A wave of anger surged through Ethan as he stared at the annoying minx. In all his thirty-four years, and numerous encounters with women of every kind, he had never met a woman who could get his temper burning as quickly as Erin.
Even more exasperating was how little control he had over his body when it came to her.
For fuck's sake, he'd been with women far lovelier and certainly better behaved, but none of them had eroded his self control or ignited his desire the way Erin did. He was supposed to despise her, bring about her complete and utter humiliation and yet, here he was, offering to give her a lift and having to watch her throw his offer back in his face.
Foolish woman.
A valet handed him his car keys, and Ethan took it without taking his eyes off her.
Even acting like a spoiled little brat, she still looked utterly stunning and his groin responded accordingly, much to his disgust. He gritted his teeth and moved closer, each step slow and intimidating and he had the satisfaction of seeing her eyes widen in alarm.
"Get. In. the. Damn. Car." He growled, enunciating each word slowly and deliberately. He flexed his shoulder muscles, prepared to carry out his threat if she resisted again.
Ethan watched as she hesitated, apparently alarmed at the way things were going. She glanced around, noticing the small crowd watching the drama, some even holding up their cellphones to take pictures.
She bit her lips nervously, he had to fight the urge to kiss her right there and then.
Maybe taking her home is a stupid idea. Still I've said I would and damned if I don't.
Watching her intently, Ethan knew the exact moment she made her decision, the defeated slump of her bare shoulders told him she was going to concede to his demand.
"Fine then." she snapped. "I'll get in."
She stalked to the black Mercedes, wrenching the passenger door open and slid in, making sure to slam the door shut with enough force to rattle the windows.
She crossed her arms over her chest and stared straight ahead, jaw clenched in fury, the very act causing a smile on Ethan's face.
She looked like a child who'd just been denied a lollipop. So damn cute.
He frowned at the thought. What the hell was up with this cute nonsense?
He dismissed the thought, crossing to the driver's side quickly, in case she changed her mind.
Imogen cleared her throat, reminding him she was still there. He swore under his breath and turned to see her glaring at Erin.
"Thanks for dinner, Imogen," he said and she aimed a disappointed look his way.
"I thought we were going somewhere? Why do you have to drop her off anyway?"
I'm still asking myself the same damn question.
"She's…" he searched for an appropriate word other than a pain in the ass. "A friend, I'm just looking out for her safety."
This answer didn't satisfy Imogen. Her eyes narrowed to slits, lips clamped in anger.
"I see." She whirled around and stomped in a huff, towards her own waiting car.
Ethan watched her go and wondered if he needed his head examined for letting an evening with potential go to waste. Marc would definitely think so if he ever heard about it.
He pictured the look of horror that would cross his friend's face, quickly followed by a lecture on stupidity and he grinned. He slid into his seat, his grin widening when Erin scooted to the very edge of her seat to avoid any contact.
"You really are a despicable man," Erin said, glaring at him. "You talk about being a man of your word and yet, you just dismissed your date like she meant nothing to you. How two-faced."
"It was a business dinner. She means nothing to me." He shrugged and pulled out into the street.
He could feel her eyes searing holes into the side of his skull.
"Are you serious? She's a human being, for your information, and considering how you were practically making love to her with your eyes at dinner, I'd say she means something."
"Were you watching me?"
"No," The denial came swiftly, though the tinge of heightened color in her cheeks told him otherwise. "In case you failed to notice, I had a date of my own."
"Oh I noticed. He must not be a very good lover though."
"I beg your pardon?"
He pulled up at a red light and turned to look at her. "The chemistry between the two of you was all wrong. You barely touched him all evening and you couldn't keep your eyes off me. If he satisfied you in bed, you would be unable to keep your eyes and hands off him."
Her gasp of outrage made him grin even wider. "Why you-you-" She spluttered, struggling to find the right insult to throw at him.
But Ethan did not give her time to think. He leaned over, pressing his lips to hers in the lightest of caresses. His senses exploded at the taste of her lips, and he nearly came undone.
She gasped, and he took advantage, sliding his tongue into her mouth, tasting, stroking, exploring. He was gratified when she responded, her own tongue tangling with his in a dance of lust, deepening the kiss, desire now a raging inferno that threatened to consume them.
For one, sweet moment, Ethan lost himself in the kiss. He forgot this was supposed to be a test, forgot he was trying to prove a point, his senses flooded with the delicious sensations.
Needing to touch her, he brought his hand to her breast, lightly palming the soft flesh through her clothes. Erin responded with a moan, arching into his touch, silently begging for more.
He felt her nipple, hardened to a nub and brushed his thumb over it, enjoying the sweet little moans she made in his mouth, sounds that went straight to his already hard and throbbing dick.
As though reading his thoughts, Erin's hand trailed over his thighs, coming to rest between his legs. Her fingers closed over his length, and he almost lost it like a teenager on his first time.
He dragged his lips from hers, and every cell in his body protesting the move, removed her hand.
Her eyes fluttered open, liquid brown eyes staring at him, hazy with lust and confusion. Ethan schooled his features to appear cool, mocking, when he felt the exact opposite.
Erin took in his expression and her eyes widened in horror. She flushed and shrank from him, hatred and humiliation replacing lust.
"You bastard," she hissed, trembling from the force of her emotions. "You played me."
The light turned green and Ethan returned his attention to the road.
"I was merely proving a point." He feigned a nonchalant attitude, while his body raged with the need to have her, to drive her to his place instead and finish what they'd started.
"There has to be chemistry between a man and a woman for a relationship to work, and there is none between you and the good doctor."
"I hate you!" She declared, fingers clenched into fist as she stared straight ahead, body tense like a tightly coiled spring.
"No, you don't." He countered. "Don't play childish games Erin, it doesn't suit you."
She said nothing, merely stared ahead in stony silence, until he pulled into the hotel. Then she gathered her purse and bolted without a word as though there were wild dogs after her, not sparing him another glance.
Ethan sighed, frustrated and annoyed at himself as he continued on to his building. Tonight was going to end in a cold shower and a severe case of blue balls.
And to think he had turned down a chance to be with a willing woman simply because Erin had flashed those eyes at him. What a damn fool he was.