Can't Touch This by Pepper Winters, Tess Hunter Page B

I’m not into forcing anyone to do anything. But if it’s another game between us…then, I’m open.”
    Holy crap, did he just hint at role-play?
    How had this escalated so quickly?
    And how the hell do I slow it down?
    I kept my hands busy, massaging the Chiweenie so I didn’t do anything else stupid.
    He laughed low and so damn sexy, I think I blacked out for a second. “This chat really veered into R18 territory.”
    “When do we not take a detour down that route?”
    “Oh, I dunno. Whenever we’re not talking about my cock or you’re face planting into it.”
    My cheeks flared pink. “One time. One time and never bring it up again.”
    He smiled triumphantly, highlighting his insanely gorgeous cheekbones and god-chiselled features. “I plan on bringing it up again and again—in fact, every time I come in here—which you know is a lot—I’m going to remind you of the sexual harassment suit I could use to make you go out with me.”
    I waved him away, sneezing as the flu attacked me fiercely. “Whatever. It was an accident. And that threat doesn’t work anymore. You already took that back—about the same time as you begged me to sleep with you.”
    “I didn’t beg.”
    “Oh?” I snatched a tissue from the box by the scales and blew. “I seem to recall the word beg in there somewhere.”
    “Would it change your mind if I did it again?”
    “Maybe.”
    Probably.
    Ryder smirked, moving around the table. “Okay. Vesper, I’m hard and never been this attracted to anyone before. Please will you consider allowing me the pleasure of sticking my cock in—”
    I sneezed again.
    Not just a quaint achoo but a full on fog horn.
    The room swam as tears streamed from my eyes.
    “Holy shit, are you okay?”
    I held up my hand as Ryder tried to grab me. “Yes, I’m fine. Just…I’m not feeling all that well.” Blowing my nose again and wiping away the irritating tears, I said, “As much as I’m enjoying the flirting, can we just focus on the Chiweenies? I really need to get home.”
    I clamped a hand over my mouth as a sudden rush of nausea and hot flashes attacked me.
    “You really aren’t looking so hot.” Ryder ignored my need for him to stand back and took my elbow, keeping his body blocking the convenient jumping exit just in case the Chiweenies got any ideas.
    Not that they were moving. They’d snuggled up into one fur pretzel with their snouts burrowed into soft tummies.
    Poor things really needed tending to but I could barely stand now the shakes had started.
    “Here, sit down.” Ryder guided me away from my patients, but I fought him.
    “No, let me go. I’m fine.”
    Reluctantly, he did as I asked but hovered annoyingly close.
    “Don’t talk to me. Don’t touch me. Don’t do anything but stand there. Let me get this over with, make sure they’re okay, and then we’ll finish the flirting another day when I’m not swimming in mucus.”
    “You say the hottest things.” He laughed quietly but did as he was told, fading into the background.
    I shut everything off apart from the stored medical education in my head and grabbed a few syringes to flush out the Chiweenie’s eyes before assessing what medical drops to administer for their conjunctivitis.
    I also pulled out a small infant bathtub that I’d bought from Bouncing Beautiful Babies (could they pick a more cheesy business name?) and turned on the tap for warm water. The sound of splashing caused two terrified pairs of black eyes to lock on me.
    One Chiweenie whined in fear.
    I hated when this happened. When caring and making them better caused them horror.
    I swallowed back the terrible scratch in my throat, ready to console them. “It’s okay, poppets. It’s not going to hurt you.” I sneezed again, sounding more and more like a wicked witch than a soothing vet.
    Ryder bent over and placed his forearms on either side of them, caging them in but giving them a safe haven to huddle under. His murmur was as delicate as velvet.