“I think you know what I'm like with my clothes off, but I'm more than just eye candy.”

Shaking myself, I pointed a finger at him. “It doesn't matter. There's not a chance in hell that I'm marrying you, and a lunchtime get-together wouldn't fix that.”

Liquid sin invaded his voice. “I don't know. I did win the last bet, I think I'm on a lucky streak.”

His cockiness blew my mind. “You honestly think you can convince me to marry you?”

“I think I can convince you to do a lot of things,” he chuckled wickedly.

Trying to ignore the warm tingles that had grown between my legs from his dark promise, I shook myself. “I don't get it. Why would you want to do this? Doesn't it bother you that your father is forcing you to get married?”

A flash of genuine anger crawled through his stare. “Of course it pisses me off.” Reaching into his pocket, he dug out some keys. “But it'd piss me off more to lose my lifestyle.”

Of course. He wants to fuck around and be a playboy king. A rush of confusing jealousy and disgust hit me. Why the hell did I care if he loved being a manwhore?

It bothers you because you don't want to get mixed around with a guy who enjoys that kind of wild lifestyle.

Yeah. That was all it was.

Sourness invaded my voice. “Guess it's all about the money and random sex for you.”

“Correction. Copious amounts of random sex.” Grinning, he clicked a button on his keys; the car revved loudly as it started. “Isn't it the same for you? The money, I mean. Not the sex. Or maybe the sex. You tell me.”

Flushing, I watched as he walked around to open the passenger door. “You're wasting your time flirting with me. You can't make me want to marry you.”

“Oh, I think I can.” Running his finger along the top of the car, he winked.

“Isn't it clear that I hate you?”

“A little thing like 'hate' won't stop me from getting what I want.”

The inviting, obvious lust mixing in his gaze had me shifting from heel to heel. I swallowed uncomfortably. “I don't want to go out for lunch. I just want to go home and change out of these clothes, take a shower.”

He tilted his head. “Fine. Let me give you a lift.”

My jaw slid open, then I clicked it shut. “You're determined to get me in your car.”

Smiling, he tapped the roof. “It's just a ride, and it'll be faster than the metro. Come on, I won't bite—well, okay, you know that's not true.”

The hairs on my neck stood up. “Stop talking about last night!”

Abell's stare stuck on me like glue. “I think I found your weakness, but I wouldn't of taken you for a shy girl. Especially,” he said, his voice getting louder, “With the way you shoved me against my apartment door, grinding against my cock before we even got inside and—”

“Shut up shut up!” I shouted, waving my arms.

His teeth glinted in the sun. “I will, if you get in the car.”

Looking around warily, I moved to his side. “Fine! Give me a ride home if it means that much to you.” Did this man have no shame?

The inside of the car was a rich auburn, the seat helping me sink deep in an attempt to relax me. It probably worked on most people, but not me. I was so tense that I had to actively push into the headrest just to touch it. Otherwise, my tight spine would keep me hunched forward.

Abell climbed in beside me, looking me up and down. “You can chill out, I'm not going to crash us into a building or something.”

I wasn't worried about a crash.

I was worried about what the hell I was doing.

“Just drive,” I mumbled, pointing through the crystal-clear windshield. “My apartment is over on Cordova.”

He pulled into traffic, taking us smoothly through the jammed downtown roads. I stared out the window, trying to avoid scanning the side of Abell's face. His skin was so smooth, the sun could bounce off of it and blind someone.

I darted my attention back to the buildings before he could catch me peeking. I was caught off guard when his elbow brushed my knee. That simple touch sent ripples of heat down my thighs. They radiated outwards, my belly flipping and tightening simultaneously.

One night together, and my very being remembered how good he'd felt.

My body was my enemy.

Abell kept moving, leaning further across me. Wrenching back in my seat, I spoke around my numb tongue. “What the hell are you doing?” Is he trying to make a move on me, right here, right now?

He popped the glove compartment, holding up a case of CDs. “You like rock music, right?”

I sat there and held my breath. “I—what? How do you know that?”

Arching his eyebrows high, Abell laughed. “The concert last night. Unless you were there because you hate rock music.”

Disoriented and unable to stop myself, I said, “I like rock, but I wasn't there for the band.”

He squinted, pushing a CD into the player. “Don't tell me you were there to serendipitously save that girl.”

Chewing my lower lip, I twiddled a strand of hair between my fingers. “Forget it.”

“Come on, it can't be that bad.”

Sighing, I looked away from him. The last thing I wanted was to see him smiling all smug at what I was going to say. “I was out on a date, alright?”

“I didn't see you with anyone.”

“How could you?” I laughed bitterly. “The asshole never showed up.” There, now tell me I deserved it, or what a bitch I must be for that to happen.

“That's terrible,” he said flatly, pushing the breaks so we stopped at a red light. “What kind of a dick stands a beautiful woman up?”

Beautiful? Baffled, I twisted my neck to look at him.

His knuckles were crushing the steering wheel, eyes so fiercely blue they could have turned the world to ice if he stared long enough. “It takes a brutally empty heart to abandon someone.”

There was a ringing in my ears. I couldn't stop staring at his tight frown. He agreed with me? Why would a guy who sleeps around care about anyone's feelings?

The traffic moved, jostling us both. Blinking my fog away, I looked at the CD player. Reaching over, I tapped the buttons until a song I liked began to play. I think he was stealing glances at me as I did it, but I didn't have the guts to check.

We said nothing more until he pulled up outside of my apartment.

“Here we are,” I said. “Thanks for the lift.” Climbing free, I slammed the door. I had to get away from that bubble of him. The whole car was packed with his essence; warm and intoxicating.

A second car door clapped shut. Abell had hopped out, stretching his arms over his head with a yawn. “I could use some coffee, do you have any?”

With wide eyes, I looked at him in disbelief. “You're not coming inside.”

“Sure I am.”

“No, you're not.” Shaking my head briskly, I walked towards the steps. “Why would I invite you inside?”

Abell followed behind me closely. “You saw the inside of my place, it's called fairness.”

“Excuse me?”

“Fairness, you know, when—”

“I know what fairness is.” Scowling, I dug my keys out of my pocket, unlocking the door. “People don't trade home visits like dinner checks.”

He put a hand on the wall, leaning there. “They should. The world would be a friendlier place.”

I didn't want to get 'friendlier' with Abell Birch. Yanking my door open, I gave him a warning glare. He just smiled back at me. The guy could smile his way out of a knife fight.

Hovering over me, he said, “If you make us some coffee, I'll count it as our date.”

On some level, I was aware that I owed this man nothing. But I liked to keep my word, and I had promised him a date if we saw each other again. If we do this now, I can get it over with. He'll have no leverage over me.

Analyzing him, I said, “You're incredibly determined.”

“You have no idea.”

Pausing, I waved him inside. “Fine. One cup of coffee.” Why did that sound familiar?