Her heart raced with excitement even as she fought to keep her tone even. She couldn’t let him see how much she wanted this. “Geez, Mr. King. Are you asking me to go steady?”
“Exclusivity,” he clarified. “For however long we’re together. Or until we decide to amend the rules.”
“No other women?” she asked. “No Amazonian models that look like they could step on me?”
“Not a single one. That is, if you agree not to look twice at any man bound on whisking you away.”
She thought of the men she’d met at the bar. It was embarrassing how little he had to worry. “I went out tonight to find your replacement,” she said. “And you know what I discovered?”
“What?” His forehead brushed against hers.
“That they’re all wrong. None of them were you.”
A smile tugged on his lips. “Then we’re in agreement.”
“Exclusive friends with benefits.” She drew her nose against his. “Ever tried that before?”
“Not since high school.”
“That’s a long time not to get very involved with anyone.”
“Mmm.” He pulled her closer, resting his chin on the top of her head. “They were distractions. The last thing I planned for was a lover I had to worry about. Someone who would invade my thoughts and make it impossible to focus.”
Some of her happiness seeped away. “I guess I don’t do that, either, huh?”
His soft chuckle filled her ears. “On the contrary, you’ve been driving me crazy. Do you have any idea how hard it is to focus on work when all I can think about is exactly what we did on my desk?”
She stared up at him. “Really?”
“Congratulations, angel. You’re driving me mad.”
Joy simmered within her. “I rather like that.”
“Hopefully I consume an equal amount of your thoughts.”
“Oh no,” she said on a sigh. “I barely remember you exist when you leave the room.”
Leaning down, he nipped her earlobe in punishment.
“All right,” she said, tipping her head up. “I might spare you a thought or two.”
“Glad to hear it.” His lips brushed against hers. “Don’t ignore my calls again.”
“Didn’t like that, did you?”
“I spent three hours trying to track you down while feeling like a vise was pressing down on my chest. What do you think?”
“Did it hurt?”
There was a beat of silence before he nodded his head once.
She closed her eyes, knowing she was hopelessly tied to this man. “Quid pro quo, I guess.”
“Let’s not repeat today,” he said. His breath played across her lips. “I’m not a fan.”
“That can be rule number two.”
“I like the sound of that.”
His lips came down on hers. Not wanting to do anything else, she gave herself over to his masterful touch. It was enough. What he’d done tonight. He might not have said he was ready to date her, but still, they’d come a long way from their one night stand. She’d gone from being one of the many women in his life to being someone…
Special.
Pleasure curled through her. What a wonderful notion.
“Would you like me to drive you home?” His question was soft.
It would be the smart move. Give them both time to clear their heads.
“No,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. “I’m exactly where I want to be.”
Chapter Thirteen
He shouldn’t care.
Her lips glided over his, drawing him deeper.
Pleasure had been the center of his life for more than half his life. He shouldn’t care that Allison had looked at him with desolate eyes.
Except he did.
He gripped her waist, pulling her closer as he kissed her. No matter what else was happening, this remained the same. When he touched her, everything got exceedingly simple.
Her pleasure was all that mattered.
Desperation trickled into his kiss. He tried to cloud her mind, make her forget what had led them to this moment.
Make him forget the pain in her eyes when she’d led Sasha in.
This was why he didn’t do relationships with people who mattered. Shallow, superficial fun was his wheelhouse.
But those words didn’t apply to Allison.
When she’d shown Sasha into his room, all he’d wanted to do was run after her. To explain that, despite what she thought, he had no interest in any woman but her.
An impossibility in itself, yet there it was.
He’d sat at his desk, staring up at Sasha in all her perfect glory, and hadn’t felt the least little twinge to take her up on her implicit offer. She wasn’t the woman he wanted.