“The agency sent me.” The lie slid out as smooth as the leather that ensconcedme.
“The fuck they did. Julian would never use a Boulder wolf as an escort. Besides, I thought you were done withthat.”
“I’m not a Boulder wolf. Plus it was easy cash.Andit gave me the opportunity to meet them. They’re lovely people. Way more civilized thanyourpack.”
“I told you I can pay yourdebts.”
“And I told you I don’t want yourcharity.”
His hands moved to the towel at his waist. “It wouldn’t be charity if I fucked you,right?”
I blanched. “I-I just… It’s just d-dates.” My throat went dry. “I don’t havesex.”
He untucked the towel, his long fingers moving slowly. “I have trouble believing that.” The gray cotton slid heavily to the floor and pooled around hisfeet.
I backed up. “I’m not having sex with you,Liam.”
“But you’ll spread your legs forJulian?”
That made me snap. “I don’t spread my legs foranyone.”
“Look at you. Look at what you’re wearing.” He gestured to my dress, and I burned withrage.
I pressed my palms against the leather at my hips, wishing I could transform it into something else, something that stopped giving the impression I was a whore. “You’re a real jerk, you knowthat?”
“At least”—his voice was barely above a vibration—“I’m an honestone.”
Nerves skittered underneath myskin.
He took a step toward me, and I took another step back. My tailbone hit smoothwood.
“First…” His lips shut then partedagain.
My heart held perfectlystill.
“First Aidan. Now Julian.” He moistened his lips. “Do you have a thing for oldermen?”
“They were jobs.” My shoulder blades knocked together as I flattened myself against thewall.
Liam pressed one hand on the panel beside my face. His breaths whispered against my forehead. “Proveit.”
I gaped at him. How was he expecting me to prove it? It wasn’t like I’d documented myevenings.
An inhuman glow devoured his irises and coated the whites of his eyes. And then his nails lengthened into claws beside my face. They clicked against the wood. He snapped his eyes closed. When he opened them, they no longer shone yellow and his nails hadreceded.
I became acutely aware of his nakedness, of his proximity. He was careful not to touch me with any part of his body, and yet I felt him…everywhere. Smelled him. Heard the blood pound wildly in hisneck.
“Damn it, Ness,” he growled. “Proveit!”
His tone broke me out of my daze. “I don’t need to prove anything to you, LiamKolane.”
“You embarrassed metoday.”
“I never asked you to retrieveme.”
“What’s yourgame?”
A knot of fear pulsed behind my navel. “Get away fromme.”
