She didn’t answer, and when she looked up he was gone. She drew a deep breath, stopped, and straightened. Now she could gain control again. She had shown him that she was mature and let him know that she wouldn’t tolerate being considered any other way. She wasn’t that fourteen-year-old girl he’d pitied and thought a victim.

Perhaps would always think a victim…

Screw him. He was the idiot he’d called himself. She’d done everything she could to change his mind. What else could she say after she’d told him she’d probably like it? He’d been close enough to her that he could see the changes in her body, which she hadn’t been able to hide even after he’d rejected her.

And those changes were still present. Lord, she’d wanted his mouth on her breasts. She closed her eyes as she felt the heat clenching between her thighs. She knew sex, but she’d never known desire like those minutes kneeling before Korgan. She’d been having all kinds of fantasies when his hands had been on her. They wouldn’t go away even now.

Korgan: It had to be because it was Korgan. Margaret had said that she’d always had an obsession with Korgan even before she had met him. She had denied it and told her it was only admiration for how clever he was and what he’d accomplished. But what she’d been feeling just now had nothing to do with admiration for his mind, and everything to do with sex. Nothing to do with payment for services rendered, and everything with bringing him into her body and making him want to stay there.

The acknowledgment that she’d lied to herself came as a shock. The depth of how much she’d wanted Korgan brought its own sense of panic. Only earlier she’d been telling herself it was going to be okay to accept anything he offered as long as she was careful not to let it mean anything to her. But this situation clearly had its own dangers.

Back up. Think about it. Don’t make a mistake…

*  *  *

Four Hours Later

Where the hell was he?

Alisa strode to the edge of the road where Korgan had disappeared all those hours ago. Darkness. The sun had gone down over two hours ago, and it would have been stupid for Korgan to be strolling around on that curving road, which was dangerous even in a vehicle in broad daylight.

But Korgan was very sure-footed and climbed mountains for sport. Who knew what he might decide to do? She’d told him she didn’t want to see him anytime soon, and she shouldn’t worry if he’d taken her at her word.

But she was worried. Her palms were clammy with cold. Even the best climbers could lose their footing if the ground gave beneath their feet.