His eyes closed briefly as he pushed his fingers through his dark, loose hair.
“Trouble waiting to happen,” he muttered as his eyes opened and he pinned her with a fierce stare. “After last night, I thought we could have lunch…”
“Why?” She propped her hand on her hip as she faced him squarely. “You set the rules this morning, Ian. You couldn’t even share the bed you fucked me in. I was remiss, I guess, in learning the rules before pressing myself into your life. I was under the impression lovers slept together. ”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “I know you’re upset—”
Why now, she just couldn’t have him thinking she was upset, could she? She gave him a mental, mocking roll of her eyes.
“Actually I’m not. ” She smiled lightly. “Merely adjusting. We can discuss this after dark perhaps. I’m certain the cold light of day makes things rather uncomfortable for you. It’s so much harder to hide from the truth then. I’ll make it easy on you and we’ll discuss it tonight. If I’m home in time. ”
“Why wouldn’t you be?” His voice lowered almost dangerously.
“Tally mentioned dinner with friends. ” There wasn’t a chance in hell she was going to let him intimidate her. “I may be late returning. ”
That bit of information didn’t seem to please him very well. Good, she thought.
“Good Lord, the fate of the known universe is in danger,” he growled then. “Did she happen to mention the friends involved?”
He sounded rather serious. How cute. And how very interesting.
“Only one, actually. Terrie, I believe. I’m certain the known universe is in no danger from us though. ”
“You don’t know Tally,” he grunted. “Stay here. We could spend the time together. ”
She shook her head as she turned and walked across the room to the dresser.
“We can talk later, Ian,” she said as she pulled a drawer free and collected a thong and matching bra. “I’m not ready to discuss your horrid manners at this time. I’d prefer to relax for a while. ”
“My horrid manners?” There was definitely a tone of offense there. “How the hell were my manners horrid? What’s gotten into you?”
She turned back to him, sighing deeply.
“You left my bed within ten minutes of believing I was asleep. ” She counted off a finger. “You didn’t just leave my bed, you returned to your own. ” She counted off another. “This morning, I awoke alone, without even an invitation to join you for breakfast. ” The third finger went down. “And when I sought you out, Jason informed me, quite bluntly, that you were too busy to be bothered. Now go back to whatever required your attention and leave me be to get ready. At the moment, shopping is definitely preferable to being in your company. ”
Well now, he didn’t appear to care much for that little announcement.
His eyes darkened, glittering with lust as his expression became decidedly carnal. Now wasn’t this interesting?
“You are the one who sought out my company,” he growled. “If you intend to leave for the entire fucking day, then you can at least be pleasant about it. ” He advanced on her, his eyelids lowering, not exactly narrowing, but giving him a hungry, wicked look.
Her own response was immediate, and not welcome as far as she was concerned. Her breasts became instantly swollen, her nipples rasping against the soft material of the sweater as her pussy began to heat.
“I did not seek out your company,” she informed him imperiously. “I have left you alone this morning, Ian. And your dominance is not appreciated at this moment. Save it for a time when it might be. ”
A smile curled his lip as she frowned back at him.
“My dominance is a twenty-four/seven kind of thing, Courtney,” he informed her darkly, stopping within inches of her as he stared down at her. “You’re right, you were very remiss in not reminding me to discuss the rules with you. I assumed you knew that when you informed me so confidently of how well you knew me. ”
Before she could avoid him, before she could prepare herself, his arm lifted, his hands tangling in her long hair to pull her head back.
The sheer dominance of the move had her nerve endings instantly screaming in response. Perverts that those nerve endings could be. They were depraved. There was now no doubt about it.
Chapter Seven
Courtney fought for breath as Ian’s head lowered, his lips heavy with passion as they neared hers.
“Take off your pants,” he ordered roughly. “You may go out to plan the destruction of the world as I know it, but I’ll be damned if you won’t go without a reminder of me. ”