His mouth quirked up in a slow, sexy grin. “You were coming to look for me?”

I leveled a glare at him. “I know what you did, and you have some serious explaining and groveling to do.”

“And what is it you think I did?”

“Don’t play games with me, Kyler. You told Em everything.”

He shrugged. “And?”

I was getting more and more pissed off by his nonchalance and ‘whatever’ attitude.

“What was your reasoning? Besides you thinking that if you told my best friend everything maybe I would see the error of my ways and come back to you?”

The smirk that was on his face slowly faded into a frown.

“I never assumed anything. In fact, I’d have to be the dumbest man on earth to assume anything when it comes to you.”

What did he mean by that? Before I got a chance to think more about it, he started to stalk slowly toward me. With every step, my heartbeat picked up. His gaze was unyielding and I felt my anger going away, and desire mixed with nervousness crept in. I wanted to pinch myself to remind me why I was angry, and to hold on to that anger. It was the only emotion I wanted to feel right now. Lust was an unwelcome sensation, and I hated that I felt nervous about his advancement.

“What are you doing?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

“I’m going to prove to you that I don’t assume things … I know things.”

By now he was right at the edge of the bed where I was sitting. His legs brushed my knee, and even such an unassuming touch seared me with heat. I let my eyes move lazily up his body till they met his warm brown eyes.

“Stand up, Harper.”

There was no question about what he said. It was a demand, but I refused to bend to his will. He told me to do something, but I hate being told what to do. Besides, wasn’t I supposed to be thinking murderous thoughts right then? I’d never liked being told what to do and Ky knew that. But in our short time together, he’d learned that he could play me like the strings on his guitar. All it took was the look he was giving me now, and a tone that said he wasn’t budging until I gave him what he wanted. Ky was just as stubborn as I was.

Deciding to stick to my guns and play the angry chick, which I still was, I crossed my arms over my chest.

“Make me.”

He sighed heavily. “Don’t challenge me, Harper. I’ll win.”

“Hmmm … we’ll see.”

And there it was. The gauntlet had been thrown down and the challenge had been made. I would not be told what to do, and he didn’t like not getting his way. The sexual tension between us was permeable … you could practically taste it.

While I sat there, refusing to move, Ky startled me by reaching out and grasping me by my arms. He hauled me up against him and gave me look that told me if I so much as thought about fighting him, there would be hell to pay. Then he crushed his mouth to mine. I was too shocked to push him away—at least that’s what I told myself.

Oh God, I’d missed this mouth. His lips were soft, but his mouth was firm and unyielding. Ky’s arms folded me into his body so that there wasn’t an inch of space separating us, although I couldn’t be sure that I wasn’t the one pressing into him. I managed to unfold my arms and grasp his shirt to pull him even deeper into the kiss. His mouth pulled away, but his tongue darted out and licked my lower lip. I opened my mouth, allowing him in. He swept back inside and kissed me so thoroughly that I couldn’t think of anything but him. Kyler consumed me—licking, sucking, and tasting every inch of my mouth—and I gave it back to him like I was a starving woman.

Ky swept his tongue across mine once more before he leaned back to look in my eyes, heat and desire shown in the depths of those warm chocolate brown irises. He watched me for a few beats before speaking.

“That’s exactly what I know.”

I continued to hold him. My legs felt too wobbly to release my hands from his shirt. I wanted more of him. I wasn’t so stupid that I couldn’t set aside petty arguments for a good orgasms sake. So why was he pulling away?

“And what would that be?” I asked breathily.

“That we work, Harper. This between us … its fucking magic, and you can’t hide from it.”

Hiding? Who was hiding? I’d been very clear about who I was and what I wanted from Ky. We’d had our short fling. It was hot and fun while it lasted, but it was over now, and we’d gone our separate ways. He went to play for Down Glory Road, and I had my life in Mountain Home. What else was there? So again I wondered where he got off saying I was hiding.

“I won’t deny you and I have chemistry, Kyler, but just because we connect, well, sexually, doesn’t mean we should be together. It was just sex.”

“Seriously, Harper, you think what we had was just sex?” He reached up and released my hands from his shirt and I sank back down onto the bed. He paced the floor in front of me. “Christ, woman, I’m not one to act like a fucking chick, but you and I both know that our relationship went deeper than just being physical with each other. I’ve known you for a seriously long time, Harper, and you’ve always pushed people away. I want to know why.”

“There’s no reason, Kyler. I’m just not ready to settle down yet.”

“That’s an excuse. You and I might not be together, but that doesn’t mean we weren’t friends at one point. Talk to me, Harper.”

His face was full of conviction and damn I wanted to open up to him. But the thing was … even after sharing my emotional wounds, they still left—all of them. Emilyn had been the one my constant in my life, and I didn’t need anybody else. Men were not permanent fixtures in my life. I used them just as much as they used me. As far as I was concerned, it was a mutual agreement. Sex was a mechanical thing for me. I was a warm blooded woman that had cravings and desires like any other walking, talking creature. I had it when I wanted it, and I continued on in my life. Nowhere had there ever been that dirty little four-letter word in any of my relationships. Love just didn’t belong in my life. So what on earth was there to talk about?

“You’re right, Ky, we were friends at one point, and we still are. I got what I needed from you, just like you got what you needed from me. No need to discuss it any further.”

“This is what you call a friendship? You’ve been ignoring me for the past several weeks. Friends talk to each other, friends tell each other what’s going on in their lives. You don’t fucking talk to me.”

I was starting to get pissed off again. Not only was Kyler acting like a needy estrogen-filled female, he’d got me all hot and bothered and then he just wanted to talk. Well, I was done talking. Kyler may know how to strum a guitar like a pro, but I know how to press his buttons and bend to my will.

“Ky?”

“What?” he snapped at me.

“Come back over here,” I said in a seductive tone.

His eyebrow arched and he looked at me cautiously. “What are you up to, Harper?”

His frustration was slowly slipping away, and now he was just trying to figure out what I was doing. Well, when I was done he wouldn’t know what hit him.

I stood up and took three small strides toward him until I was standing directly in front of him. Looking up at him through my long dark lashes, his scent washed over me and my need for him picked up right where it left off.

“You started something a few minutes ago,”— I reached up and gently laid my hand on his chest— “and I want you to finish it.”

His pupils dilated and he groaned low in his throat. I was getting to him, and at least he’d shut up. Leaning in to him, I brought my mouth up to his and said against his lips, “I need you to finish it.”

Before I was able to press my lips to his, he took my hand in both of his and pulled his face away, standing at his full six foot two.