“I can see that. Why?” She was studying him, and then her eyes widened as she finally understood. “It was because I was so young,” she murmured. “That’s what’s bothering you. It shouldn’t, it’s not as if I couldn’t take care of myself.”

“Yeah, you weren’t like other girls. I heard you.”

“But I don’t think that would matter to you.” She could suddenly feel her face flushing with excitement. “And that means that I’ve got you, Korgan. If you felt like that about what happened to me, you aren’t going to let Sasha and the rest of those girls be abused by that son of a bitch. No matter what happens with your damn proof of intent, you’ll go after them.”

She could feel his withdrawal. His face was now tight, those silver-blue eyes cool. “Don’t be too sure of that,” he said silkily. “I can’t tell you how I hate to be taken for granted.”

“Oh, I know you don’t. Vogel told me what a badass you could be.” Yet she was so relieved, she couldn’t stop smiling. “That doesn’t make any difference now that I’ve found the one weak link.”

“You’re entirely too confident. You don’t really know anything about me, and I don’t like the idea you think you can manipulate me. I can’t tell you how many times it’s happened before.” He leaned toward her. “The idea of Zabron abusing that young Alisa might have bothered me, but you’re not her any longer. You’re the same woman who broke into my study and caused this major headache.” He deliberately reached out and stroked her cheek. “And who might have told that sad story to touch me or to remind me of all the things you must have learned at the Golden Door. One of them would have been that sex can trump almost anything on the table. You were eager enough to remind me the offer is still in place. Maybe you would have been a better Sparrow than you thought.” His thumb was moving lightly, sensuously to the curve of her mouth. She was suddenly breathless. She could feel the pulse in his thumb pounding against the sensitivity of her lips, the warmth of that touch, the tingling that was moving from the flesh of her face, to her throat, to her breasts. “Right now I prefer to forget that dreary story and think of the seductress you were back then. It has many more possibilities.” His hand was on her throat, his fingers rubbing, lightly, his fingertips circling down to her nipples. “Either way, I’m the one in control of the situation, and I’ll do what I damn well please.”