“Splendid.” He leaned his face closer.
She had the urge to pull away but kept from doing so, only to see how close he’d get. His hot breath blew across her face, yet she still didn’t want to withdraw. Once more, the smell of peppermint filled her head.
“There are ten men who will be accompanying you into the jungle.” His voice lowered. “You mustnotmake a spectacle of yourself. Understood?”
“A spectacle? Tell me, how have I done that?”
“Listen to me and quit interrupting.” He shook his head. “You are a very lovely young woman, and I don’t want my men to get the wrong impression. You are not to bat your eyes or pout your lips. You are not to touch any of my men even casually as you just touched me. Do you understand?”
Her heartbeat knocked against her ribs in a different rhythm. He’d been irritating her since they met, but this... this request only made her want to deny him and make him more upset. Just the thought of going against his demand made her breathless. Perhaps touching him on purpose was not the right thing to do, mainly for her state of mind.
Taking a deep breath, she calmed her rising ire and nodded. “Have you included yourself in those ten men?”
“Yes.”
“So that means you don’t want me touchingyou?” She arched an eyebrow.
“Correct again.”
“I suppose I can refrain. However, what happens if I tripped into you? Would you get upset that I used your body to catch my fall?”
“Miss Landon...” he warned, narrowing his gaze on her.
“And what if,” she continued quickly, ignoring his caveat, “I accidentally sprained my ankle? Would you not allow me to put my arm around your waist as you helped me walk?”
His attention bounced between her lips and eyes, finally resting on her mouth. A grin tugged at the corner of his lips. “Miss Landon, I see what you’re doing.”
“You do?” She shrugged. “Tell me, whatamI doing?”
He shook his head. “You are trying to find ways around my request, so you don’t have to follow instructions, but just as I have told you, I don’t want you touching me or any of my men. If you are in danger, then of course we will have to assist you in some way. But know this... I will not tolerate your flirtations.”
Chuckling, she folded her arms across her bosom. “You are certainly full of yourself, Mr. Knightly, especially if you think I’m flirting with you.”
It was his turn to fold his arms. “You think I cannot tell when a woman is flirting?”
“Oh, I’m sure you can tell, but why would you think that I would flirt with you—or any of your men?”
“Miss Landon, you are a tease. I know women like yourself, and no matter how hard you try, you cannot fool me.”
“Who says I’m trying to fool you?” She grinned.
A deep chuckle rattled in his chest, sending tingles shooting through her. She didn’t know why she would react to his voice like that, but she wasn’t certain she liked the disturbing flutters inside her body.
Then again, maybe she liked them too much.
“Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy a lady’s flirtation, but not when I’m trying to protect her from my men.”
No longer did he control the conversation. She did, and she enjoyed the power it brought. She couldn’t help it. She just had to continue. Bantering back and forth with him was extremely amusing. She also took pleasure in making him uncomfortable. “I didn’t know you were hired toprotectme, too. How thoughtful.”
His smile widened and his eyes twinkled. Apparently, he enjoyed the joking as well. Heat spiraled through her that had nothing to do with the afternoon temperature.
“Miss Landon—Katrina, you’re playing with fire.”
“I...” She swallowed hard, not realizing her throat had suddenly dried. “I didn’t know I was playing, Felix.” If he could use her name, she could certainly use his.
Slowly, he nodded, his gaze fastened to her mouth again. “Oh, yes. You are most certainly playing a dangerous game.”
Images of him and the dark-skinned woman from this morning floated through her head, followed by her premonition of him trying to kiss her. What would it be like to have his mouth moving against hers? His lips looked so very soft. The wild way he’d kissed the other woman made Katrina wonder what sensations would run through her if a man ever showed her that kind of affection.
