From the way his dark gaze bores into mine, I wonder if he knows what he’s doing to me.Oh God…
“Fiona—”
“Don’t you have to go to work?” I say hurriedly.
An impatient sound growls deep in his throat. Closing his eyes for a moment, he exhales heavily. “What were you doing in the pantry?”
“Looking for an open box of cereal.”
“You know I don’t eat cereal.”
I blink as the most unlikely implication sinks into me. “Did you buy it for me?”
His eyelashes flicker, then he nods curtly. “Yes.” The tips of his ears turn pink.
Just that simple answer chips away at my guard. But then I remember how he asked me to take off my shirt just now, probably wanting a morning quickie before work. I keep my voice neutral. “How much do I owe you?”
“Thank me with a kiss.”
The tinge of tenderness I felt just a second ago vanishes faster than a drop of water on a hot pan. I step back, and he steps forward. He drops his eyes to my lips, and they tingle like he’s caressed them.
He’s just peeved at my trying to set boundaries. He wants to torment me, and he can’t do that without crossing all my lines.
My eyes flick to his mouth. Memories of our kisses play in my head. Sometimes he kissed me teasingly, his lips moving assoftly as butterfly wings, coaxing and cajoling, sweetly inviting me to kiss him back and stroke my tongue over the seam of his mouth. Then there were times he turned me around and kissed me like he missed me so much. But the best was when he cradled my face in his hot hands and fused his mouth to mine, thrusting his tongue in with ruthless drive, like he was intent on stealing my breath, my heart and my soul.
Every single one of them was too intimate, made my blood heat and belly flop. They knocked at my heart, breaking whatever shield I had around it with ease. They might not have the same impact now, but I’m not risking anything. Especially after learning that he’s even better at sex than before.
My pulse throbs as he continues to advance slowly. I take another step back, blindly fumbling for my purse and pulling out one of the tens I keep in the side pocket for emergencies.
He grips the counter behind me, trapping me against the granite. The heat radiating from him makes my mouth dry. A small tremor runs through me.
He starts to dip his head. Quickly, I slap the ten-dollar bill over his mouth. “Here! For the cereal. Keep the change.”
Something hot and dangerous flares in his eyes, but I don’t back down. Instead I raise my chin in defiance. He pulls back, scowling darkly.
“After I eat, I’ll go and get some clothes and stuff, so I can give you back your precious shirt.”
He glares at me. “You’re going out in nothing but my T-shirt and boxers? To let everyone get an eyeful of what should only belong to me?”
I scoff at the ridiculous display of possessiveness. Just because I owe him two hundred and ninety-nine more times doesn’t mean I need to act like his exclusive property. “My body isn’t for your eyes only.”
“It is until you fulfil your end of the deal.” He looks at me like he’s just found a strand of hair in his dessert. “I already ordered some clothes.” He wrinkles his nose, speaking like he’s doing something so unpleasant that he’d rather eat broken glass. “My personal shopper should drop them off later this morning.”
“You know my size?”
He raises his hands and makes squeezing motions, dropping his eyes meaningfully at my breasts and hips. “You haven’t changed much, Fiona, and I have an excellent memory.”
I pause.He still remembers my size from shopping in college?From the slight tightening of his jaw, I realize he’s also referring to the pain I caused. Bittersweetness knots my gut, and I blink to stop the tears from welling. “Thanks. That was…um…nice of you.”
His eyes narrow. “Necessary to make sure I get my money’s worth. Three hundred is really overpaying.” His gaze drops to my bare legs meaningfully.
That insufferable, rude, socially unacceptable jerk!“Two hundred and ninety-nine, now.”
He opens his mouth, but his phone pings. He glances at the screen, then starts to leave. “Whatever. Keep track. And wear something sexy tonight.”
My jaw slack, I stare at his retreating back.Hot, cold, hot, cold…What I wouldn’t give to be able to strangle him until he picks one or the other.
Inhaling deeply to control my temper, I pour a bowl of cereal and dump milk on it, which is also new and unopened. Obviously, he got them yesterday, probably for me, since he hasn’t touched anything except the coffee as far as I can tell. When we were in college, he only had coffee and maybe a bagel or a croissant for breakfast. I was the one who had cornflakes, and he always made sure to stock his place with some for me.
