‘That still doesn’t mean you don’t want me.’
The cockiness of the man was astounding. ‘You’re swaggering round, practically naked, like you’re some sort of sex gift to the nearest woman—’
‘I think you’re awfully judgmental about people’s clothing.’ He flipped to pious with a blink of his unfairly long eyelashes. ‘It’s personal expression, Merle.’
‘Oh, please, you were the one trashing my “forensics fashion”.’
‘I know, and I was wrong.’ He nodded. ‘And I’ve decided, upon reflection, that it’s appealing. There’s an allure of discovery in what lies beneath.’ His lips quirked. ‘Of course, I already know the visual delights to be seen under yours...’
She burned with embarrassment. She should have turned down his invitation to explore the bunker. Avoidance wasn’t just the best solution for dealing with this man, it was the only solution. Except, much to her annoyance, Ash Castle was easy to like. He was sharp and funny and she knew he took pleasure in deliberately provoking her. He didn’t mean most of this talk—there was that spark in his eye, a devilish gleam knowing he was taking it too far. Frankly, she was enjoying trying to better him. It was a game she’d never played. A game she wanted to win.
And now? Now there was a part of her that wanted nothing more than to wipe that smug challenge off his face and topple his assurance the way he’d obliterated hers.
The way he watched her was unashamedly interested, underlined with curiosity. She was different, that was all. Not like the other women who slid into his bed with ease. Surely she couldn’t be the only woman ever to have said no to him?
He outstretched his arms and took hold of the counter’s edge. ‘I promise I won’t let go, so you can be assured there’ll be no wandering hands. Then you can get it out of your system.’
She was sure he was joking. Yet he was still and serious and she had to dig her heels in to stop the temptation slithering through her. Somehow time blipped, somehow she stepped nearer. A hard blaze lit his eyes and she couldn’t tear her gaze from him.
‘A kiss for the key code? Is that the deal?’ she asked.
‘If that’s the deal you want to make.’
‘And dinner?’
‘Is happening regardless and it will be a much more leisurely, sumptuous affair than instant noodles followed by a bite of pudding.’ His eyes gleamed as he waited, alert, for her response.
His confidence was extreme. He was certain in his arrogant assumption that she wouldn’t dream of turning him down. Truth was, she didn’t want to refuse him. In any of these things. But she would.
‘Just a little closer, Merle,’ he whispered with full arrogance on display. ‘What’s the worst that could happen?’
There were so many worsts that she could think of. He could laugh. Humiliate her. Tell her he hadn’t meant it. Hadn’t she had that experience before—to be led along a path by a handsome man, only to have him humiliate her publicly? Proving her grandmother’s ridiculously dire warnings that men were to be avoided.
Only, there was an intensity in Ash’s expression that she couldn’t turn away from, and he was so very still that she couldn’t resist stepping that breath closer.
She would whisper ‘never’ to him. She would refuse to give him any kind of satisfaction. ‘I ought to...’
‘To what?’ He breathed heavily.
She couldn’t remember what she’d been going to do any more. Her brain had shut down.
‘Run,’ he finished for her in a raw, low growl of bitter honesty. ‘That’s what you should do, Merle. You should turn around and run, right now.’
Maybe she should. But a flare of need had unfurled. Because she knew he’d meant it, but she also knew it was the last thing he wanted. It was the last thing she wanted too.
He wasn’t smiling any more. All that laughing arrogance, all the careless flirting, had vanished and all that remained was that almost angry look in his eyes as he fiercely stared, as if trying to compel her with his thoughts. Even with his arms stretched wide, his biceps were flexed as he gripped the bench tightly. But that stance made him vulnerable. She could get close to his body.
‘Why did you dare me, then?’ Her own anger bloomed. ‘To make me run? To prove my cowardice? To put this all on me so you don’t have to answer for it?’
Was he trying to prove that her inexperience was something to be embarrassed about? And that it