“You mean … it doesn’t have to be now, but it does have to be sometime.”
He strained to keep his expression impassive, very much aware that he was once again walking through a minefield.
“I don’t need any proof that what I told you is one hundred percent true,” he said firmly, holding her stare.
“But there will be those who will demand it,” Alice added warily.
An imagined vision of a roomful of somber, suspicous Durand executives and attorneys—all the potential doubters and naysayers—flew into his mind’s eye. “There will be plenty who eventually demand it.” He repeated the obvious as calmly as possible.
She bit her lip and glanced aside. Aside from all these bizarre circumstances she found herself in, Dylan knew Alice Reed was typically a practical, down-to-earth young woman with a brilliant brain for mathematics and business. Never let it be said that genes weren’t telling. Alan Durand had possessed one of the finest business minds he’d ever known, and Lynn had been an outstanding scholar. She’d been an assistant professor of mathematics at the University of Michigan when Alan had first met her.
Dylan was glad to experience Alice’s sudden, intense focus on the issue at hand.
“I don’t want anything of Addie Durand’s, so why should it matter?”
“You don’t know that yet.”
“I know what I want and don’t want, Dylan.”
“Then do it for yourself,” he suggested without pause. He’d been prepared for her response. He’d been prepared for her stubbornness.
“Myself?”
He nodded. “That’s what I meant before. You need tangible proof. Not just my word. You need evidence you can hold in your hand. It’ll be something solid to grasp on to.”
“A start,” she whispered.
“A start,” Dylan agreed, relief sweeping through him because he’d seen something click in her eyes, and knew she’d go for the genetic testing. He needed that tangible proof for what was surely to come.
He leaned down and brushed his mouth against hers. His kiss was meant to be gentle and reassuring, but Alice was having none of it. She put her hand on the back of his head, pushing him further down to her and going up on her tiptoes. He responded to her invitation as always: wholesale.
Their kiss deepened. His lust flamed higher on the fuel of her reciprocated need.
So sweet.
So Alice-like, to be suspicious and doubting one moment, and then taking him to the center of the flames within two seconds flat. He would have to have her again tonight, experience her melting beneath his touch, laid bare and submitting to the bond between them. He needed it for Alice’s sake.
He required it for his own.