I try to snatch it out of his hands, but he's taller than I am. He just lifts it over my head, holding it out of my reach.
"Give me that," I growl, jumping for it.
"Hell no. I want to read it."
"Fine." I throw my hands up, taking a step back. "Start your introduction to smut with Daddy kink."
"I don't even know what the fuck that means."
"Which is precisely why you shouldn't be reading that. You aren't ready for graduate-level smut."
"Graduate-level?" His lips twitch as he flips through a few pages. "Oh, I'm definitely reading this shit now."
"It isn't shit." I jab him in the chest. "Don't be insulting and have a little respect, or I will kick you out of here again. Permanently, this time."
"Easy there, kitten. I didn't mean it as an insult."
"Uh-huh." I roll my eyes at him, trying to step around him. He stops me with an arm around my waist, anchoring me to his hard body while flipping through pages with his opposite hand.
His gaze scans across the page. I seriously contemplate snatching it from his hands, and then decide to let him find out for himself that he isn't prepared.
Part of me kind of hopes that he is shocked. The other part hopes he isn't. I don't want him to be one of those men who gets all bent out of shape at the thought of women enjoying reading about—and enjoying—the sexual aspects of relationships.
"'Such a pretty little cockwhore for your Daddy. You were made for this, weren't you?'" He reads out loud, his brows climbing.
My damn clit twitches. I don't even have a Daddy kink, but listening to him read dirty lines in that sexy voice of his? Yeah, there is nothing bad about that.
"Jesus, little bookworm." He dips his head, meeting my gaze after silently skimming several more lines. "Have you read this one?"
"Maybe."
"Did you like it?"
I snatch the book from his hands, replacing it on the shelf. "That's not your business."
His soft laugh makes my core clench. "You definitely liked it."
"Shut up."
He just chuckles again.
I squirm my way free of his grip, trying to put distance between us. He's way too close. I can't think with the scent of his cologne swirling around me and his wicked voice still ringing in my ears. "Why are you here, Lincoln? I know you didn't come to read Daddy kink."
"No, that's just a bonus." His lips curve into a grin. "I came to ask you to dinner."
I blink at him. Just blink.
"Please?" He touches my cheek, the pads of his fingers rougher than I expected. His voice is softer than expected, too. "I promise to be on my best behavior."
"Somehow, I doubt that," I say dryly. I doubt he even knows how to behave.
He just grins in response. Part of me wants to shut him down and say hell no. That part is still mad as hell that he's trying to buy the building I love out from underneath me. But some other part of me wants to say yes. Maybe the same side that kissed him back last night, I don't know.
"I want to show you that I'm not just some asshole here to ruin your business," he murmurs. "We can both get what we want here."
"What is it that you want, Lincoln?"
He stares at me for a beat without speaking. "You," he finally says.
