Page 32 of To Tango, with Desire

His hands on my waist tightened. “We get along, don’t we? In the most important, elemental way possible.”

Understanding dawned. So that was why he was here. He was shopping around for another sidepiece.

“Kiki not living up to your standards?”

“What? Kiki and I are just friends.”

“Right. Well, I’m not interested in being your casual thing.”

“Ask anyone, I’m not a player. I think you’ve misunderstood me.”

“Oh, I understand you completely. Let me get this off my chest because it’s been bothering me, but once I’m done, you need to leave. Why send the bracelet? Why not text me and tell me you were leaving? You showed an interest in seeing me again, so if you changed your mind, why didn’t you do the decent thing and tell me? I’m a big girl. I could have taken it.”

“I can’t explain why—”

“Can’t or won’t?” I shook my head, frustrated at his response, frustrated at myself for needing an explanation. “You’ve shown me exactly who you are. Thank you for the generous gift. It was as lovely as it was unexpected, but—”

Zane tilted my chin, his eyes serious. “Make no mistake, Amira. That night between us . . . I’ve not forgotten it. Or you. I told myself to stay away from you. I convinced myself it was better that way. To end it.”

“Why?” I whispered.

“I have my reasons. I should have contacted you, but I didn’t. That was an error in my judgment.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Damn it, Amira.” His frustration warred with his desire. I could see it on his face, could feel it in the crackling tension between us. If I shifted any closer, I’d be able to taste him.

I was playing a dangerous game. The man was contemplating marriage, yet here he was, trying to seduce me. It was wrong. “That night was . . .” Zane’s expression grew severe. “The bracelet was meant for you. As soon as I saw it, it was yours.”

“I don’t want someone who has to convince himself to live without me, Zane. And whatever reasons you have, clearly I’m not important enough to share them with. And that’s fine. I thought we were building a friendship when we first met, and I thought you were someone worth getting to know.”

“I tried to forget you, Amira, but I couldn’t. I can’t. God help me, I can’t.”

Something in his manner tugged at my chest. I tried to make sense of him, but there were pieces missing. “I don’t want to be forgotten, Zane. You’ve made it very clear by your actions how you feel, so I’m living my life and you can go on and live yours.”

“Is that what you really want?”

“Yes,” I breathed, a soft sigh. A lie.

“So if I touch you, just here.” He ran his index finger down my collarbone. “You feel nothing?”

“Nothing.”

“And here?” He stroked my hip.

“No.”

“What about here?” He brushed his hand over my sex and I shuddered, once, at the sensation.

He was still, examining my response. The pulse at the base of my neck marked a new rhythm, frantic and strong. I was at war within my own body.

“Does this feel good, Amira?”

His hand slid away, kneading my ass, drawing me closer still.

“Zane.” I pressed myself against him, delighted when I felt him harden.

And just like that, the power shifted. He was at my mercy, under my spell. “I can feel you want me.” I rocked against him, enjoying the way his mouth parted, the way he groaned. “So why did you deny yourself this?”