Page 69 of Enchanted Hero

He took a sip of wine.

“Let me guess.” She sat back. “You weren’t planning on asking.”

He showed no remorse. “You would’ve insisted on fast food. Even you admitted this is beautiful. I wanted to share it with you.”

“It is amazing.” A quartet of angelfish swam by, their wispy tails swirling as they glided through the sea. She forced her gaze away from the captivating scene. “It must also cost a fortune. I wanted to pay for myself.”

He folded his arms across his chest. “You have quite the stubborn streak, Miss Lacey.”

“So do you.” She couldn’t explain it, but allowing him to pay seemed substantial somehow, like she was accepting him into her life. “I don’t want to be indebted to you.”

“Letting me treat you to lunch won’t put you in my debt. But if you want to pay, I won’t stop you. I just need time to consider the payment.”

“I’m not paying you. I’m paying the restaurant.”

“Of course.” He nodded. “However, it’s the same thing.”

“How could it be–” She stopped, blinked. “Please don’t tell me you own the restaurant.”

He said nothing.

“Well?”

His eyes sparkled with mischief. “Well, what?”

“Do you own the restaurant?”

“You asked me not to tell you.”

“Ugh.” She rubbed her forehead. “What do I owe you?”

“What can you offer me?”

Was he suggesting she offer herself? Heat ignited, flaring into a firestorm. His sapphire eyes shone so brilliantly they were almost other-earthly, as he held her in thrall. She fought the urge to touch the source of heat.

She reacted the only way she could: with righteous indignation.

She shot up. The silverware flew to the ground with a loud clang, but she didn’t care as she strode the few steps to him. “I don’t know what you’re suggesting, Mr. Stone, but I’m not offering myself.”

He stood up, too, and suddenly she was looking up, up, up, at the huge warrior more than a foot above her. Powerful muscles flexed. “Didn’t we cover this already?” His voice was deep, dark. “At our first meeting?”

Their first meeting seemed so long ago, even if it had only been little more than a week. She’d misinterpreted his innocent actions back then. Was she doing it again? “You’re not suggesting anything beyond a professional relationship?”

He gave a predatory smile. “I didn’t say that.” He took a step closer, invading her space. “I’m not asking for payment, and I’m not blackmailing you. Of course, I am a gentleman and would never ask for physical recompense. But I am willing to use my… abilities… to get what I want.”

She shouldn’t ask. Shouldn’t respond. And yet she simply couldn’t stop herself. With a whisper as silky as the angelfish’s tail, she murmured. “What do you want?”

He straightened, focusing all the power that was Alexander Stone directly at her. “You.”

CHAPTER 12

She had no warning. No time to consider the proper response. As he descended, her reaction was instinctual and immediate.

She kissed him right back.

His lips were warm and supple, his caresses soft and demanding. She pushed closer to the source of strength, the warrior who’d once again seized control. He responded by wrapping his arms around her, pressing her small body flush against his powerful physique. He controlled the kiss like he controlled his world, and there was little she could do but surrender.

She didn’t want anything else.