Page 26 of Crimson Heart

“A compromising position? What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“It means exactly what I said: you now have something to hold over me that the Alliance can use to blackmail me.”

“Blackmail?” She shook her head. “You’re out of your mind! I have far more to lose than you if this comes out.”

“Not your virginity; that’s for sure,” he bit back and instantly regretted the words. He had no idea why Charlotte made him so mad that he forgot his manners.

Charlotte glared at him. “Oh, now you’re holding it against me that I’m experienced in bed? That’s rich coming from you. You’re no virgin either. At least I’m not holding it against you that you’re good in bed and know how to satisfy a woman. Jerk!”

For a second, they both breathed raggedly.

Byron cursed. “Fuck! Are we really accusing each other of being good in bed?”

“You started it!” she snapped. “So, don’t blame me.”

Somehow her words made him relax a little.

“I’m sorry, Charlotte.” He ran a hand through his hair, trying to find the right words. “I didn’t mean to accuse you. It’s just… these past few months with your brother as the alpha were no cake walk. And then I met you… And I thought that finally, things were looking up…”

He shook his head and dropped his gaze to his feet.

“And then I find out that you’re his sister…”

He gave a slow shake of his head, then looked back at her. She stood motionless, meeting his gaze. Some of the anger seemed to seep from her, vanishing into thin air.

“It’s hard to believe that it was a coincidence that we met,” he said.

Her voice was calmer and softer when she said, “What if it was fate?”

“Fate?”

Would fate do this to him? Would fate conspire for their paths to cross as strangers, giving them the opportunity to get to know each other unencumbered by their families’ beliefs and prejudices? To what end?

“Don’t you believe in fate?” she asked gently, taking a step toward him.

“Fate doesn’t always equal happiness,” he hedged. “What if fate is cruel?”

“We won’t know unless we give this a chance.”

He wanted to do just that, but could he trust her? “Tell me one thing.”

“What is it?”

“Why did you sleep with me?”

All tension seemed to visibly leave her body, replaced by something altogether different. He suddenly found himself face-to-face with the temptress from last night, who moistened her lower lip with her pink tongue. A tongue whose taste he was only too familiar with. A soft smile played around her luscious lips. It spread all the way to her eyes before she gave him an answer.

“Because I find you utterly sexy.”

He couldn’t help but grin. “That’s something I can work with.” He bridged the remaining distance between them with two steps.

“Then maybe you can answer me something too.”

“Which is?”

“Are you gonna make love to me, or were you planning on talking all night?”

Byron’s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. It was all the answer she needed. He wrapped his arms around her, and she molded herself to him, leaving no space between their bodies.