Because he’s incredibly irritating, that’s why…
Dean tilted his head. “Not ready to come out and say it, huh? Fine. I’m going to take a step backward, and if you aren’t interested in continuing this, just walk away. If you don’t want to play, I’ll let you go.”
“And if I don’t leave?”
“Then I’ll give you exactly what you’re pushing me for right now.”
Kat’s breath caught in her chest at the promise in those words, at the offer of escape. Her heart beat even harder when he did as he said, when he backed off and gave her the chance to go.
She’d already played with him once, but it had been with Bradley, too. This time it was just the two of them. Was she ready for that? Did she want to risk that? Could she stomach it?
The waves of anxiety churned inside her, unsure if it was part of what she’d felt before or if it was Dean’s confrontation.
Still, she knew if she left, if she went back to her room, if she gave in, she’d regret it. She needed a chance to let go again, to unload the bullshit in her head, to set it down for just a moment and nothing had ever worked as well asthis.
Which meant Kat stayed still, her feet rooted in place, and gave Dean the smallest nod.
His smile widened, a cruel edge to it that made her pussy clench without him eventouchingher.
She might just be in over her head.
“Good answer,” Dean said. “Because I’ve been wanting to deal with that attitude of yours for a long fucking time.”
“Good luck,” Kat whispered back. “Better men than you have tried.”
He came forward and caught her chin, tilting her head so she stared up and into his eyes, his large body crowding hers. “Yeah, they have.”
“So why do you think you have a shot?”
“Because that’s the secret, Brat. I’m not better—but I might just be bad enough to handle you.”
And just like that, Kat knew she was lost.
Dean couldn’t believe the way his heart sped at the defiant look in Kat’s gray eyes. He’d long thought he’d grown out of that instant excitement, that feeling of uncertainty that came from wondering what exactly would happen.
He’d figured that came with age and experience, that things no longer seemed as thrilling as they had when he’d first started.
Yet…he couldn’t deny the sensation running through him as he stared at Kat.
It wasn’tjustsex. Sex was easy to come by, easy to manage. This was so much more. It was the thrill of discovery, of peeking beneath the layers of a person who wanted to hide so much.
And Kat sure as hell hid a lot.
The fact she seemed incapable of just telling him what she wanted was proof of that. Instead of being honest, she’d pushed him, pressed until she thought she’d gotten him right where she wanted.
Poor girl doesn’t know me, does she?
He curled his lips into a smirk, rewarded by a sharp intake of breath from her. That nervous edge was a blessing.
Dean reached out, slowly, and wrapped his hand around the back of her neck. He pulled her toward him, not stopping until the front of her body pressed against his. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, proving her whole attitude was nothing more than an act.
Shewantedhim. No, it was more than that. The way she leaned in closer, the way her tongue touched her bottom lip, it was all proof that she craved him.
And he planned to give her all she could take and more.
“Aren’t you going to go over the rules?” she asked, a delicious quiver to her voice.
“No. You’re hardly some fresh-faced virgin, Kat. You only want me to do it so you can mouth off some more.”