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“You’re not a complication.”

“I am standing in the way of your perfect community.”

“You are.” He twirled his finger around the ends of my hair and draped it over my breasts. “But I’m willing to overlook that.”

“Why?” I sucked in a breath when his hand skimmed my nipple. “What do you want from me?”

“I want to get to know you better.”

“I’m not that interesting.” I dropped my gaze to his lips. “Not to a man like you.”

“Isn’t that for me to decide?” He swiped his thumb along my collarbone and down my chest. “If I wanted the women I’ve become accustomed to, I could have asked one of them to go with me.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“Because I met you.” He brushed his mouth across my jaw. “And you’re far more captivating than any other woman I’ve ever encountered. So, please indulge me.”

“You confuse me when you touch me like this.” I turned my head until our lips met. “I don’t know why I’m drawn to you. We don’t make sense.”

“Why would you think that?” He gently kissed me. “We had plenty of chemistry the other night. We made sense then.”

“We weren’t supposed to see one another again.”

“I already told you that wasn’t going to work for me. If you hadn’t walked into my office, I would have found you. I would have made it my life’s mission.”

“Why would you change the terms?”

“Because I like doing this.” He threaded his fingers through my hair and brought my lips to his. When our mouths collided, the fire inside my stomach simmered and all I wanted to do was surrender to his every demand.

Snapshots of the other night flashed in my mind. His hands on my body, his lips between my thighs, and his fingers inside me. I shuddered against him when I recalled his solid, naked body hovering over mine.

We were different people that night. He didn’t know who I was or where I came from. My problems weren’t his concern. He didn’t need anything from me. I wasn’t a business deal to him. We were strangers with no baggage.

Now he saw me as an obstacle he had to overcome. A challenge he had to conquer.

“Stop.” I pressed my palm against his chest. “We can’t do this.”

“I’m pretty sure we can.”

“We shouldn’t do this.”

“Why not?”

“Because you want my house,” I said. “That complicates everything.”

“I want you more.”

“In this moment you do, but what happens after?” I ducked under his arm and hurried across the room, creating some distance between us. “How can you see me as anything more than a hurdle you have to clear to get what you want?”

“You’ll have to let me prove it to you.”

“How are you going to do that?” I asked.

“You’ll have to start by going out with me.”

“Why is it so important for you to have me attend this event?” I had to admit the dress was fucking amazing. When would I ever get a chance to wear anything like that? “I don’t know anything about you or why you’re going to this thing. I’m not rich, I’m a little younger than you.”

“A little?” When he smirked, my fingers itched to touch his lips. “You are an anomaly for me. I can’t explain it, but the other night wasn’t enough. Something tells me if I don’t pursue you, I’ll regret it.”