Diesel wasn’t certain if he’d projected it or if she was projecting it or if they were trading projections of wild attraction, though he suddenly rooted for option number three. Mutual wild attraction with a beautiful human was certainly an unexpected part of his day. It had never happened before.
He didn’t see anything else in her mind. No hint of where she’d come by this privy information about a dark incident in Alienn’s recent past, simply her interest in him and her appreciation for his appearance, which had surprised her, too.
“What do you see in my mind?” she asked quietly.
“You like me,” he said without thinking how odd the question was coming from a human, then added, “And you also think I’m very attractive.” In for a penny, in for a pound, he always said.
The blush that bloomed in her cheeks was fast and furious. It was then he noticed how close they stood together. He bent his head nearer to her face and her lips, breathing in her luscious scent. Their mouths were mere inches apart.
Were they about to kiss? He paused, not moving forward to connect.
She whispered, “Do you truly believe that you can romance me and get me to stop asking questions? You are very handsome, which I suspect you already know, but I have an article to complete so I can earn a rather large bonus for my future. It is very important to me. Therefore, I won’t be put off so easily.”
Diesel straightened to his full height, breaking any magical connection they’d shared and ignoring the implication that he was conceited about his looks. He was being ridiculous. She was here for a specific purpose, one he needed to subdue. He was projecting his personal feelings in her direction, because he’d read in her mind that she thought he was attractive and he felt the same way about her. Merely shaking hands with her had created a spark. Sure. It could merely be static in the air, but what if it was more?
As Diesel stared into her eyes, vague impressions started flowing into his mind to the point he was certain she was thinking the words,Kiss me. Kiss me. Kiss me.
No good could come of any further connection—romantic, spark-filled or otherwise—with this beautiful earthling. Especially not kissing her.
It took all the willpower he possessed not to lower his mouth to hers—it would be so easy—and discover what she tasted like, but the mental image of doing just that wouldn’t fade. He bent forward again, against his better judgement, losing the already weak willpower battle.
He needed to stop.
He needed to get a grip.
He needed to send her on her way.
He stared at her mouth.
He needed to kiss her.
Diesel pressed his lips to hers before rational thought could stop him. He justified the move with the idea he was merely diverting her from questions he didn’t want to answer to checking out their physical compatibility with a kiss.
Juliana’s lips were soft and pliable and she didn’t discourage him as he half expected. In fact, she kissed him right back rather ardently. They seemedverycompatible. She was the most compatible female he’d ever touched. And truthfully, this was the first fully involved romantic kiss he’d ever shared with a human, and it was awesome.
Diesel needed to stop kissing her, but knew he didn’t have the desire, the willpower or the fortitude to break from this most alluring connection.
Juliana wanted Diesel to kiss her so desperately; she figured if he was reading her mind, he’d see her seductive longing and possibly fulfill her avid wishes.Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me.
And he had.
And the kiss was so amazingly good.
And she wanted it to last forever.
If it hadn’t been for someone nearby clearing their throat very loudly—several moments after their mouths connected—who knows how long they would have kept up the delicious lip lock? Would he have dragged her into a janitor’s closet to have his wicked, possibly alien, way with her? She hadn’t noticed one in this hallway, only the two bathrooms.
Maybe he would have pulled her toward his office, pushed her down on his receptionist’s perfectly ordered desk to enact his wild, alien plan to seduce her? Would she have let him? That was unclear, but it was very likely given her very un-Juliana-like actions up to this point.
“Sorry to interrupt,” said a male voice to her left after the throat-clearing didn’t separate them. “But I need to have a word with you.”
Diesel lifted his head. “What is it, Axel?” he asked curtly.
“Come back into your office, O Fearless Leader, and I’ll tell you everything.”
Diesel rolled his eyes and then met Julian’s gaze. He smiled, winked and whispered, “My brother, whom I will yell at for the interruption, apparently needs a word. I’ll be right back to walk you out to your car. Okay?”
