No. She’s yours. She stays with you.
“Yes. You could do that.” He had to force out the words.
Her gaze narrowed. “You don’t want me to go, do you?”
He didn’t know how she’d managed to figure that one out but he didn’t like that she had. “Obviously I don’t want you to go. I wouldn’t be able to protect you, for a start.”
Slowly, she came toward him, her heels making crisp little tapping sounds. “Don’t talk to me about protection. That’s what Dad used to tell me. That he kept me a damn prisoner for my own good.” She stopped right in front of him, tilting her head back so her gaze met his. “I say bullshit. Why don’t you tell me the real reason you don’t want me to go?”
Jax held himself still. This close the scent of her threaded through his brain like opium smoke, making everything around him seem hazy and out of focus. The only clear thing in the room was her. “What else could it possibly be?” he asked, his voice going husky.
Her lashes lowered slightly, her mouth taking on the sensual curve that had gotten him so hard the night before. Jesus, how did she do that? How did she manage to slip under his detachment, undermine his control with only a smile?
“Oh, what about the little fact that you want me?”
“That’s got nothing to do with it.”
“Uh-huh.” She paused, giving him that seductive look again. “So, you’re not planning on taking me to your bed and keeping me there, then?”
He could feel a muscle ticking in his jaw. Christ, that’s exactly what he wanted to do. Exactly. “No. I told you that’s not happening again.”
Pandora lifted a hand to his tie, straightening it, her fingers brushing his throat. Lightning flashed through him, a line direct to his cock. “Hmmm,” she murmured thoughtfully. “That’s a shame. Because although I like your plan, there’s not much in it for me. And to be honest, I’m kind of sick of having everyone else decide my future and expecting me to go along with it. I want to be the one to choose for once.”
“I’m not sure what else you want.” God, he wanted to touch her. Wanted to put his hands on her, push her up against a convenient wall, thrust inside her … No. He had to be in control. He made mistakes when he wasn’t. Screwed things up. Hurt people. His mother. Sean. And Donovan, too.
“Use your imagination, Hunt.” Her fingers trailed down his shirt, touching each button. “Like you did last night, for example.”
“I’m not sleeping with you again, Pandora.”
“Is that a fact?” Her hand moved even lower, brushing the front of his trousers. “I think your cock would beg to differ.”
He tried to breathe and stay calm as her fingers traced his rapidly growing erection. Failed. So he reached out and grabbed her wrist, gently but inexorably pulling her hand away. “You’re very forward for a recently deflowered virgin.”
But that fire and challenge was back in her eyes, along with a desire that set his own burning even more intensely. “Why shouldn’t I be? I may have been a virgin but I’m not a total innocent. Anyway, I’m a free woman, Jax Morrow. Do you have any idea what that means for me? For the first time in twenty-five years, I’m out of that damn tower. Away from my stupid father. I can go anywhere, do anything I want to. And shit, it’s my freaking birthday today, too. So what I want goes. And firstly, what I want is as much sex as I can handle. So if I’m staying here with you, I’m not sleeping alone.”
Desire curled long fingers around him, squeezing him tight.
You want to so why fight it? You can’t refuse her.
No, he couldn’t. Not after what she’d told him. Not after knowing what kind of life she’d left behind him. Anyway, he could handle her. If he was careful, giving her what she wanted wouldn’t be a problem.
Part of himself told him he’d just rationalized everything nicely but he ignored that part. Hell, maybe sleeping with her, working out this chemistry would even be good. Make it more manageable.
“That’s all you want?”
“Um … no. I’ve got a list if you must know. Secondly, I need some time to go shopping—I’m getting kind of sick of this dress and also you tore my panties. I’m going to need some more of those, too.”
Christ, she didn’t have panties on? In spite of himself, his gaze dropped.
Pandora’s finger caught him under the chin, grinning. “All in good time, Hunt. For now, shopping. Which I will all pay back eventually. And that brings me back to item number three. My financial status.”