How many times had Shannon called him “cold” and “unfeeling?” So many he’d begun to believe it.
Being with Dana, he felt anything but. When he was with her, his entire body warmed and mellowed. It was scary as hell, but he was willing to give it a try. He would make this work.
“Fine.” She sat up straight. “I am attracted to you. Obviously.”
He fought back a grin. “There. That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
“Easy for you to say.”
“And now,” he said, touching a lock of her hair, smoothing it between his fingers, “we need to decide what to do about it.”
“What if I don’t want a relationship right now? What if I…just want sex?”
“Sex.”
“Yes. Mind-numbing sex. What if it’s all I can handle right now?”
Any man with half a brain would probably high-five him right now, but it wasn’t quite the response Alex was looking for. Still, it was something. “Then I’ll give it to you, until you let me give you more.”
She let out a breath. “Good Lord, Alex. What won’t you do?”
“Nothing. If it makes you come, I’ll move heaven and earth to get it.”
She shook her head. “I don’t even know what to say.”
“Just tell me what you want.”
She steeled herself and looked him right in the eye. “When I was with you, at Covet, I felt alive. I felt desired. Maybe it was the music. Maybe it was just the booze, but I want to feel it again. Doing what we did, knowing anyone could have discovered us, it was like all my senses came to life. Like a mask had been lifted off my face. I could smell for the first time, see for the first time. It sounds dumb.”
“No, it doesn’t. You deserve to feel that again.”
“I want to.”
His heart beat out of his chest. “Consider it done. Come to Covet tomorrow night. Alone. I’ll make sure you feel desired.”
“A booty call, huh?”
“That’s not what this is. Let me be clear. This isn’t just about hooking up. I want to get to know you, Dana, but if this is all I can have right now, I’ll take it. I’ll show you we can have it all.”
“I see.”
“I want to make your fantasies come true.”
She paled and looked at her lap. “I’m not sure even you can do that.”
“Give me a chance.”
She stood.
“Dana. Will you come to Covet?”
She walked over to the elevator. He followed her.
“Answer me.”
She turned and her face crumpled. “Alex, you don’t want to get involved with me. You really don’t.”
Cupping her cheek, he murmured, “I know what I want.”
