“You’re right. I know that.” He drives a hand through his hair and sighs. “I just wish there was another way. We didn’t have enough time to analyze all the possible scenarios, to test theories.”

A smile steals across my face. Of course he would enjoy the process more than the event. That’s his nature as a scientist. Really, it’s in my nature too—the hunt more exciting than the kill.

“Maybe next time we’ll have more time for foreplay,” I say.

His eyes alight on me. “Next time? I thought you were through with me after tonight.”

I shrug as I head into the living area.

“And definitely not foreplay,” he continues, voice serious once again. “I honestly get no enjoyment out of knowing someone might suffer.”

“Then why are you here, Alex?” I hold up a hand before he can fire off his tired reasoning. “Boredom aside, you’re not the type to jump into a situation without giving it careful thought, as you just stated. You had to have known this type of job would involve some level of pain for casualties.”

He leans against the table and removes his glasses as I approach. I eye his suit, the one he chose in preparation for tonight. I helped coordinate the pitch-black Armani with a light-blue tie to bring out his most striking feature, those pale-blue eyes. He looks sexy.

His gaze roves over me slowly, as if he’s sizing up my response. “You can’t be this cavalier about people,” he finally says.

“Cavalier?” I close the distance between us. I get so near, we’re almost touching. There’s still a purple shadow beneath his eye, the bruise left behind from the fight I caused. That alone should be proof enough to Alex that, in this line of work, someone always gets hurt. “So you’re calling me heartless, uncaring.”

A memory of my second grade teacher surfaces.

“That’s not what I’m saying at all.”

But it is. I’ve been here before. Any time I let someone get the least bit close, the result is their discomfort when they figure out how callous my metaphorical “heart” is.

I can feel his energy vibrating off him, a low buzz that tingles my skin. I walk my fingers up his chest, taking note of the solid feel of him, unyielding beneath my touch. “What do you want, Alex?”

His breathing becomes unsteady as I reach his neck. I let the pads of my fingers gently rest at the base of his throat, and I feel his hard swallow. “Nothing, Blakely.” He says my name like he means it. “I’m just here for the ride.”

“Bullshit.” I grab the back of his neck and bring my face close to his, our eyes locked. “Everyone wants something. What. Do you. Want?”