be sure.
He stood from his seat to lean against the desk. “If you’d like, we can workshop your pet name for me. How about love of your life?”
I sneered at him.
“No? What about king of your heart?”
“More like pain in the ass.”
“Mmm. I do love a pita, such a tasty treat. Especially with a little hummus. So yummy.”
Frustration bubbled up in my chest. It was like talking to a handsome brick wall. “Oh my God, I think you’re torturing me.”
“Like I said, foreplay. There’s a fine line between torture and edging. Think of how good it will be when you finally come to your senses and stop denying the chemistry between us.”
