...Her palm stung before she even registered slapping him. Humiliated, she grabbed her purse and stormed out, the too-high heels attempting to break her ankles on the polished marble of the foyer.

“Knew you wouldn’t see it through.”

Stacia froze, hand on the door handle. “I would have.”

“If it wasn’t me.” His voice came from too close. She whirled around to find him practically standing on top of her. “That’s an excuse and you know it.”

“Meaning?”

“You would have chickened out regardless.”

“You’re so full of yourself, aren’t you?”

“For good reason.” He smirked, eyes raking over her. “It’s a shame. I thought you might surprise me.”

“I’d be surprised if you thought about anything but yourself.”

“Get over yourself, Stacia. You wanted a hookup, someone who could scratch your itches in some pretty kinky ways. I know what you want, and I know how to give it to you. How am I any different from the faceless guy you were talking to online?”

“Because I know you, and you’re a jackass.”

“Who’s to say the guy you picked up with your ad wouldn’t have been, too?” He trailed his fingers down her bare arm, making her skin break out in gooseflesh. “At least with me, you know what you’re getting.”

“Apparently, I don’t.” It shouldn’t be so hard to speak.

He chuckled. “You’re the one who’s always calling me a pig and a pervert. I’m an open book, sweetheart. It’s you who’s got all the hidden depths.” He leaned closer. “And I’d really like to be the one to help you figure out how deep you go.”

His voice and his liquid chocolate eyes were captivating, making her forget why she was protesting. “How did you know it was me?”

“I didn’t,” he admitted. “I came here with the same expectation you did. A fun evening with a beautiful woman and some kink, no strings attached.” His breath was warm on her cheek. “We can still have that, Stacia. I could teach you so much.”

Oh, God, she couldn’t go through with this. But if she backed down, how could she face Will tomorrow? Now that he knew, he’d never let her live it down. The only way to beat him was to do this. Show him that she wasn’t afraid of anything. Especially not him.

“Do your damnedest, Will Sutton.”

“Oh, sweetheart, you know how I get when you challenge me.” His hand was already on the small of her back, guiding her toward the elevators.

It was probably a good thing the elevator car was waiting or Stacia might have come to her senses and bolted. This was insane. This was Will Sutton, and it was completely crazy to be going up to a hotel room with him to play bondage games. But here they were, side by side, with his hand possessively on her back, the scent of his masculinity barely masked by Kenneth Cole invading her brain.

“You look lovely,” he said with a quiet intimacy that made her tremble.

“Thank you.”

He sighed. “It was a compliment, Stacia, nothing more. Relax and enjoy it.”

“This is crazy; you know that.”