“I’m not going to kiss you,” he said. Tem was too shocked to react properly. “Why not?” He stepped closer. “Because if I kiss you, I’ll try to take you upstairs. And you’re not going to let me.” Tem opened her mouth but he kept talking: “And you were right. I’m not used to hearing the word ‘no’. And I don’t want to hear it from you. Certainly not after I had to see you in this dress—” he brushed his fingertips along her waist so lightly she almost didn’t notice until it was over, “—all fucking evening.” “You chose it,” she whispered. “Apparently I’m partial to torture.”
