Some Like It Charming - By Megan Bryce Page 0,47
love it even more that you lost.”
Mackenzie pushed herself up. “I see what you’re doing there. Either I have to admit I lost, or tell you I didn’t lose by sleeping with you. You win either way.”
He grinned. “It’s not about winning or losing.”
“So says the loser.”
“I wasn’t the one that broke first.”
“You didn’t last all that much longer. You think the Enquirer would like that exclusive?”
He tickled the inside of her arms and she dropped her weight back on him. “Before you call them up, give me another chance to defend my reputation.”
“I think a story about your non-existent stamina would sell better.”
“So make me lose again and you’ve got your headliner.” He kissed her lightly and whispered, “Make me lose, Mackenzie.”
She thought about it for a half-second, then smiled.
And then she made him lose.
Seven
Ethan didn’t bother going into work for even half the day. He spent it naked, making up for the last week. He’d gotten her into his bed halfway through the day, mainly because her bed was covered in melted chocolate. Chocolate and Mackenzie went hand in hand, in more ways than one.
Ethan breathed in and out, and looked over at a sweaty and satiated Mackenzie Wyatt. He said, “You like me, admit it.”
She opened her eyes slowly. “What is this pathological need you have of everyone having to like you?”
“What is this pathological need you have of being a hard-ass?” He rolled onto his side and ran a finger down the inside of her arm. “We’re in bed after a nice bounce on the sheets. You can admit you like me just a little. It would be weird if you didn’t.”
“I might like you a little.”
He tickled her side. “Just a little?”
“If you didn’t try and charm everybody, I might like you a little more.”
He grunted. “What do you have against charm? And why don’t you fall for it? You make me work so hard.” He laid his head in the crook of her neck and inhaled her scent. “It’s exhausting.”
“I’d believe you were exhausted if you weren’t poking me in the thigh right now.”
“Just ignore him. He doesn’t realize we’re having a serious conversation.”
She tried not to laugh but he could tell she was biting her cheek to keep it in.
He nudged her thigh. “Come on. Tell me. How can you resist me?”
She shrugged. “I’m immune.”
“And I’m asking why you’re immune.”
“Does there have to be a reason I don’t fall down dead at your feet?”
“Yes, I think there does. Who was he?”
She crossed her arms and stared at the ceiling. “Just a charming man who made me think he loved me.”
He laid his head on the pillow and stopped nudging her in the thigh. “Do you still love him?”
“Of course I don’t still love him. It was ten years ago.”
He stayed silent, just watched her, and she rolled her eyes and sighed. “I thought that I was. . . special, different. That with me there was real emotion behind the facade. There wasn’t.”
Ethan looked at Mackenzie and tried to imagine her before she learned not to believe the lies charming men told. It wasn’t hard to see. She would have looked like every other woman he could charm. He said, “I’m sorry.”
“Every girl gets the chance to be stupid once in her life. I had mine; I learned from it.”
“I’m not him. I won’t manipulate you.”
She looked down at her naked body. “Uh-huh.”
He grinned. “How about I won’t make you fall in love me just so I can sleep with you?”
“Since I’ve already slept with you, it does seem like it’s unnecessary.”
Ethan rolled onto his back, mimicking Mackenzie, staring at the ceiling as if it held the answers to life’s questions. He said, “I’m not going to hurt you. Right? You’re not going to fall in love with me.”
Mackenzie rolled onto her side and said huskily, “Every woman does.”
He felt a little queasy at the thought. “Does she?”
She patted his arm. “You’re so worried about that. I wouldn’t fall in love with you for even half your fortune.”
“It’s just I don’t have a good track record.”
She smiled at him and squeezed his hand. “I’m immune, remember. I won’t forget that you just can’t help yourself. It’s a disease.”
“It’s not a disease. I like making people happy.”
“And it makes it easier for you to get your way.”
He looked at her, at the cynical glint in her eye. “I’m lucky I got you into bed, aren’t I?”
She nodded. “Don’t forget it.”
He leaned over, kissing her lightly.