Page 61 of Unbalanced

My pulse quickens, and my pants tighten as thoughts of her moans play on repeat in my mind.

“I think you know why,” she says, and my lip twitches.

“Sorry, I don’t,” I say, giving her a taste of her own medicine.

Emily sighs, which makes me smile with anticipation.

“Your credit card. I need to give it back,” she says, her voice laced with annoyance. “I’m not sure why you sent it to me again, but I’m not taking it.”

I wait for the rest, but the car fills with silence.

That’s it?

That’s all she’s going to say?

I weave slightly to the left, and this time I watch her glance at me in the mirror.

“Is that you behind me?” She lifts her fingers and waves.

“Yes, it’s me.” I can’t keep the exasperation from bleeding through. “So that’s all you wanted to talk to me about?”

No, I had a hot dream, or were you really in my house? How dare you come all over me. Nothing. No reaction at all.

How many guys sneak into her apartment, pleasure her, and then come on her?

The moment the thought crosses my mind, a sinister growl rips from my throat. I’ve forgotten that I’m on the phone. If anyone else goes near her, I will rip them apart.

“Alden, what was that?”

I clear my throat.

“Nothing, just clearing my throat,” I lie.

“Okay…well, I can’t think of anything else worth mentioning. But I need to make this clear…I’m not interested in keeping your card. I’ll give it to you when we get to the estate.”

Like hell she will.

She’s keeping it if I have to tattoo the fucking numbers on her arm.

“We’ll talk about it.”

I wait for her to argue, but she doesn’t. My fingers tap on the top of the steering wheel as I grind my teeth.

“Okay, well, if that’s all, I’ll go. See you soon.”

I’m never at a loss for words. I’m a lawyer, for Christ’s sake, but right now my mind is blank, and I can’t think of a single thing to say. She is so…frustrating.

EMILY

I cover my mouth to keep from laughing out loud. There is no doubt in my mind that he wants me to mention the other night, but I’m not doing it.

Alden is an incredible man, but he is a man. And men have the same flaw—ego. I’ve watched countless women throw themselves at him over the years and mistake his generosity for love. Each one of them is crushed when they realize he isn’t interested enough to have anything serious let alone settle down and get married.

None of them are right for him, anyway. Alden is meant for me. He just doesn’t understand that yet.

A man like Alden requires a different approach. He needs to chase. Not just because he is a natural hunter, with his stalking and killing pastime, but because he likes the challenge. He needs to feel as if the relationship is his idea—what he wants.

He’s highly intelligent, so I must be careful not to push or pull too much. If I go too far, he’ll get suspicious. Now is not the time for him to find out the scope of my love for him. He’s not ready.