The Dare Collection January 2020. Lauren Hawkeye

that reluctance I could see in her face? Was she going to tell me no?

      It was surprising how badly I didn’t want her to.

      I put my bowl down on the counter and moved around the breakfast bar, coming to stand behind her. Then I reached to spin the stool she was sitting on so she faced me, and put my hands on the counter on either side of her, leaning in close.

      She didn’t move, only stared at me, watchful and wary.

      ‘I should have been clear,’ I said. ‘I’ll let you go back to your business; that’s safe with me, I promise. But, before I do, I want to keep you for a little while. A few days maybe.’

      Her expression didn’t change, but I could see the pulse at her throat beating fast. ‘Are you saying that I have to sleep with you again before you—?’

      ‘No,’ I interrupted, because the day I had to blackmail a woman into bed would be the day hell froze over. ‘I’m not saying that. You can go now if you want—minus the necklace, of course, but you can. Shit, I’ll even call a car to take you home if that’s your preference. But what I am saying is that I’d like it if you wanted to stay here with me for a few days before you go.’

      It probably wasn’t a good idea, not if Everett was still sniffing around about the security breach, but I could handle him if push came to shove. I’d make sure Thea stayed hidden and safe and her little ‘reacquisition’ business would too. Because neither she nor her business was a threat, and I didn’t waste my time threatening people who weren’t dangerous to start with.

       She might end up being dangerous.

      To my fucking cock, maybe. But not to anything else. I’d make sure of it.

      She watched me silently and I thought I saw surprise flicker in her eyes. Then her gaze dropped to my mouth and the darkness lit with something else: hunger.

      Satisfaction burned low in my gut. She wanted to stay; oh, yes, she really did.

      ‘I’m not sure that’s a good idea,’ she said quietly.

      I didn’t move and I didn’t look away. ‘Why not? It’s just sex and fun, all good stuff.’

      ‘Because...’ Her gaze lifted to mine before dropping to my mouth again, as if she couldn’t stop herself from looking.

      ‘Because?’ I wanted to kiss her, close the distance between us, but I didn’t. She had to make the choice for herself, no matter how much I wanted to make it for her. And I did want to make it for her. I didn’t want her to say no.

      ‘I have a business to run. Jobs I need to take.’

      Did she want me to convince her? If she did, she was shit out of luck. This was her decision and I wasn’t going to make it for her.

      I could be quiet when I wanted to be and I was quiet now.

      A crease deepened between her straight, dark brows. ‘You’re not even going to try to convince me?’

      ‘You either do or you don’t, Sugar. I wouldn’t have asked you to stay if I didn’t want you to, but whether you do or not is up to you.’

      ‘Is this how you do all your business deals? Makes me wonder how you’re so successful if you’re not even going to try a little persuasion.’

      ‘This isn’t a business deal. And if you need persuading then perhaps you’d better leave right now.’

      A spark glittered in her eyes and her throat moved as she swallowed. ‘Tell me you want me.’

      Ah, okay. If it was reassurance she needed, then I could do that.

      ‘You really need me to say it?’ I asked. ‘After last night and this morning?’

      Her gaze was steady and unapologetic. ‘Yes.’

      So I filed that little discovery away for future reference, liking that finally she was being straight with me. And this was something I could give her that didn’t cost me anything, and was true into the bargain.

       You know that once you start giving shit to people, they only want more.

      I shoved that unhelpful thought away, staring into Thea’s dark eyes instead and letting her see the truth. Without the smile this time. ‘I want you, Thea. In fact, I don’t think I’ve wanted anyone as much as I want you right now.’

      She stared at me for a beat. Then her hands came out, her fingers burying themselves in my hair, and she pulled my mouth down on hers.

      Giving me her answer.

       CHAPTER ELEVEN

      Thea

      HOURS LATER, FRESHLY showered and changed into a pair of soft cotton yoga pants and a T-shirt that Damian had produced from somewhere, I lay on the couch on his terrace, curled up on the cushions, the thick heat of the Hong Kong early evening lying like a warm blanket around me. The usual tropical rain that passed over the city every afternoon had gone, leaving the night clear and full of the scents of flowers, mixed in with hints of spices and trash, plus the faint smell of salt from the harbour.

      I couldn’t believe how relaxed I felt, as if a constant, low-level hum that had been buzzing in the background of my life was now gone.

      I wasn’t sure quite why that was, whether it had to do with the intense physical workout Damian had given me or whether it was simply having another person around. It seemed as though I hadn’t realised until now how tough the last few months without Mr Chen had been, or how lonely. I’d had a bird I’d bought at the Bird Market once, thinking that it would be good to have something other than my mentor to keep me company. But I’d had to get rid of it in the end. It had sung too loudly and Mr Chen had thought it would draw attention.

      I’d never got another, and I’d convinced myself that I didn’t need anything but the job; that knowing it was Mr Chen’s legacy I was carrying on would be enough to sustain me.

      But it wasn’t. And it seemed as though only now I was here, lying on Damian’s couch with his touch still echoing through my body, could I admit it at last.

      I had a lonely life and perhaps I wasn’t as suited to it as I’d always thought. Mr Chen hadn’t needed anyone else and, after he’d refused my adoption request, I’d convinced myself that I didn’t need anyone else either.

      Except, maybe I did. Perhaps not Damian in particular, but just...someone.

       Which makes staying here risky.

      It did and doing so was probably a mistake. Wanting things never worked out well for me and there was no reason to think that this would turn out any differently. But... Damian had asked me to stay and he’d told me he wanted me. I couldn’t resist that or the way I felt in his arms.

      Temptation was a bad thing and it turned out I wasn’t immune. But for the first time in years I was going to allow myself to want something and let myself have it. Because, after all, it was only a couple of days of pleasure. A couple of days when I could feel less like a ghost and more like an actual woman. When I didn’t have to remain unseen and unnoticed, or be someone else. Where I could bask in the sun and not skulk in the shadows.

      That wasn’t too much to ask, was it?

       And what will happen when you have to leave?

      Stupid question. Nothing would happen. I’d vanish like I always did and that would be the end of it. This was like...a holiday fling. Nothing more.

      Damian’s deep, rich voice rolled over me and, God, the sound of it... It made me want to purr like a cat. I watched him from the couch as he paced around the terrace, talking on his phone. He’d been like that for the past half an hour, taking call after call, always in constant motion,