last thought nearly knocked him out of his chair because he didn’t do the life thing. He did the sex thing with women. Why would she be any different?
Because Sloan was different.
He knew they were attracted to each other; that had been obvious. However, they’d managed to control things and there was no doubt they would have continued to do so... At least she would have. Temptation would have overtaken him if they’d spent more time together.
“Sorry to disappoint you, but I’ve been busy the last four days doing things that didn’t involve women,” he said. “I’ve been handling clients. A few hiccups came up with several players that I had to take care of.”
He took a sip of his wine and watched her. Did she know his words had placed a quick smile on her lips that he probably wasn’t supposed to have seen? That pretty much let him know she wasn’t disappointed that his last four days had been boring.
She wasn’t saying anything and then it dawned on him that she was looking at him, not with a predatory gaze but a curious one. And she’d zeroed in on his mouth. He glanced at her chest. The budded tips of her nipples were pressing even more against the fabric of her top. He couldn’t help his lusty smile that shifted back to her eyes.
“I think I have a problem where you are concerned, Sloan.”
She licked her lips and it was as if he could feel her doing so. “Do you?”
“Yes.”
He refused to tell her anything different, not when he could clearly read desire in her eyes. Did she not know what seeing it was doing to him? That was why he’d felt it was best to stay away. Not just because she was getting to him, but because he was letting her. She was tempting him into breaking one very important rule: never let a woman get to him again.
“You know what you told me, Mercury. When you have a problem it’s up to you to find a solution.”
“I thought I had, which was why I stayed away,” he said, not trying to mask the frustration in his voice. He then grazed his fingers across her hand and watched as her nipples got even harder. Something hot, passionate and wild moved between them. Something he wasn’t sure either of them could stop.
“You might not like the solution I come up with, Sloan.”
“Try me.”
He lifted a brow. Had she just told him to try her? In that case...
He slowly stood from the table and came around to where she sat. He extended his hand to her, she took it, and he gently tugged her from the chair. He then eased closer to her, deliberately brushing their bodies, certain she felt the evidence of his desire for her when he did so.
She didn’t know it, but being seduced by this Steele was a three-step process. TLC. Tempt. Lure. Conquer.
“Say it again, Sloan.” He wanted to make sure she understood what she was saying. He had a feeling that, in the end, she wouldn’t be his conquest; he would become hers. The thought of that didn’t bother him.
“I said, try me, Mercury.”
He still needed to make sure because there was no going back. “Do you know what trying you entails?” Maybe he needed to let her know that trying her meant doing it the Mercury Steele way.
“Yes, I know.”
She thought she knew, but he definitely had a few surprises for her... He knew his expression had instantly become predatory, wolfish and seductive. He then wrapped his arms around her waist. First up was tempting her. Giving her a sampling of what to expect.
More than ready to get his plan of seduction started, he leaned in and slanted his mouth over hers, knowing this time it wouldn’t stop with a kiss.
Eighteen
Sloan fought back a moan. What in the world was Mercury doing to her? Kissing her this way? Raw and possessive. They had kissed before, several times, but she’d always managed to keep up with him. Now