The Unexpected Millionaire

“Apparently.”

“You kept my clothes on.”

“It seemed the polite thing to do.”

“Okay.”

One corner of his mouth twitched. “Should I have stripped you naked and taken you while you were unconscious?”

“Of course not. It’s just…”

He kissed her before. Hadn’t he meant it?

He stood and walked over to her. In less than a second, the humor was gone and he looked…predatory.

“You’re playing a dangerous game,” he told her. “You don’t know anything about me.”

It was true. The sensible part of her brain told her to quietly back away, retreat to the guest room and lock the door behind her. Only, he’d wanted her before. Really wanted her. The sensible part of her brain needed to remember how rare that was.

He reached up and fingered a strand of her hair. “Like silk,” he murmured.

And then it was back—the fire that had thrilled her so much. She felt the heat burn between them, drawing her closer, making her promises, tempting her into the path of possible destruction.

Three

“I don’t get it,” Willow said. “I’m not your type.”

“You said that before. How do you know?”

“I’m not anyone’s type.”

Kane shook his head. “I don’t believe that.”

“It’s true. I have the sad, painful romantic history to prove it. I’m the best friend, the one guys confide in.”

“I don’t confide in anyone,” he told her.

“You should. It’s very healthy. Sharing problems make them seem more manageable.”

“You know this how?”

“I read it in a magazine somewhere. You can learn a lot from magazines.”

His dark gaze never left her face. “Go back to bed. I’ll take you home in the morning.”

No! She didn’t want to be sent to bed like a child. “But then where will you sleep?”

“You’re in the guest room. I still have my own bed.”

“See, that was flirting. I was flirting. Wouldn’t it be nice if you just went with it?”

He moved so fast, he was like a human blur. One second he was several feet away and the next he was right in front of her, one hand on her waist, the other wrapped around her hair. He eased forward that last inch, so they were touching everywhere.

She had the feeling he was trying to intimidate her and it would have worked, except she couldn’t seem to be afraid of him.

“You won’t hurt me,” she whispered.

“Your faith is foolish and misplaced. You don’t know what I’ll do.”

He bent his head and claimed her with a hard, demanding kiss. He pushed into her mouth and stroked her tongue, then sucked on her lower lip.

She wrapped one arm around his neck and gave as good as she got, stealing into his mouth and dueling right back. She felt him stiffen with surprise. He pulled her hard against him and she went willingly. The hand holding her hair tightened, drawing her head back.

He broke the kiss and stared into her eyes.

“I am dark and dangerous and I don’t play the games you know,” he said. “I’m not anyone you want to get involved with. I’m not nice, I don’t call the next day and I’m never interested in more than a single night. You can’t fix me, reform me, heal me or change me. You are so far out of your league, you don’t know enough to run scared, but you should. Trust me on that.”

His words made her tremble.

“I can’t be afraid of you,” she told him again.

“Why the hell not?”

She smiled and rubbed her index finger against his lower lip. “I’ll agree that you’re tough and you probably scare other people, but Kane, you rescued me and kittens and you were nice to my mom and my sister and when you put me to bed, you didn’t even think about taking advantage of me. What’s not to like?”

He closed his eyes and groaned. She had a feeling the sound wasn’t about being turned on.

He opened his eyes. “You’re impossible.”

“I’ve heard that before.”

“You’re just about irresistible.”

She sighed. “That’s a new one. Can you say it again?”

He backed her up until she was trapped between him and the wall. She felt his body—and his arousal—pressing against her.

“I want you,” he said in a low growl. “I want you naked and begging and desperate. I want to bury myself inside of you until you forget who you are. But you’re a fool if you take me up on that. This is not a fun trip to the dark side. If you expect anything of me, you will be hurt. I’m going to walk away, Willow. I can walk away now or later. It’s your choice.”

She saw the truth reflected in his eyes. Once again the sensible part of her brain pointed out that the guest room was the best option. Only Willow had never met anyone like Kane before and she was unlikely to ever again. He claimed to be incredibly tough and maybe he was, but she had a feeling there was more to him than he wanted her to see.

Walk away? Not possible. Maybe he would hurt her, but maybe he wouldn’t. She was willing to take the risk. She had to. There was something about him that called to her.

Besides, the guy could make her quiver with just a look.

“For a man so intent on insisting he doesn’t care, you’re going out of your way to warn me off,” she said. “Maybe you should stop talking and kiss me instead.”

“Willow.”