Page 26 of Nothing to Win

There was a second of silence.“How did you know it was me?”

“It’s after ten o’clock and I just spent the evening with Shanna.She’s the only friend who would call me this late.Her number’s in my phone.Yours isn’t.”

“Quick deduction,” he said.“Your quo was this call.Can I hang up now?”

Smiling, she wriggled down in bed.“I asked you to call so you could fill me in on what happened with my father.”

“You want to talk?”

His incredulity was funny.

“Yes.I’m in bed with nowhere else to be… Jenna said you didn’t call your exes.Have you got something against talking to women on the phone?”

“It’s a waste of time.Jenna can make required arrangements.”

“I’m not dating Jenna, I’m dating you,” she said.“And we’re not making plans, we’re exchanging information.”

“Email is more efficient.”

She laughed, though his tone wasn’t comedic.“Okay, then email me.But I can’t ask an email questions and you owe me an answer.”

“An answer?”

“To my question.Why should my father be suspicious of you?”she said, smoothing a hand down the covers over her body.“Quid pro quo, I kneeled for you.”

Staying quiet wasn’t easy, but she left the silence for him to fill.Eventually her wish came true.

“You’re a beautiful woman.”

“Thank you,” she said.“Are you trying to distract me?”

He inhaled.“Your family and mine are opponents in business.It’s natural for him to be suspicious of my motives.”

“Especially given our relationship isn’t real,” she said.“Maybe he senses you’re using me.”

“Perhaps, or he fears I’ll get what I want.”

“Or that you’ll break my heart,” she said.Another silence.“What is it that you want, Brogan?”He didn’t respond.Without thinking, her hand slipped beneath the covers.“You’re thinking quid pro quo, you won’t tell me until I do something for you.”

“Mm,” he said in confirmation.

Anticipation undulated her hips.“I can’t kneel for you or kiss you… What would you like from me, Mister?”

“Take off whatever you’re wearing.”

The request was so instant and direct, a shiver of excitement shot through her.

“Why is it all of your requests are sexual?”she whispered, pushing the straps of her nightdress down to wriggle out of it.

“You are at liberty to refuse.This for that.Without one, there’s no need for the other.”

“I want an answer.”

“And I want you naked.”

“Brogan,” she breathed out his name.Her hand drifted across her breast, fingers lingering in her cleavage.Writhing between the mattress and duvet, she wished for the warmth of his caress.“If you were here, would you touch me?”

“Would you like that?”She purred in agreement, hand sliding lower.“Where do you want my hands?”