Page 124 of Elite Metal: Warriors

Hell. She wasn’t telling him that. “You don’t have the right to ask.”

“Don’t I?”

“You made it clear that this was only about sex—”

“Where did you get that idea?”

Um, hello? “In the bathroom.”

“I never said this was only about sex.”

“You inferred it.”

“I did not.”

She sniffed. “Sometimes what you don’t say says more than what you do say.”

He shook his head. “I’ll never understand women.”

“Probably not, since you’re so boneheaded.”

“I’m not boneheaded. I’m just…”

“What?” She speared him with a sardonic glower.

He shrugged. “I’m a guy. You caught me off guard. I didn’t know what to say.”

God, he was cute. Too cute. And contrite and adorable and everything. She melted, a little. “I get that.” She cupped his cheek with her palm. “I didn’t mean to ambush you. I was… just confused.”

He sighed and leaned his forehead against hers. “I’m confused too.”

Oh, how that errant thrill washed through her. That was probably as close to a declaration as she would ever have. It had to be enough to satisfy her. It had to be.

She smiled at him again, this time warmly. “I’ve never felt this way with a man. I…never let myself. In my line of work it’s…”

“Dangerous.”

“Exactly.”

“People will let you down.”

“Use you.”

“Desert you.”

With each phrase, they came closer and closer until their lips touched. “It’s tempting,” she said against his breath, “to imagine what it would be like…”

“To have someone.”

“Someone you could trust to be there.”

“Forever.”

”So tempting.” She kissed him again, slowly this time, leisurely.

“I’ve always been alone.”

“Me too.”