“Why the hell not?” she demanded.
“Because I like you trapped,” he purred. “It makes me happy.”
“Do I look like I care if your perverseness makes you happy or not?” she snapped. “I’m not happy, so move your damn feet.”
“Nope, you have to make me move.” Before she could argue, he interrupted her. “So, about this bet I never agreed to…”#p#分页标题#e#
“What about it?” She wasn’t even looking at him, she was staring at his foot.
“What in God’s name gave you the idea I’d ever put my car up for a wager?”
“Afraid of a little bet, Kincaid?” She looked up and smiled, really smiled, and Nikoli felt his insides twist a bit. She was gorgeous when she smiled. He’d seen her laughing and smiling, but not like this. It was genuine and happy.
“No, I’m not, dushka, but you should be.” He leaned across the table, invading her personal space. “Do you really think I’d ever lose my car in a bet, especially a bet about sex?”
“I told you not to call me that,” she whispered, pushing herself back against the seat and as far from him as she could get. Luckily, that was only a few inches.
Her tongue darted out and wet her lips. His eyes followed the movement, and he felt himself growing hard imagining what that tongue would feel like against his skin. “You smell like vanilla, Lily. It reminds me of sugar cookies. Would you taste like warm vanilla sugar cookies, Milaya?”
“Uh, Nikoli,” she whispered, drawing in a ragged breath. “You’re eyes are getting darker.”
“Mmm,” he said, pushing himself closer to her. “Do you know why, Lily?”
She shook her head, and he smiled the smile guaranteed to get a woman out of her clothes. “It’s because I’m imagining all the things I could get you to do with that lovely little tongue of yours.”
Lily’s eyes widened and her breathing sped up. Nikoli pressed closer, his own mouth a hair’s breadth from hers. “Would you like to do that, Lily?”
Someone cleared their throat and Nikoli was forced to look up. Their waitress stood there, holding their plates. He groaned, frustrated, but moved back so she could put the plates down. Her hands were a little shaky when she pulled them back. Lily took one look at her and blinked. He watched all the progress he’d made in the last few minutes slip away as she closed her eyes. When she opened them, they were wary, watchful.
Frustration welled up, but Nikoli refused to show it. Instead, he smiled lazily up at the waitress. “Thank you, Julie.”
“You’re…ah…welcome.” Julie turned and walked away, glancing back several times. Lily made some kind of disgusted noise, but Nikoli ignored her. He picked up a fry and dipped it in ketchup. “So, now back to this bet…”
“The bet stands,” Lily said between bites of chowder, “unless, of course, you’re afraid you’ll lose.” Lily worked hard to keep her tone even. Nikoli had gotten to her for a minute there. She’d even wanted him to touch her, and that made her nervous. Confused too. She’d gone so long without someone’s touch, it made no sense to her that she craved his. She couldn’t let him see just how much he affected her.
“We’ve already established I’m not afraid of losing,” Nikoli countered. “Where did that particular little idea come from? It’s not something we talked about last night.”
“You want people to think we’re dating, don’t you?”
He nodded.
“Then I had to find a way to make them believe I’d ever date you.”
“What’s wrong with dating me?” he asked, putting his burger back down. He looked so outraged, Lily couldn’t help but giggle. An honest to God giggle. She was not a girl who giggled, but Nikoli brought it out in her. Not even Adam could make her so much as think about giggling.
“You’re not exactly dating material,” Lily said, laughing as his face became even more outraged.#p#分页标题#e#
“Why the hell not?” he demanded. “No one’s ever complained before.”
“Nikoli, you’re gorgeous, sexy, and every girl’s fantasy, but no girl would date you.”
He growled, his feet inching closer. She glanced down nervously, but her eyes shot back up when a fry hit her in the face. He did not! “You really want to start a food fight when I have clam chowder to throw at you?”
“Explain why no girl would date me.” His tone was clipped and hard. Ohh, she’d hit a nerve! Good. The man needed taken down a peg or two.