of a brow, she mimicked his move and crossed her arms. “I won’t put anything past you.”
“Yet you came here,” he reminded her. “So, what can I do for you?”
“We need to lay down some rules.”
Well, that loaded statement sucked the enjoyment right out of everything.
“Rules?” he repeated, hoping she’d change her mind.
“If we’re going to do this . . . thing.” She waved her hand back and forth between them. “I think it’s best to lay out rules so there are no issues when it’s over.”
Every single thing about her speech irritated the hell out of him. Cash rested his palms on the edge of his desk and forced himself to remain seated.
“First of all, I don’t do rules,” he informed her. “That’s pretty much a relationship. Second, if you’re already looking for this to be over, then end it now.”
Jade remained still, staring and likely weighing her next attempt at controlling him. He wasn’t backing down. He wasn’t going to beg, no matter how good the sex was. There was no denying the fact that he wanted her, but he didn’t play games or abide by anyone else’s demands. Which is one of the reasons he worked for himself.
She turned and closed the door before facing him again. “Listen,” she started, “I just want to know where I stand with you. If we’re going to continue to sneak around, I want to make sure you’re not seeing anyone else.”
His lips twitched. “So, you want exclusivity to my body? As much as that sounds like a relationship, I can agree to that. Same goes for you.”
Jade rolled her eyes. “Please. Nothing to worry about there.”
“A sexy woman in a town where most people are married or just passing through, I’d say I have plenty to worry about,” he corrected. “But we’ll agree that as long as we’re entertaining each other, nobody else is in the picture.”
Jade nodded in agreement, but she said nothing else, nor did she move. Cash wondered why she hadn’t just called or texted, but then his ego stepped in and assumed Jade wanted to see him.
“Pretty risky coming here,” he added. “Unless you’re here to discuss teaching those classes for me.”
“No.” She pulled in a deep breath, drawing his attention to the low scoop of her tank and the swell of her breasts over her sports bra. “Eyes up, Flex.”
He obeyed but laughed. “Listen, I’m staying on my side of the room. At least let me have a little something.”
“Focus.”
He purposely let his eyes dip, linger. “Oh, I am.”
Jade’s laugh slid over him and had him feeling things he couldn’t identify. How did she do that? Hadn’t he told himself she wouldn’t have control here?
“Would you rather teach thirty minutes away or five from where you live?” he asked. “Because I don’t see why you won’t do your classes here.”
“You’re stealing my game and throwing it back in my face?” She shook her head and started moving about his office. “You already know why. Originally, I wasn’t working here because I was afraid we’d kill each other. Now, it’s not smart because of, well, the exact opposite reason. Things will get messy when we decide we’ve had enough of each other and I don’t want any awkwardness in my workplace. I’ve already been through that.”
Cash refused to remain seated any longer. He caged her in with her back against the stack of boxes. Her eyes widened, but he didn’t touch her. No, he kept a few inches between their bodies as he rested his hands on either side of her face.
“You keep bringing up when we’re done with each other,” he growled. “I haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of what all I want to do with you.”
Jade sucked in a breath and her chest brushed lightly against his, but he remained still. “I just don’t want there to be any confusion,” she stated, tipping that defiant chin up a notch.
Without a stitch of makeup and her hair pulled back in some messy thing on top of her head, Jade remained poised and so damn sexy. Those emerald eyes continued to call him in deeper, which was absurd. He was never a man to go for the eyes first.
“Red, I’m not confused at all.” He leaned forward just enough to dip his head and pull in a breath of her. “I know exactly where I stand and what I want.”
Cash took a step in until he lined his body up with hers and she shivered against him. Her hands remained at her sides, but he knew that restraint was costing her.
“I didn’t come here for this,” she murmured.
He skimmed his lips along the side of her neck. “Didn’t you?”