Pleasure's Edge Read Free Page A

dizzy, confused. She didn’t understand it.
    And she refused to give in to it. Or to Alec Walker.

    She picked up her teacup and sipped, swal owed. Drawing in a deep breath, she forced herself to calm, and put the cup down on the table with a steady hand.
    “You can think whatever you like, Alec. But you obviously don’t know me yet.”
    He picked up his own cup, took a long swal ow, taking his time.
    His piercing gaze never left hers. “Not as wel as I wil , certainly. If you agree to my proposal, that is.”
    “Oh, I’m agreeing.”
    “You like a chal enge.”
    “Yes.”
    “So do I.”
    That steady blue gaze bore into hers, but she wouldn’t look away, wouldn’t back down. He was right about one thing: She’d fight it. Because it wasn’t in her nature to give in. Not even to Alec Walker and his amazing eyes. His warm hands, his soft, lush mouth . . .
    She had to keep things under control, as she always did. And ignore the way he looked. The way he spoke. The way he touched her.
    He was going to really touch her soon.
    She silently commanded herself to calm once more, took a long, quiet breath. Control was the key here, and she was nothing if not the queen of control. Her life had dictated that she be exactly that, ever since she was a child. She’d had to be, with her mess of a mother. Someone had had to be, and she was the oldest. She’d had to take care of Quinn.
    You did a lousy job of it.
    Why was she thinking about al of that now? She pushed her past to the back of her mind, where it belonged. And focused on the man sitting across from her, watching her so careful y.
    Yes, she could handle Alec Walker, whether he thought so or not.
    “Alec.”
    “Yes?”
    “I have a proposition of my own.”
    “Oh?” One dark brow raised.
    “If it turns out you can’t break me, as you seem to think you can
    —”
    “Oh, I wil . Although I prefer to think of it as taming.”
    “So you keep saying. But if it doesn’t work, you’l let me play you.

    Top you.”
    He surprised her by grinning. “Fair enough.” An image flashed in her mind, of Alec naked, on his knees. But even in that brief fantasy, he didn’t appear to be submitting. No, he was strong, defiant, as confident as ever. She didn’t think he could appear to her any other way. There was nothing soft or easy about this man.
    Except for that mouth . . .
    “We have a deal, then?”
    He nodded once. “Absolutely. We have a deal.” He took her hand once more, his large fingers curling over hers.
    And before she knew what was happening, he was pul ing her into him, leaning across the smal café table, whispering against her mouth, “The best deals are sealed with a kiss.” His mouth was so close to hers, that lush, delectable mouth. Her body went weak, and she found herself leaning into him, pul ing in his sweet, tea-scented breath. Waiting for his kiss.
    He backed away, sank into his chair.
    “But we’l have to wait until you’re ready for me, Dylan. Until you’re begging for it.”
    Jesus. She was nearly ready to beg for it now!
    She shook her head. She wanted to press her cool hands to her heated skin. To push the dark red ringlet of hair that had fal en into her face from her cheek. But she refused to let him see how unsettled she was. How ful of need. Need that made her ache. For him.
    She needed to get out of there, needed to get outside, into the cool, damp air. Needed to breathe.
    “I have to go,” she lied. “I have another appointment.”
    “Of course. I’l walk you out.” He stood.
    “There’s no need.”
    He bowed his head to her, al old-world manners once more. “If you insist.”
    She stood, gathered her coat, her purse. “I . . . we didn’t real y begin the interview.”
    “I think we did.”
    “Oh. Wel , yes. I suppose we’l talk more when . . . after . . . ”
    “Yes, we wil . Although I believe if you experience these things, you won’t find a formal interview necessary. I’l e-mail you about when we’l meet