Page 5 of Hard Rock Heat

"You don't have to be so uptight," Damon said. "Give her a little slack. You know how well my brother and I can pile on the charm. No one isimmune."

"At least one person is," Isnapped.

"You sure aboutthat?"

Damon sidled up next to me, intruding on my personal space. I took a step back. He followed. My back hit the door. He didn't stop advancing until he was mere inches from me. I pressed my palms against the doorframe, bracing myself. The heat radiating from his body seeped into mine, warming me. He was so tall I had to look up, just as my internhad.

I hoped to god I didn't have that same starry-eyed look on myface.

"What are you doing?" I cursed myself as the words came outbreathless.

"Proving apoint."

He let one finger trail along my collarbone, the skin exposed by my black scoop-neck dress. My lungs stopped working. His finger continued to trace a path up my throat, along my jaw, until his large palm cupped my flushed cheek. My belly tightened at that touch. He placed his thumb at the corner of mymouth.

I parted my lips to tell him to backoff.

Or maybe to comecloser.

My brain was too muddled. His presence was making my headspin.

His thumb pressed against the center of my mouth, shushingme.

"Tell me, sweetheart. How many times have you touched yourself thinking aboutme?"

I exhaled a sharpbreath.

His eyes narrowed insatisfaction.

"Maybe you're not so uptight after all," hedrawled.

He let go of me and backedaway.

I leaned into the door to keep on my feet. The smallest of tremors wracked my body. Heat pooled between my thighs. I squeezed them together to alleviate theache.

I hated how much this man affectedme.

I wanted to push him away. I wanted to pull himclose.

But mostly, I wanted to wipe that smug look from hisface.

I straightened my back. I examined my dress, as if checking for wrinkles. I smoothed my glossy hair down over myshoulders.

"You need to go to the dining hall," was all Isaid.

When he didn't move, I gave Damon what I hoped was a look of impatience and notdesperation.

"Well?" Iasked.

"I don't know where the dining hall is," he said easily. "You'll have to lead theway."

I turned on my heel and stalked off without aword.

I know he followed me, because I could feel his eyes on my backside the entireway.

Chapter Two

Damon stretchedout his long legs and leaned back in his chair. The keynote speaker was still thanking the long list of sponsors. We hadn't even gotten the first course yet and already he wasfidgeting.