Page 16 of The Rebel Billionaire

Calling Lucas Jackson a boy-anything felt wrong. He was all man, more than a little dangerous, and probably too much for me to handle. The men I was used to dating were nothing like Lucas. Refined, clean-cut, andappropriate.

None of those men had ever kissed me likeLucas.

I wasn't looking for a relationship. I didn't want Lucas to be my new boyfriend. I had to figure out what the hell I was doing with my life, and I didn't need the complication of a new man added intothemix.

Why did it have to becomplicated?

I'd never had an affair before. I'd had sex, of course, but always with someone I was dating. Someone I'd been dating for a while before we got to the naked parts. I didn't know if I had the guts to tell Lucas what I reallywanted.

There was only one way tofindout.

Before I could lose my nerve, I smiled and said, "No. The only thing I regret from last night is finishing that bottle ofwhiskey."

"You sure about that?" Lucas asked, dropping his arms to his sides and taking a stepcloser.

I hooked my thumbs in the back pocket of my jeans and took a step toward himmyself.

Now only a few feet apart, we eyed each other. I was reminded of shows I'd seen on the Nature Channel—two wild animals, cautiously circling, looking for anopening.

After the way I'd jumped Lucas the day before, the comparison wasn't toofaroff.

"I'm sure," I said, taking another stepcloser.

Cocking my head to the side, I reconsidered my words. "On second thought, I takethatback."

Triumph surged through me at the flash of disappointment inLucas'seyes.

Before he could move away, I said, "The only thing I really regret from last night is that I had too much to drink and ended up sleepingalone."

"You're not drunk now,"Lucassaid.

"No,I'mnot."

Anticipation fizzed in my stomach. I was standing on the edge of a cliff, one foot hovering in midair, just about to fall over the edge. The feeling faded when Lucas crossed his arms back over his chest and shookhishead.

"This is a bad idea," he said. "We're neighbors. And you're notmytype."

"Not your type as in not the kind of woman you usually fuck? Or not your type as in you're not attracted to me?" I asked, raisingmychin.

It's hard to look down your nose at someone almost a foot taller, but I did my best. Lucas laughed, the sound a low rumble in his chest that turned me on despite myirritation.

"Oh, I'm attracted," he said. "I thought that was obvious. But you don't strike me as the kind of woman who saysfuck, much less does it with a guy she just met,Princess."

"Don't call me Princess," I shot back. "You don't know anything about me. You know about my family, you know my resume, but you don't know me. For your information, I sayfuckall the time. And no, I don't usually sleep with men I've just met. I was interested in making an exception for you, but if you're going to be an ass about it, thennevermind—"

I was working up a good head of steam when Lucas reached out, closed his big hand over my wrist, and tugged. Off-balance, I fell into his arms, too surprised to continue mytirade.

This time,hekissedme.

Kissing Lucas Jackson was even bettersober.

His lips were soft and full against mine, but his kiss was hard. The way he used his mouth was all about possession andcontrol.

The contrast made my head spin. I closed my hands over those strong shoulders and held on for dear life, kissing him back with everything I had. He tasted of coffee and something indefinably male that was justLucas.

His hands skimmed down my back, closing over my ass and lifting me as he turned and pressed me to the wall, pinning me with his hips. I wrapped my legs around his waist, archingintohim.

I forgot all of my uncertainty, forgot that I needed a shower and that I didn't think he liked my haircut. None of thatmattered.