Page 96 of Elite Metal: Warriors

After a moment, she looked away. “I-I should go.”

“Must you?” He took her hand in his and stroked the tender skin of her wrist.

She shook her head and her ponytail shimmied. “I…ah… don’t do this.”

“Don’t sit in a bar with a man and…chat?”

“Is that what this is?”

Goddamn, her eyes were beautiful. He had to tell the truth. “No. Not if I have any say over it.”

“That’s what I thought. I don’t do one night stands with men I’ve just met.”

Well, hell. Those words sent a bolt of electricity through him, even though they decried what he wanted. His stomach plunged when she picked up her purse.

With a creeping sizzle that felt like panic, he forced a smile and glanced at his watch. “Well, how long do we have to wait?”

She froze. Her mouth fell open—a tantalizing sight—and then she barked a laugh, one that shattered the friction between them. “You are a very charming man, Mr. Cooper—”

“Just Coop.”

“And handsome, too.”

“Aww, pshaw.”

She laughed again, a melody. “Did you just say pshaw? Does anyone say pshaw?”

“I did and do, ma’am.”

She faked a shiver. “Ooh. I love it when men ma’am me.” There was hardly any sarcasm in her tone.

“Sorry, ma’am. Old habit.”

Her gaze sharpened. “Military?”

He shook his head, though it was true. “Cowboy. My mama would knock me into next week if I didn’t respect a lady.” He pretended to tip his Stetson.

He’d never worn a Stetson. Never been on a ranch. Never had a mama. But what the hell, his ploy worked. Nat hooked her arm in his and smiled up at him. “Perhaps you could walk me to the elevator.”

“I’d rather walk you to your room.”

“That is out of the question. I never invite men to my room.” Damn. Damn and blast. Maybe he should— “How about yours?”

Coop nearly swallowed his tongue.

Thank God he’d had the foresight to book a room in this hotel. It made sense since Ming Kow spent so much time here, but Titanium was going to have a shitfit when he saw the bill. Aside from that, he had a beautiful woman on his arm. She held the key to unlocking the secrets he desperately needed…and he held the key to a luxurious bedroom perfect for seduction.

This could not be going any better.

Chapter Two

Natalia Petrova fixed her features into some innocent, seductive mien and Cooper smiled and gestured toward the foyer.

God, men were so easy to manipulate.

Sometimes it revolted her.

All she needed to do was bat her lashes and infer she might possibly spread her legs for them and they melted.