I blushed. I couldn’t help it. My cheeks heated and it spread down my torso. All of me warmed by his words. His intense stare.

Was he actually telling the truth?

“Why?” I asked. “Why are you doing this? You have to have a reason.”

“You mean an ulterior motive.”

I raised my hands, frustrated. “Everyone does.”

“Not everyone.”

We stared at each other. I was… caught. He made no sense. He wasn’t like other men. I had no idea what to expect from him, especially when he said he had no ulterior motive for wanting me.

“The deal is what? To be my fuck buddy? No thanks, I already have one.”

His eyes narrowed. His jaw clenched.

“You have a boyfriend?” The words were laced with ice, as if angry he’d put his hands on a woman who was claimed.

I laughed, not because it seemed he had honor, but because the idea of me having a boyfriend was hilarious. The last one I had was his brother. Thirteen years ago.

“No. A no strings scheduled appointment for sex.”

His eyes widened and he looked at me as if I’d sprouted devil horns.

“That’s pretty fucking sad.”

I bristled. If he intended to hurt me with that, he had. “Why is it that a woman can’t get what she wants without attachment?” I practically snapped.

“There’s nothing wrong with that, but that’s not you.”

I laughed at the idea he knew more about me than I did. “Oh yes, it is.”

He stood, loomed over me. “No, it’s not. You want sex, you get it from someone who thinks of you as more than a transaction. And not any of those vibrators you mentioned either.”

I tipped my head to the side. “And that’s you?”

“I see you, princess.”

I froze. My breath caught. I didn’t even blink. He sees me. I wasn’t sure if that was good or the scariest thing ever, because no one saw me.

Ever.

I licked my lips and his dark gaze dropped to watch the motion. “What… what are you proposing?”

Fuck, I hated there was a catch in my voice.

“That pussy’s mine.” He looked down as if he could see it through my desk. “Hell, I don’t even know why we’re having this conversation. You gave it to me the other day. I don’t share. No fucking way can you go off and see some… escort now.”

He was right. I craved him and I hadn’t done that… ever. Had I been longing for him all this time? Had I always wanted Jed Barnett since the first time I saw him?

Maybe I gave away some emotion or he was somehow a pussy whisperer because the corner of his mouth tipped up.

“We’ll fuck until you get tired of me. Your rules, princess.”

My eyes widened. “My rules?”