The Seduction Request by Michelle Celmer

first time I kissed you?”
    She gave a wobbly nod. Droplets of warm soapy water slid down her arms and dripped onto the kitchen floor.
    â€œYou tasted like chocolate. I wonder what you taste like tonight.”
    Probably her mother’s chicken. And if it tasted as bad the second time around as it had the first, they were both in trouble.
    Or they would cancel each other out.
    In her mind, she kept telling herself to run. To get away. Unfortunately, her body wasn’t responding. She knew he was going to kiss her. She wanted him to kiss her. And she didn’t.
    Where was rational Emily when she needed her?
    Matt lowered his head and she held her breath, heart pounding in her chest. She felt hot and cold all at once. Frightened and excited.
    In slow motion he moved closer and her head began to spin. She felt dizzy and breathless, then his lips brushed lightly over hers and everything inside her went liquid.
    â€œHmm, I remember this,” he whispered against her lips.
    She had to stop this. She had to come to her senses before someone walked in and saw them this way.
    â€œI’ve been thinking,” she said, easing away from him, thankful that he let her go. “I guess maybe we could try being friends again.”
    Something virile and primitive burned in his eyes. “Maybe that offer isn’t on the table any longer. Maybe now I want more.”
    She backed toward the door. To hell with the dishes. Matt could finish them. She needed to get out of here before she did something monumentally stupid, like dragging him into the broom closet for a quickie. “You and I both know that would be a really bad idea.”
    â€œI don’t know that, but I know how we can find out.”
    She stopped, her hand on the knob, her soapy fingers slipping on the brass. She recognized the determined look on Matt’s face. Logically she knew this was destined to be a disaster, while her less logical side wanted everything he offered and more.
    It was the “more” in that equation, and knowing he would never give it, that gave her the strength to open the door and walk out.
    Matt watched Emily leave, knowing he’d won this round. He’d found her weakness—a way in.
    She still wanted him.
    When he’d touched her, she’d trembled. Actually trembled. He couldn’t remember ever having that effect on a woman before. Well, not since the last time he’d been with Emily. That night on the beach they had both done their share of trembling. If she wanted him half as much as he wanted her, leaving tonight hadn’t been easy. But this was Emily. She wouldn’t give in to him without a fight. If he could build a multimillion dollar corporation from nothing, he could manage to seduce a woman. Even one as hard-headed as her.
    And while they were busy fighting to see who would win this battle of wills, he would leave her boyfriend in the dust.
    Ty had said to take this as far as necessary, and if this was his only angle, his only way in, he was going to take it. And if he was lucky, he and Emily would walk away from this as friends again. And he was going to enjoy himself.

Five
    â€œY ou want the guy,” Alex said from his perch on the corner of Emily’s desk. “Why won’t you just admit it?”
    Emily glared up at him, tired of having this identical conversation for two days running. What was it with everyone lately? Her mother had gotten on her case earlier that afternoon about spending time with Matt while he was in town. “We have to make him feel welcome,” she’d said. Not an hour later Ty had called with a similar story, but he didn’t possess the same air of subtlety as their mother. “He’s rich, good-looking—what’s not to like?” he’d asked.
    It was like a freaking conspiracy.
    She dropped her head in her hands, massaging away a killer headache in her temples. “I do not.”
    â€œBut he’s so hot.