Free Perfectly Shattered by Emily Jane Trent Page B

sounding better and better.”
    Holding two glasses of wine, Bradan nodded toward the other room, and Cami followed. Positioned in front of one of the wall-sized windows were a black leather sofa and two padded chairs. Cami settled into one of the chairs. Taking her wine, she watched Bradan sink into the chair across from her and put his feet up on the table.
    Cami enjoyed the sun finishing its descent, the sky turning dark. A low light burned in a lamp by the sofa and quiet music played. She wasn’t sure when Bradan had turned it on. It was romantic, she had to admit. Feeling awkward, she looked around the room and sipped the Pinot. It was a good one.
    All the while, she felt Bradan’s eyes on her. Knowing she couldn’t be the first woman invited up to the penthouse, Cami was a little nervous. The setting was ripe for some real action with the hunk only a few feet from her. But she’d already decided it wasn’t a smart move. They couldn’t even get being friends right, so taking it further was out of the question.
    The whole thing was probably more of her self-destructive behavior, considering that Bradan was so wrong for her on so many levels. The guy was messed up, not what Cami needed. The attraction was strong; there was no way to deny that. It didn’t mean she had any right to go with it. For once, she needed to use her head and not cave to her emotions.
    “I didn’t know you liked jazz,” she said, and took a gulp of wine.
    Bradan refilled her glass. “Music is like air to me. I like it all.” He sat across from her again, his blue eyes piercing into her. “But is that what you really want to talk about?”
    Cami took another gulp of wine, missing the smooth taste but feeling the alcoholic effect. “What do you mean?”
    Electricity radiated through the room, the short distance between them seeming like none at all. It felt as though he was touching her, when he was only talking. This was going to be difficult.
    Without thinking it through, she blurted out her feelings. “You’re not the type of guy for me.”
    With a smile that lit his eyes, Bradan responded, seeming unflustered by her rash statement. “What type am I?”
    “You sleep with a different woman every night.”
    “Why shouldn’t I? Are you looking for a commitment?”
    “No. Definitely not. Are you?”
    Bradan laughed, but it was a sexual sound, a mating call of sorts. “Am I looking for commitment? No. I’m not.”
    Shifting in her seat, Cami looked around the room, anywhere but at him. When she looked back, he was pushing up from his chair. Slowly, he took the two steps to close the gap between them. Looking up, Cami took in his lean thighs, flat abs, and broad shoulders. She tried to avoid looking at the bulge under his pants but felt her cheeks heat anyway.
    He held out a hand, and Cami took a big gulp of her wine before setting it on the table. She took his hand and rose, realizing it was the first time they’d touched hands. The feel of her small hand in his strong one made her nipples hard; she was in trouble.
    With his face close enough to kiss, Cami looked into the depths of his eyes.
    In a low voice, he said, “I want you, and I know you want me.”
    Her heart pounded so hard it was embarrassing. “Still conceited, I see.” But her voice was soft, not harsh.
    “Afraid you’ll fall for me?” The little smirk annoyed her.
    “Just because every woman who looks at you swoons and swears eternal love doesn’t mean I will. In fact, I’m sure I won’t.” Cami put as much force into the statement as she could muster, though her knees were weak. “You can’t get to me, like you do with every other woman. I won’t fall for you.”
    “You won’t, huh?” The gleam of lust in his eyes made her skin tingle. “Care to prove it?”
    She was caught off guard. “What do you mean?”
    Bradan put his arm around her, pulling her a little closer. The feel of being in his grasp was too much. Any resistance Cami had tried to