He grew very still, his gaze sharpening, hardening, as he studied her with an intensity that made her squirm. What had she said? She had merely wished to compliment him—

Oh.

He clearly didn’t remember that particular drunken confession.

“I said that last night, didn’t I? In my bedroom?” When she nodded, he rubbed his forehead. “I always complain about my family when I’m that drunk. Don’t pay any attention to those inebriated ramblings.”

“I didn’t.” She certainly didn’t agree with any of the horrible things he’d said about himself.

But if those had been inebriated ramblings, then what about the compliments he’d paid her? The desire he’d confessed? Were those also forgettable drunken ramblings?

“I said more, didn’t I? God, Alice. Please tell me. I hate not remembering and I am panicked over the possibilities.”

She took pity on him. How could she withhold this when he was so tortured by the lack of knowledge? “You paid me some very nice compliments. You offered to remove your clothing, which I declined. And you told me your father said you are as shallow as a saucer.”

“Is that all?”

My cock is hard all the time for you.

The words floated through her mind again, as they had many times since last night, and the effect was the same, the statement causing a barrage of tingles in her bloodstream. Chaos in her lower half. She felt both hot and cold at the same time, the area between her legs throbbing.

“You are blushing, sweet Alice.” Angling in, he rested an arm on the edge of the mattress. “What did I say to cause such a reaction?”

No, she could never repeat it. If she did, she would combust and disappear in a cloud of ash and cinder. “The compliments, they were very graphic.”

“That does not assuage my concerns, actually. Perhaps you could elaborate.”

“I’d really rather not.”

“You are embarrassed to repeat it.”

“Yes.”

His brow wrinkled. “Did I offend you?”

Quite the opposite. The revelation was both flattering and arousing, but there was every possibility he hadn’t meant a word of it. “Not at all. As you said, I shouldn’t pay attention to those ramblings.”

“Hmm.” Sitting back, he sipped his wine. “I never said I lied when I was drunk. If I paid you compliments, they were undoubtedly true.”

Alice choked on the piece of cheese in her mouth. After several coughs and a long drink, she got her breath back. “I see.”

Kit flipped another card. “Let’s keep playing. I intend to get it out of you one way or another.”

“And if I refuse?”

“Then you’ll keep collecting cards and lose the game.”

A clever strategy, but one she could employ, as well. “Then I will keep asking why you left the kitchen so abruptly.”