Page 13 of Dangerous Men

I reach up to touch my brown curls nervously.

“Are you… enjoying it?” I ask, motioning to the book in his hands. I ask it automatically, like commenting on the weather, and only when Alec smirks, his eyebrows raising, do I realize how suggestive it sounds. “I only mean, it’s not, uh… not for everyone. This sort of book.”

His smile only grows.

“I am enjoying it. Very much, actually,” he tells me. “I like the political intrigue. And the overarching themes about the inevitability of corruption that comes with power.”

I take a step closer to him, excited.

“Yes!” I agree animatedly. “This author does a great job of making you question whether it’s better to submit to a corrupt but stable system or to overthrow it and risk chaos.”

I’m so glad to hear Alec is enjoying the plot. And, sure, maybe itisa little smutty, but fantasy romance at least tends to be pretty plot centric. Why can’t a book be goodandhave a few sexy scenes now and then?

“What’s your favorite part so far?” I ask excitedly. For me, it’s the twist—theI can’t believe itmoment when you find out a character you thought was dead has been alive this whole time, living under a different name.

“Oh, that’s easy.” Alec taps the book lightly against his leg. “The forest scene where Malachi orders Pheadra to get on her knees and beg for his cum.”

My head empties.

I’m vaguely aware that my mouth is open as Alec watches me. I close it, only to open it again.

“Oh,” I manage to say, mouth suddenly dry. My heart is beating unusually fast. I know the scene he’s talking about, and while it was undeniably sexy and I enjoyed it, nothing at allprepared me for hearing those words come from this man’s mouth.

But… that’s something a man like him would do, isn’t it? Alec looks like the type who would take charge like that, who would force a girl to her knees and make her say dirty, filthy things to him. Make her beg for him, make her lose all control…

Heat pools between my legs at the thought.

“I’ve made you uncomfortable,” Alec says, sounding concerned. He sets his book aside and stands, his full attention on me.

“No, not… not uncomfortable,” I admit. I turn away, worried the blush of my cheeks will give away exactly what I was thinking. “I just… was surprised, is all. You caught me off guard.”

“I’m sorry,” he says, reaching out to touch my upper arm gently. “That wasn’t my intention, Sydney. I didn’t think about how my answer would affect you, or how inappropriate it was. I just answered.”

Oh, I don’t think this man has any idea just how much his answeraffectedme. I think I need a cold shower.

“You’re fine,” I insist. “Honestly, I?—”

He hasn’t let go of my arm. I glance between where he’s touching me and his face. Those dark, gorgeous eyes.

“I…” I lick my lips.

My service bell rings, the sound a little too shrill, announcing that I have a customer waiting. I step back, breaking the spell between us, and Alec lets his hand fall back to his side, almost reluctantly.

“Customer,” I explain with a sheepish grin, motioning toward the back of the store, where my register awaits. “I have to go.”

I can feel Alec’s eyes watching me as I leave, the force of his gaze so strong it’s almost physical.

6

ASHTON

“He’s in there,”Sebastian tells me. “The little bookshop on the corner.”

I stare across the street at the building he’s gesturing toward, my fingers tapping nervously against my thigh. When Sebastian asked me to meet him here, to show me what Alec had been up to…

Well, this wasn’t what I expected.

“You’re sure?” I press. “He’s been getting off work and coming… here?”