“You asked for that.”
“I don’t recall asking to scare some poor maid.”
“That’s not my fault.”
He grinned. “Agree to disagree.”
“Besides, why would seeing you half-naked scare her?”
“She’s pretty young. Probably never saw a cock like mine before.”
I rolled my eyes. “Of course. You and your unique penis.”
“Penis.” He scoffed. “You make it sound so clinical.”
“Good. You’re my stepfather, after all.”
He grinned at me. “Good point.” He moved closer, sitting on the stool next to mine, our knees touching very slightly. “Tell me something, do you always kiss your stepfathers the way you kissed me?”
I looked away. “That’s different.”
“I don’t see how.”
“I was drunk.”
“No, you weren’t.”
“High.”
“Nope.”
“Under the influence of gamma radiation?”
He laughed, grinning. “Okay, maybe that one. But it wouldn’t cause you to do anything against your will.”
“I don’t know, gamma radiation has some tricky properties.”
“Speaking of working too hard, you seem to be doing backflips to try and avoid admitting that you want to see my unique cock.”
“Believe me. I don’t need to work hard to avoid that.”
“What did you think when you saw the roses?” he asked, sipping his drink.
I sipped my wine, taking a second before I answered. “I thought you’re a total weirdo.”
He laughed again, clearly loving it. “I don’t believe that.”
“What did you think when you were sending them?”
“I was thinking how hard I get every time I think of seeing you in that lingerie. I think of how incredible that kiss was—and I know you know it.”
“It was a mistake,” I said.
“It was,” he agreed, “but that doesn’t make it any less incredible. Think about this, Emily. I can make you feel things I’m betting you’ve never felt before with just a kiss. Imagine what I could do if you let me have that perfect body of yours.”
I felt a thrill run up my spine as I imagined all of the possibilities, but I had to keep myself under control. “It doesn’t matter,” I said. “What would my mother say about that?”
“She’d be unhappy, but she’d get over it.”
I stood up and walked away, needing to put some distance between us. He leaned one elbow on the bar top and watched me, a cocky smile on his face, sipping his drink.
“I don’t know where you get off with all this,” I said, feeling a bit angry. “You send me lingerie, you flirt with me, hell, you even kiss me. You ran to my aid like you needed to defend me.”
“I was defending you,” he pointed out.
“Cox had it covered. I didn’t need you.”
“Yes, you did.” He stood and walked toward me. “You pretend like you’re all high and mighty, like you’re above this. But we both know you’re not.”
“I don’t think I’m above anything. I just know you’re an ass and this is wrong.”
“That’s it, right there.” His smirk was infuriating. “You don’t even see it. The only reason you’re so mad about all of this is because you know you want me, and you want me badly.”
I clenched my glass of wine and shook my head. “No. It’s not true.”
“The more you fight back, the more I know you want me. Stop pretending and give in to me.”
“Asshole.”
He stopped inches away from me, just like the other day out on the lawn. I stared up at his gorgeous eyes, my mouth hanging open, and I knew what I wanted. But I also knew that wanting something didn’t make it right.
That didn’t matter to Carter. Without another word, he puled me against him and kissed me deeply.
That feeling came over my again. It was a rush of desire, intense and powerful, something I’d never experienced before. He kissed me hard, tongue in my mouth, and I pressed my body closer against his large, hard chest. He took the drink from my hand and placed it on a side table as we walked together toward the couch on the far wall.
We continued to kiss, my hands on his strong arms and his hands on my hips, as he steered me to the couch.
“Wait,” I said suddenly. “Wait, wait.”
He broke off the kiss, his lips lingering on my neck. “What?”
“Bathroom,” I said, breathless.
“Why?”
“Where is it?”
“Down the hall, on the right.”
I pulled away from him, turned, and practically ran out of the room.