Hell. One thing she knew about Duncan was that he did not make false threats.
Storming over, she unlocked the door, allowing him entrance. He stepped in, instantly overwhelming her shop with his presence.
“You can’t just bully people to get your way. I should make a complaint to Jake,” she muttered grumpily.
Duncan raised an eyebrow as he leaned back against the counter and watched her. “I’m not in uniform
and if you wouldn’t fight me at every turn then I wouldn’t have to force you to talk to me. Do you really dislike me that much? Are you still holding on to so much anger that you can’t even be in the same room as me?”
Her anger deflated as she stared at him, shocked by the hurt in his gaze.
“I’m not angry with you, Duncan. My anger disappeared about six hours after you stood me up that night.” This was a mistake. She should just continue to hurl insults and bile his way until he gave up on her. And yet she couldn’t keep hurting him, no matter how much she wanted to protect herself.
“Then why won’t you talk to me? You’ll have lunch with Joel Saxon; but for me, you won’t even open your door.”
“I was doing Saxon a favor. Nothing more.”
“Are you trying to punish me then? By keeping me at a distance? Is having lunch with Saxon at his place a way of making me pay for standing you up that night? For not giving you enough attention while we were together?”
“Of course not.”
“I’m sorry you felt like I was ignoring you,” he continued. “That night was a complete mess. One of my team ended up in the hospital after a training session went wrong. We were having a debrief that went well into the night. But I’m not making excuses. I should have called you.”
“Duncan—”
“You’ve refused me every time I’ve asked you out, but Saxon clicks his fingers and you go running? I know I made mistakes—God knows that neither of us were perfect— but when are you going to stop running from me, little girl?”
Laken’s temper sparked and this time she couldn’t keep it under control. “First of all, I’m not running from you. Just because I don’t want to talk to you does not mean I am trying to punish you. Maybe I just don’t want anything to do with you. Maybe I’m not attracted to you anymore!”
As soon as she said it, she wished it back. His eyes narrowed, devouring her.
She swallowed. Oh shit.
Duncan stepped forward slowly, wishing they were upstairs and away from any prying eyes that might be passing by.
Laken’s expressive blue eyes darted from side to side, her breath coming in sharper pants as she looked for an escape. Duncan grinned as she hit her back against the wall behind her. He’d managed to maneuver her so they stood behind a rack of clothing.
He placed his hands on the wall behind her, trapping her. “No escaping me now, sugar,” he murmured, before lowering his lips to hers. He met resistance at first, but didn’t let that deter him, sipping from her lips, licking and cajoling until she relented and let him in. Duncan was carried away by the feel of her, by the sweet taste of her lips against his. He dragged her against him, holding her tight.
He felt a surge of relief as she melted beneath him. Part of him had been worried that he would never be able to break down that barrier she’d placed between them. But there was no way she could deny this, no way could she tell him that she didn’t want him as much as he wanted her.
Reaching a hand up, he cupped a firm breast. She was thinner than she had been three years ago. So fragile. He had to be careful not to use too much of his strength. He’d cut his right arm off before he would ever harm her.
A shudder rushed through her as he tweaked her nipple.
“Christ, I want you,” he whispered against her lips. “I want to strip you naked, place you on that counter and lick every inch of your body. I want to spread your legs wide and lick the sweet center of you. There is no way you can deny this, Laken. No way you can deny the heat between us.”
She suddenly pushed at him. “Step back,” she ordered, her voice slightly breathless. A flush had crept up her cheeks. “Duncan, I can’t breathe.” A tinge of panic infused her voice and he immediately stepped back, giving her room.
“Laken.” He reached out to touch her as she moved past him.
“No,” she told him, darting out of his way. She stepped behind the counter and it hurt him that she felt the need to put something between them. As though he didn’t have control of himself, as though she were worried he might jump on her.
“Don’t back away from us, Laken.”
“There is no ‘us.’ Sure, I’m attracted to you; that was never our problem. We just don’t work together.”
“We’re different people now. How do you know we won’t work when you won’t give us a chance?” he said with frustration.