“But it’s not that you try to make it harder on me. Just being with you makes it harder.”

I slide my hands around her waist and kiss her forehead then give her my most charming smile. “I can’t be held responsible for my irresistibleness. That can’t be helped. What I can do is teach you some deep breathing exercises that might make you less susceptible to my awesomeness.” I see her lips twitch. “Please don’t do something rash that we’ll both regret. Let’s just try to make this work. I’d hate for you to miss out on spending time with me.”

“God forbid! How would I survive?”

“I’m not sure. Lesser women have died from withdrawal symptoms. It’s not a nice way to go. Very lonely. Very…dry,” I explain with a wink.

She gives me the stink eye for that last bit. “You can’t say things like that, Sig!”

“I can’t even flirt? Dammit, you’re a hard woman. All I can say is that I’ll try not to be so charming, but I make no promises.”

“I’ll try to be strong, too,” she determines sarcastically.

I bend my head to nip the skin of her smooth throat. Before she can think to resist, she tilts her head and gives me better access to her neck, which, of course, I take.

“Mmmm. Can we maybe start this new deal in an hour?”

“Is that all it would take? An hour? How disappointing,” she murmurs playfully.

I jerk my head up. “See now, you keep saying shit like that and the gloves are comin’ off. And so are the panties.”

She holds up her hands in surrender. “I didn’t realize insulting your manhood would result in the loss of clothing. I retract my previous comments.”

“Damn straight. Because I’d just feel the need to show you just how not disappointing I can be.”

“Oh, I think I can figure that out on my own, but thanks.”

I sigh, kissing her briefly, before she can pull away. “Now, since my cock is not yet in full agreement of this new situation,” I confess, rolling my hips against hers so she can feel my re-emerging hard-on, “how about we get you changed, pick up Travis and do something fun?”

She takes a deep breath. “If you insist.”

“Oh, I insist.”

Her face is more relaxed now. She still looks troubled, but not like she’s about to bolt. I consider that progress.

Crisis averted.

“Uh, since I’ve got my car, why don’t you just give me about ten minutes and come pick me up?”

I pause, but only for a second. I’m sure this might have something to do with the woman in the back room. I shrug nonchalantly. “Sure.”

We stand staring at each other for a few seconds before she clears her throat and makes a move to pass me. I let her by, giving her a wide berth. If this is the way she wants to go about it, I’ll give her what she wants. Until she begs me to give her more. And she will. It’s just a matter of time.

Already, I can see her eyes flickering to my mouth. She wants me to kiss her. She’s remembering what it felt like to be in my arms a few minutes ago, my body pressing hers down into the mattress. Her mind is telling her it has to be this way, but every other part of her disagrees. I’ll just have to make sure to play to those parts specifically.

I give her a crooked smile and walk her to the door. “See you in a few.”

I lean against the jamb and watch the way her jeans cup her ass as she walks to the curb. Damn she’s hot. Practically perfect in every way. Except for her ties to criminals. And her penchant for telling fibs. Luckily, she isn’t herself a criminal. That could be a problem. But this I can work with.

Almost hesitantly, like she knows she shouldn’t look back, she glances over her shoulder at me. I hold her eyes and then wink, loving the way she turns hurriedly away. It sucks to try to fight your own body, your own desires. That’s why, whenever possible, I try not to fight it. It’s usually a pointless battle.

“Dress to get dirty,” I call to her just before she ducks into her car. She nods and closes the door.

I wait until she’s pulling away from the curb before going back inside to change my own clothes. I choose an old blue tank top with some shorts and shitty tennis shoes, plopping a hat on my head at the last minute.

Fifteen minutes later when I pull up in Tommi’s driveway, I’m forced to rethink who’s actually going to be torturing whom in this plan. She’s wearing cut-off shorts again, similar to the ones she was wearing that first day, only these are shorter and have a whole at the bottom of her right ass cheek. Holy shit! Covering her upper half is a belly-baring blue and purple button-up shirt with the tails tied above her navel. The thick waves of her hair are in a ponytail that sits high on her head and swings when she walks.

This might be a bad idea, I think for a second, shifting in my seat to let my semi hard dick get some room to breathe. Not good.

I get out and open the door for Tommi, fully enjoying the way the muscles in her legs shift as she climbs into the cab of my truck. I resist the urge to palm her ass and give her a boost.

When she sits down, her lips are twisted in a little smirk. She knows precisely the effect she has on me. And she’s enjoying the shit out of it.

“You’re a damn vixen,” I accuse.

She gives me her most innocent expression. “What? You said to dress to get dirty. Is there something wrong with what I’m wearing?”

“Depends on what kind of dirty you thought I was talking about.”

“You promised to be good,” she says, wagging a finger at me. “It shouldn’t matter what I wear. Hands off.”

“I didn’t actually promise about that, but I always keep my word, so you’re safe. And for today, it’ll be hard to keep my hands completely off just because of what we’ll be doing. But don’t worry. I won’t put my hands on you in any way that could be misconstrued as sexual. How about that?”

She narrows her eyes on me suspiciously for a few seconds before begrudgingly agreeing. “Okay, but you’d better behave.”

“Oh, I’ll behave. You’re the one I’m worried about.”

I slam the door before she can comment. She’s still wearing an indignant expression when I get in behind the wheel. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You act like it’ll be easy as pie for you to keep your hands off me. I’m thinking it’s gonna be pure hell for both of us. I mean, have you met me? I’m pretty damn irresistible.”