it, but instead I think I fell for you."
“How did you know I was there? Did you follow me?”
“I went to your house,” he says, “And then I saw you running. So yes, Emma, I did follow you. Does that upset you?”
I swallow and nod. I can’t admit that his explanation is reasonable, because if whatever’s happening between us is going to work, there has to be some boundaries. “I need to know I’m still my own person and that you respect that.”
Given how it hurts when he steps away from me, I need to remind myself of that, too.
“I’m sorry.” Sincerity shines in his silver-blue eyes. “I suppose now isn’t the time to bring up the security detail I’d like to place on you.”
I raise one eyebrow, sliding my palms up his chest, and then I push him away. “I’m starting to think everyone’s right, and you are crazy.”
“Does that make you insane by association?” he asks.
“Maybe.” I close my eyes and let out an annoyed huff of air.
“You have a terrible habit of ruining perfectly good dates.”
“So this is finally a date.” His mouth twists into a haughty grin that screams I told you so.
“Don’t look so self-congratulatory,” I warn him, “Not when I just told you that you’re a first-class date wrecker.”
He reaches out and fiddles with the hem of my t-shirt. “But you have to understand, I was told those weren’t dates.”
“So you weren’t trying?”
“Oh, I’ve been trying since the minute I met you, Duchess. It’s just nice to know that I might be succeeding.” His knuckles graze against my stomach as he continues to play with my shirt. Even the hint of his touch blazes a trail of fire in its wake. I know two things, then. Jameson West can take me when he wants me, and two, I’m totally screwed.
“Come on.” He urges me away from the pillar. It’s strange to think about going back upstairs. The place where our relationship began is almost where it ended. There’s no security guard waiting at the private elevator, and I flash a concerned look at him.
“So you want to put a security detail on me, but no one’s watching the gates to the kingdom?”
“Don’t worry, Duchess,” he says as he presses the elevator button. “I’ve had four times as many security cameras installed in the last week. You can’t blink here without security knowing about it.”
“But why not have the extra muscle?”
He laughs at this. “For someone who looked very resistant to the idea of having a body guard, you seem awfully concerned about my safety.”
“I can’t stand the idea of someone doing you bodily harm.” I run my fingers across the flat plane of his abdomen. Of the two of us, he’s in much more danger than I am. At least that’s what I want to tell myself, even as I ignore the real danger I face. How I feel about Jameson is morphing and evolving so rapidly that it’s hard to wrap my head around, but the very fact that I’ve never felt this way about anyone before tells me all I need to know. Yes, I am in danger of losing my heart to him.
“Then you understand how I feel,” he says huskily.
At least if I do lose my heart to him, I’ll be getting one in return.
“Your turn,” he prompts, as the elevator light signals its imminent arrival.
I look him squarely in the eyes as the doors slide open behind us. “Dare.”
“God, I was hoping you’d say that, Duchess.” His hand fists in my shirt, dragging me inside the compartment. “This elevator only goes up,” he reminds me. “So the only button I need to worry about pushing is yours. But,” he backs me into the mirrored wall, his hips pressing roughly against mine. “If I hit this button, we’ll have two minutes alone in here before security responds.”
I follow his gaze to the panel, where a stop button is located next to one marked panic. “So what’s your dare, then?” I ask him.
“If I hit that button, you have to accept it.” He shifts his groin harder against mine, so that I can feel the long, hard outline of his dick.
I want more than two minutes with that, but I’ll take what I can get. “I said dare, didn’t I? Wait, are there cameras in here?”
The wicked grin that splits his face is answer enough. “But doesn’t that make it better?”
“Dare,” I repeat.
He presses the button. The elevator screeches to a