‘Won’t you?’ His hand was under the hair at her nape, exerting pressure.
She squirmed as much as she could without letting Laurence know what was going on. ‘Yes,’ she finally agreed. ‘Rest now,’ she advised the man in the bed.
She turned on Alex as soon as they were in the Ferrari on their way to her home. ‘You’re getting altogether too bossy for your own good,’ she snapped. ‘I don’t like being ordered about.’
‘Did you want to cause a scene in front of Laurence?’
‘You know I didn’t. But I can find my own way to the hospital tonight. If Laurence hadn’t been there this morning I would have told you that I don’t want to see you again.’
‘Because of last night?’
‘Of course because of last night!’
‘Because I tried to make you admit you love me?’ he taunted.
‘Because you tried to make love to me,’ she corrected.
‘And I would have succeeded too if Steve hadn’t interrupted.’
Lauri blushed. ‘I know that,’ she admitted huskily. ‘That’s why I don’t want to be alone with you any more.’
He gave her a mocking glance. ‘You’re alone with me now.’
‘It isn’t the same thing,’ she said irritably.
‘You still haven’t told me whether or not you’re in love with me.’
‘And I don’t intend to!’
‘How about if I tell you first?’ he asked throatily.
Lauri’s mouth set. ‘I’m not going to have an affair with you, so you can stop the lies.’
He raised dark eyebrows. ‘Why should I lie?’
‘Well, it certainly isn’t the truth. I may like you—a lot,’ she added at his scornful snort. ‘But I’m certainly not going to fall for that old routine about loving me and how about I prove I love you, by hopping into bed with you, of course.’
‘Did I ask for proof?’
She stared rigidly ahead, glad that they were almost at home. ‘Not yet, but you would. And then when you got tired of me you would say it was all a mistake, that you didn’t love me after all.’
‘And what makes you think I would get tired of you?’ He had stopped the car outside the house and had turned in his seat to look at her, his hand caressing the nape he had bruised earlier at the hospital. ‘So far, knowing you has been far from dull,’ he drawled.
‘My—inexperience would soon pall.’
Alex grinned. ‘You wouldn’t stay inexperienced for long.’
‘I’m sure you’re only too willing to teach me everything you know,’ Lauri retorted sarcastically.
‘Mm,’ his hand still caressed her. ‘And that should take some time.’
‘I’ll bet!’ She jerked away from him. ‘Forget it, Alex.’
‘But you told me at the start that an affair would suit you better than marriage.’
Her eyes flashed deeply green. ‘Maybe it would, if I loved someone and they loved me! But I’ll make sure it’s someone who’s as innocent as I am.’
‘For innocent read inexperienced,’ Alex mocked.