I can only blink at his gall. “You are the most despicable man I’ve ever met,” I sputter.
He flashes me a smile. “Really, now? Well, Catarina, I’m honored.”
My hands curl into fists, and some logical part of my brain knows I’m being entirely unreasonable, but I cannot control myself. I deliver my next words like bullets. “Fuck. Off.”
He laughs. “You ready to get started?”
I breathe out, hard, trying to get ahold of my patience. “You know what I fantasize about? Murdering you.”
“Sure, you do.” He straightens and walks around the bar to stand in front of me. He dips low and whispers in my ear, making me shiver, “I’m sure when you lie in bed at night, that’s exactly what you’re fantasizing about.”
“I am.” My voice has lost some of its edge.
His hand slides over my hip and curves around to my ass, where he squeezes a little. “I thought you’d be happy.”
I square my shoulders, trying with all my might not to fall under his seductive spell. “Why would I be happy?”
His teeth scrape over my earlobe. “I made sure Gwen’s little sister knows she has no shot at me.”
He did. I’ll give him that. But that’s the problem. I shouldn’t want that. I shake my head. “You’re an arrogant bastard.”
He pulls me close. “Here I am being all nice, making sure you can let go of your jealousy, and this is the thanks I get?”
I push at his chest, but my fingers curve into his shirt. “I’m not jealous.”
“Uh-huh, sure you’re not.” His mouth brushes over mine, just the lightest of touches. A tease, really. “Want me to make good on that promise?”
I can’t hide my breathlessness now. “What promise?”
“To make you come.”
I swallow hard. God, I’d like nothing better, but I can’t admit it to save my soul.
He squeezes me tighter, moves to the shell of my ear. “I could bend you over the bar, pull down those jeans, and lick your pussy until you scream.”
My lashes flutter closed. I can picture it, his mouth moving over me. He’d be dirty while he did it, the way he does everything, driving me crazy.
His lips move, brushing the fine hairs and sending goose bumps over my skin. “All you need to do is say one little word.”
“What?” It’s as much as I can get out.
“Yes.” He pulls me close, and I can feel his erection against my stomach.
I rise to my tiptoes, hoping to encourage him lower, where his strength can do so much good.
Thank God he obliges.
He bends his knees, and the next thing I know he’s put me on a stool, pressing into me.
All my agitation is forgotten, replaced by lust. I grip his hips with my thighs.
He lifts me so I slide against him. “I’m making it so easy for you.”
But I cannot make the word leave my lips. I just can’t. It feels like surrendering, admitting I can’t resist him, that I’m powerless. And I cannot do that. There will be no hiding from it then.
He’ll win. He’ll use it against me. I can’t give him that kind of upper hand. I’ll never get it back again.
“One.” His teeth scrape my earlobe. “Little.” His lips brush the corner of my jaw. “Word.” His tongue licks the curve of my neck.
My mouth stays firmly shut, even though I’m screaming yes in my head. Why won’t he just do it? When he knows he can? He knows I can’t resist. That I want it. Want him.
I put my hands on the chair and thrust up, rubbing against him.
He moves away, laughing. “Say the word, Cat.”
I shake my head. “I can’t.”
“No?”
“No.”
“You sure about that?”
“I’m sure.” These words, the ones I don’t want to say, have no problem at all escaping my lips.
“All right then.” He plants one open-mouthed kiss against my throat, his tongue fluttering over my pounding pulse for a fleeting second, and then he’s gone. He straightens, untangling my legs from around his hips. “Let’s get to work.”
I stare back at him, unblinking, my mouth slightly agape. “Are you serious?”
He picks up an apron and throws it at me. “I’m giving you what you want.”
And just like that, I hate him all over again.
Later that afternoon, I’m coming up the back staircase, tired and dirty. After setting up the tasting room with every herb imaginable and making sure we were fully stocked, Caden and I spent some time in the garden going over the crops.