"If you think you can seduce me into seeing things your way…"
"Thought about it," he admits. "For approximately two seconds. You know what I decided?"
"That I'd kill you in your sleep?"
"I decided that I don't want you in my bed because I have an ulterior motive. When you come to my bed, I want it to be because you're dying to know what I feel like inside of you. I want it to be because you trust that I'm not the kind of asshole willing to get you into bed just to get my way."
"You said when, not if."
"What?"
I narrow my eyes at him, earning a smirk.
"Maybe I'm a hopeful motherfucker."
"I'mnotsleeping with you."
"But you will have dinner with me?" he asks, and this time, there's so much hope in his expression that I nod before I can even consider it. His face immediately breaks into a big grin, and my stomach turns a flip.
"One dinner," I quickly add, trying to mitigate the devastation that smile is wreaking on my system. "Just so you stop harassing me."
"Harassing you?" His eyes crinkle at the corners again, another wicked chuckle whispering from his lips. "Oh, little bookworm. This isn't harassment. This is foreplay."
"Get out of my store, Lincoln," I groan.
"Fine." He grins, reaching over my head to grabClaimed by Daddyagain. "But I'm buying this."
"You aren't."
"Oh, I am. I plan to spend the afternoon reading it."
"Don't you have a job to do?"
"Nope, not today."
"Of course you don't," I sigh, shaking my head. "Your total is $512.09."
"Jesus Christ." His eyes widen. "One book costs that much?"
"No. The book costs $10.99 plus tax. The five hundred is what you owe me for the gift card I had to pay out last night. We held a drawing to see who should get it since they helped chase you out." I bat my lashes at him. "You'll be happy to know, the woman who told you that chase scenes were their favorite won. And she spent it all on raffle tickets for the basket we made to support the women's shelter, so chasing you out of here was actually charity."
"Jesus Christ," he mutters again, shaking his head. But he reaches into his pocket, pulls out his wallet, and then places several crisp bills in my hand. "I don't even want to know what a chase scene is in your world."
"Oh, it's when a man—or a bunch of them—chase a woman down, catch her, and then fuc—" I laugh against his palm when he places it over my mouth, his eyes dark.
"Do not finish that sentence unless you want to know what it looks like in reality, Lilah," he growls.
Oh. Oh, wow. It is possible to orgasm without being touched.
My eyes lock with his, laughter fading to a whimper against his palm.
"Fuck," he mutters, dipping his head like he's going to kiss me again.
His lips never even connect before Jazz breezes into the shop, already chattering.
I jump away from Lincoln, my heart hammering against my ribcage. He stays right where he is, staring at me like he'scontemplating yanking me back into his arms and kissing me regardless of who is watching.
"Oh, yay. The devil is back," Jazz says, saving me. "Should I call the police to have him trespassed from the property?"
