The edge of the glass was wet from his lips. He wanted her mouth to touch the same place. Her cheeks burned with heat and her belly backflipped as she complied, taking a healthy swallow of the drink. It wasn’t as bad as she thought it might be. The drink was smooth, only biting a little as it slid from her throat into her belly where it settled into a pool of pleasant warmth.

Volkan’s heated gaze followed the movements of her lips and throat like it was the most fascinating thing he’d ever seen.

Not for one second was she thinking about actually falling for his insane plan to force her to love him, but a part of her, a very small part, could appreciate the way he gave her his entire attention when he was with her. As though nothing else in the world mattered to him.

“I’m not rude, I’m straightforward,” he murmured. He brushed her throat with his knuckles, then down between her breasts, until he stopped at her belly where he spread his fingers, as if tracing the path the alcohol had taken when she swallowed.

She stepped back, breaking his hold and taking his drink with her. “How long have you known Henry?”

He frowned. “I don’t enjoy hearing his name on your lips.”

She rolled her eyes. “What exactly should I call him then?”

He pressed his lips together and shook his head. “You shouldn’t need to refer to him at all.”

Yasmin closed her eyes and took a big gulp of the drink. She thought it might be whiskey, but she wasn’t sure. It was going down easier with every sip and she was recapturing the floaty feeling she’d experienced in the restaurant with the Champagne.

“Can you please just answer my question, Volkan? How long have you known him?”

The line between his thick brows deepened, but he finally answered, “I’ve known him for 28 years. Why do you ask?”

“So you knew him when you were children?”

“Yes,” he confirmed. “We went to school together, then later we went into the military together.”

“Military?” she asked, surprised.

“Yes,” he said in a clipped tone. “It’s compulsory for all males in my country to complete twelve months of service.”

She wondered if that was how he got his scars, but didn’t know how he would react if she asked. “Do you consider Henry a friend?”