“But you will.”
“Later,” Hunt insisted, his lips moving over hers. Adie, knowing she should resist him, opened her mouth anyway, and when his tongue touched hers, she groaned. This was better, if at all possible, than last night. He seemed harder, tougher, sexier and she wanted him with every atom pulsing in her body.
And because she’d never felt this way, with anyone, ever, Adie pulled out of his arms and stepped back, her hands raised in a “back off” gesture. Whatever was zinging between them felt too intense, too powerful. He was a tsunami of soul-and-breath-and-thought-stealing lust.
Hunt, thank God, got the message, and instead of reaching for her, jammed his hands in his pockets. Adie, having noticed the very impressive erection tenting his pants, kept her eyes on his face. Yeah, the implacable distant businessman was gone, and a frustrated man stood in front of her. But Adie knew, soul-deep, that he wouldn’t push her down a road she wasn’t one hundred percent happy to walk.
“This isn’t a good idea, Hunter.”
“You thought it was an excellent idea last night,” Hunt pointed out.
“I didn’t know who you were last night and our mutual attraction caught me off guard,” Adie replied. Off guard was an understatement, but he didn’t need to know that.
“I don’t date,” Adie blurted out, needing to end this conversation.
Hunt barely reacted. “Neither do I.”
That wasn’t the reply she’d been expecting. “Why not?”
“I enjoy uncomplicated, no-strings-attached sex.” It was an answer, but not to the question she’d asked.
With Hunter Sheridan, nothing was uncomplicated. Not their mutual desire, nor her desperate need to get her hands on him nor the flustered way he made her feel. Oh, she’d very much enjoy what he’d teach her sexually, but a roll around a big bed with him wasn’t worth sacrificing the hard work she’d done to get to this point.
She no longer needed to chase attention, to look for validation in all the wrong places.
But what if she just wanted sex from him, her inner voice wheedled. Well, tough. It was Christmas and because the season made her feel emotional and vulnerable, she couldn’t take the chance.
No, it was better not to take any risks.
Hunt swiped his thumb over her bottom lip before dropping his hand to his side. “I’m not going to push you, Adie. But anytime you want to change your mind, you know where to find me.”
Adie straightened her shoulders and her spine. “I’m not going to change my mind.”
Well, she’dtrynot to.
Hunt smiled his devastatingly sexy half smile, half smirk. “Oh, I think you will. Hopefully sooner rather than later.”
Adie’s mouth fell open at his arrogance, but before she could form the words to slap down his ego, he looked at his watch. “I need to get back to work. Send me your quote and the contract and I’ll look it over.”
Adie blinked, dizzy from his rapid change of subject. “Okay.”
Hunt walked over to his desk and slid a card from a silver box on his desk. Flipping it over, he scribbled on the back before handing it to her. “That’s my private phone number, you can reach me on it anytime, anywhere. Feel free to use it.”
Adie didn’t need him to draw her a picture. “I won’t.”
“Yeah, I think you will,” Hunt replied, amused. “And I expect to see you here, twice a day, once in the morning and again in the evening, to keep me updated.”
Adie glared at him. “I could just send you an email!”
Hunt picked up her bag, gestured for her to walk over to the door. He opened it and dropped her bag over her shoulder. “Yeah, you could, but that wouldn’t be any fun.”
“I didn’t think you were the fun type,” Adie told him, feeling cross and outmaneuvered.
“I’m not, but I’ll make an exception for you.” Hunt bent down and dropped a kiss on the corner of her mouth. “See you back here at nine tomorrow morning. Unless...”
“Unless what?”
He nodded to the card in her hand. “Unless you call me between now and then.”