“He was the kind of guy that made a woman want to rip his shirt open and watch the buttons scatter along with her inhibitions.”

“There wasn't a woman alive who could resist a man who paid attention to her, who made her feel like she was the only other person in his world.”

“..then he pushed the call button again and asked, "Are you sleeping with anyone?""Why is that any business of yours?""Because I want to fuck you, Eva. I need to know what's standing in my way, if anything.”

“I want you bound. And not on the outside. I’m working my way in.”“Gideon—““I won’t ever take it further than you can handle,” he promised, his eyes glittering hotly in the muted lighting. “But I’ll take you to the edge.”I squirmed, both aroused and disturbed by the thought of giving up that much control. “Why?”“Because you want to be mine and I want to possess you. We’ll get there.” His hand slid under my shirt and cupped my breast, his fingers rolling and tugging my nipple, igniting my body.”

“I WAS seriously hurt because of you. Seeing you in another guy's arms, kissing him... It shredded me, Eva. Cut me open and left me bleeding. I kicked he ass in self-defense.”

“You didn't see him watching you dance with your dad. His eyes got all shiny. I thought he was going to cry. And on the way up here, in the elevator, he tried to play it off, but I could totally tell he was nervous.”

“Cracking his knuckles, Cary dramatically prepared to open his fortune cookie. “Let’s see. Will I be rich? Famous? About tomeet Mr. or Ms. Tall, Dark, and Tasty? Traveling to distant lands? What’d you guys get?”“Mine’s lame,” I said. “In the end all things will be known. Duh. I didn’t need a fortune to figure that out.”Gideon opened his and read, “Prosperity will knock on your door soon.”I snorted.Cary shot me a look. “I know, right? You snatched someone else’s cookie, Cross.”“He better not be anywhere near someone else’s cookie,” I said dryly.Reaching over, Gideon plucked half of mine out of my fingers. “Don’t worry, angel. Your cookie is the only one I want.”He popped it in his mouth with a wink.“Gag,” Cary muttered. “Get a room.” He cracked his fortune with a flourish, and then scowled. “What the fuck?”I leaned forward. “What’s it say?”“Confucius say,” Gideon ad-libbed, “man with hand in pocket feel cocky all day.”Cary threw half his cookie at Gideon, who caught it deftly and grinned.“Give me that.” I snatched the fortune out from between Cary’s fingers and read it. Then laughed.“Fuck you, Eva.”“Well?” Gideon prodded.“Pick another cookie.”Gideon smiled. “Pwned by a fortune.”Cary threw the other half of his cookie.”