invite whoever they want, Mercury.”
“Then why are you worrying about it?”
She honestly wasn’t liking his attitude right now. “I’m not worrying about it. I just didn’t want to do anything to make you feel uncomfortable. It’s your family and I prefer not intruding if you don’t want me there. I’m glad to know you don’t care one way or the other.”
She moved to walk away and he caught hold of her arm. He didn’t say anything when she turned back to him. He simply stood there and held her arm while staring at her. Honestly, there was nothing simple about it. He had a way of looking at her that made something stir inside her.
Her chest had been heaving with frustration; now it was surging with something else. Something she didn’t want to feel but couldn’t stop herself from feeling. Passion and desire were new to her, but around Mercury she could recognize them for what they were. Only problem was that they had no place in her life now. There were more important things she needed to concentrate on. Learning how to survive without her parents’ wealth topped the list. But with Mercury, temptation was hard to resist.
“Is something wrong, Mercury?”
“What makes you think something is wrong?” he asked in a voice that was so husky it seemed to make a crackle of energy flow in the room.
Duh. He was standing there holding her arm while staring her down in a way that made a deep yearning stir to life within her. However, if for whatever reason he refused to acknowledge the obvious, she wouldn’t follow his lead. Not this time, even if doing so would be wise.
At that moment she was too mesmerized by the look in his green eyes. The one thing she couldn’t ignore was how close he stood to her. The scent of him and the touch of his hand were making her even more aware of him.
Suddenly, he began stroking the tips of his fingers up and down her arm. She nearly closed her eyes on a groan. Fire began running through her veins. And from the heated look in his eyes she had a feeling he knew what he was doing to her and wanted to know—why?
“Why, Mercury?” She figured she didn’t have to elaborate. He had to know what she was asking.
“I honestly don’t know, Sloan. All I know is that whenever I get close to you, I have the urge to touch you. And when we’re at odds, all I can think about is kissing you.”
His words caused sensations to flow through her. That wasn’t good. She was being aroused in a way she’d never been before. “I bet you tell that to all the women.”
“Actually, I don’t.”
Yeah, right. There was no way she could believe him. She understood why women were drawn to him. The man was way too handsome for his own good...and for hers. “What do you want from me, Mercury?” she heard herself ask and then wondered why she’d bothered. It was obvious from the look in his eyes what he wanted.
It wasn’t as if she didn’t understand the attraction thing; she had just figured it would never affect her. He was proving her wrong. At any other time, she probably would welcome such a diversion as a way to claim her independence, but the timing was all wrong. The man was all wrong. She wasn’t certain why she was so sure of the latter, but she was.
“I shouldn’t want anything from you, Sloan.”
“But you do?”
“I wouldn’t be a man if I didn’t.”
She frankly didn’t know what to say to that. He saved her from saying anything when he pulled her to him and covered her mouth with his, causing bone-melting fire to rush through her. They’d kissed three times now, and each time he did it with toe-curling expertise. When she groaned, he intensified the kiss by slanting his mouth over hers.
Had they finished their discussion? She didn’t think so, but this was so much better than talking. Why did his kisses have the power to kick up her pulse, have desire flowing through her? She