‘Correction, Baby Girl.’
My blood fizzes over at the pet name and I swear he knows it.
‘Youwanted to talk. I just agreed.’
But he was the one wanting to do it tonight. When I’m not ready. When I’m not right. When I’m…
‘Why did you do this?’ I blurt.
He turns to face me fully, that damned distracting mouth twitching. ‘Do what, exactly?’
He settles back against my desk, very much the relaxed panther seconds from striking. And I’m most definitely the tensed-up prey.
‘Demand that we…’ The words snag in my throat, battered by my racing pulse.
‘Have sex?’ he offers.
‘Yes!’
‘I thought we’d already been through this.’
‘And I want to go through it again.’
‘Why?’
Oh my God, does he have to be so maddeningly coolallofthe time?
‘Because I do.’
‘What does it matter if we’re both getting something out of it?’
‘It matters to me.’
‘What’s wrong, Tay – you not enjoying it?’ He sips his drink, the move as taunting as his words.
‘I’m not debating the enjoyment,’ I bite back, cheeks too hot. ‘I’m debating the sanity of it.’
A muscle works in his jaw. ‘The sanity?’
‘Yes, Ax!’ I throw a hand out, gesturing wildly between us. ‘You don’t want a relationship. I don’t want a relationship. Fine.But aren’t you worried about ourfriendship, that this is changing things—’ My voice falls to a whisper. ‘That it alreadyhaschanged things?’
He stills, glass midair, black eyes narrowed. ‘Not for me, it hasn’t.’
I swallow hard, and I swear he sees it. My nerves and the sole reason they exist.
‘Are you saying it’s changed things for you?’
I can’t answer. If I do, I know I’ll lose everything. Him. This. Us.
‘Taylor?’
‘I don’t want to lose you,’ I say weakly.
‘I don’t want to lose you either.’
‘Which is why we need to be clear about this. Get things in writing, sign on the dotted line,beforeit goes any further.’
‘You want contracts?’ His tone darkens. ‘I told you I ain’t interested in parenting a child. Any kid of ours will be all yours, no question.’
