Beautiful Distraction(29)

No one like him—rich and instant-panty-drop sexy—has ever hit on me.

You rejected him, and now he thinks you’re a challenge.

That must be my answer.

Combine spectacular looks with a bruised ego in a guy, and he’s major trouble. It’s like he turns into a bloodhound, sniffing you out, pursuing you relentlessly. Once the job’s done, he’ll lose interest and be gone before you even realized what just happened.

“I know I keep asking the same stuff, but I can’t figure you out.” I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. “How does the dirty talking usually fare for you?”

“What dirty talking? I haven’t even started yet.”

I sigh at his infuriatingly sweet tone. “Okay, let’s try again. So, what is it that you do? Irritate the hell out of a woman so she gives in just to get rid of you?”

A smile flashes across his lips. “I don’t usually need to. Women usually throw themselves at me. But—”

“But?” I raise my brows at him, silently coercing him to enlighten me.

“But I might not have any other choice with you.”

“Ah.” I nod knowingly, mocking him. “Maybe not everyone is into you, you know? Does that make sense?”

Before I know it, he grips my chin between his fingers and leans forward. Our breaths intermingled, I’m forced to meet his green gaze, and I don’t like what I see there.

Longing.

My own longing for him to kiss me is reflected in his eyes.

And then there is something else.

Determination.

Raw, hard, primitive determination.

The kind I don’t possess.

He’s used to getting what he wants. I knew that from the first moment I saw him. What I didn’t expect was that, for some reason, he might be wanting me.

“I’m everyone’s type, Ava,” he says, his voice low. “You just have to realize it.”

He lets go, his fingers leaving a tingling sensation on my skin.

I shake my head, more out of need to convince myself that no man could have such an effect on me than disagreement. “Be that as it may, you’re not everyone’s type to handle, and I can assure you I’m not interested in getting involved with a guy like you.”

“And what kind of guy do you think I am?”

“Mmh, let me think.” I bite my lip in mock contemplation. “The kind of guy who thinks you’re on every woman’s bucket list of things to do before they die.”

“Wow. You have me down to a T.” He eyes me, amused. “So, why don’t you join the crowd?”

I let out a laugh. “Seriously? Is that even a question?”

“It is.” He nods. “Women usually throw themselves at me. Except you. You seem to be the exception, which poses the important question: why do you keep rejecting me?” His question sounds genuine, like he’s given it a lot of thought and can’t for the life of him figure out the answer.

“You’re too much,” I admit.

“Too much of what? Sexiness?”

“No, dude.” I shake my head in disbelief. “You’re too much to handle. Too much obnoxiousness.”

“I never thought I’d hear a woman say something like that to me. It’s usually the other way around, you know?” His smile breaks into a grin. “Are you sure you’re even a woman?”

I scowl. “Trust me, I’m as much of a woman as you’re a man.”

“Prove it.”

He’s playing me.

I cock my head, annoyed that he’d think I’m so easy to trick. “If you think I’m going to flash you my breasts while you get to show me your private parts, you’re wrong.”

Yeah, no need to show them to me when I’ve already seen them.

And they’re huge.

There’s a strange look in his eyes. I still don’t know if he saw me watching him last night, but I sure as hell won’t be asking.

“I’m messing with you. But you’ve got to admit it would have been nice.”

I smirk. “Yeah, if we were five-year-olds.”

“If I were a five-year-old, I would have said, I’ll show you mine if you show me yours. But like I said, I never have to ask. It’s always the other way around.” He leans forward. His stubble grazes my skin, and for a moment, I think he’s about to kiss me. His hot breath brushes my lips as he says, “I’m perfectly well-endowed and will be happy to show you if you ask…nicely.”

He leans back, his green eyes challenging me with so much fire it takes my breath away.

I’m stunned. Lost for words. I don’t know what to say. But I know how I feel. I’m turned on by the memory in my head.

His hand wrapped around his hard cock is all I can think about. It drives me crazy. It takes all my willpower not to look down at his crotch.