“And you look so sexy,” he growled. “Why?”

“Why do I look sexy?” I frowned at him, secretly thrilled that he’d called me sexy. I felt that my body was a traitor to the rest of me.

“Why did you go to dinner with David looking sexy?”

“You know I used to date him,” I said childishly, looking for a reaction.

“And you said that was for a reason. You said you never had sex with him—or did you lie?”

“We didn’t have sex, not that it’s your business, but we also did more than nothing.”

“Oh?” His eyes narrowed and he grabbed my wrists and pulled me toward him. “Did you do more than nothing tonight as well?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“Goddamnit, Bianca.” His arms circled my waist and he peered down at me. “Why do you make this so fucking hard?” He pulled me into him as his lips came dangerously close to mine. His eyes were dark with desire.

“What do you think you’re doing?” I gasped, my heart beating fast as my hands clutched his shoulders, not wanting to let go.

“What I should have done as soon as I saw you.” His lips crashed down onto mine, taking possession and dominating as his tongue forced its way into my mouth. His lips took control of my tongue and sucked on it hard. My brain became mush as he filled my senses, completely overwhelming every internal protest trying to escape.

“Oh, Bianca,” he muttered against my lips as his fingers played in my hair. “I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind.”

“Been thinking about me stopping the merger?” I responded churlishly as he sucked on my lower lip.

“No.” His eyes met mine and his teeth bit down on my lip.

“Ouch! That hurt.”

“You deserve to be punished. You didn’t listen to me.”

“Listen to you? About what?”

“I told you not to trust David.”

“You mean your brother?” I snapped.

“Bianca, it’s a long story.”

“Isn’t it always?”

“Stop being so . . .”

“So what?”

“Obstinate. Annoying. Childish.” He glared. “And sexy.”

“I’m afraid I can’t stop that part.” I winked at him.

He groaned, smiling at me for the first time. “I’ve missed you,” he whispered, and sighed.

“I haven’t missed you.”

“Oh, Bianca, you always were a poor liar.” He laughed as he held my face in his hands. “We need to talk.”

“No, you need to tell me what you’re doing here and how you got in.”

“Like I said, we need to talk.”

“I don’t need to talk. I need you to talk and then leave.”

“I’m not leaving.” He glared at me.

“You’re not staying.”

“I want you.”

“Is that meant to make me feel good?” I ignored the soft glow in my stomach that said if that was his intent, it had worked.

“It’s not meant to make you feel any way. It’s just a statement of fact.”

“Okay, so you want me. And?”

“You want me too.” He grinned as he looked down at my breasts, where I knew my nipples were poking out of my top.

“No, I don’t.” I glared at him, stopping myself from crossing my arms over my chest. “You have two minutes to talk and then I’m calling the cops.”

“What did David say to you over dinner?”

“What?” I sighed, confused. “At what point? The point you were texting me or . . . ?”

“Bianca, this is important.” He pursed his lips into a thin line; a nerve throbbing in his forehead told me he was serious.

“I don’t get the two of you.” I glared at him. “Why do you want to know what he said? Why did he want to know if I’d heard from you? If you guys are in on this together, why do you both act as if you don’t trust each other? Is this all part of the game?”

“What did you say?” Jakob’s eyes narrowed into slits as he gazed at me. He looked like a predator deciding whether he should eat his prey or wait for later.

“I said, why did he want to know if—”

“No, no, no—what did you say when he asked if you’d heard from me?”

“I said no.” I frowned. “I’m not sure why, though. Why did he ask me that, and why do you care? Aren’t the two of you in on this together?”

“Bianca, there’s so much you need to know.” He sighed. “But not now, not yet.”

“Why won’t you just tell me what’s going on? You’re killing me, Jakob!”

“Why do you still call me Jakob if you think I’m Mattias?” He smiled at me as his fingers ran down the side of my face.

“I don’t know.” I nibbled on my lower lip as his lips moved toward mine. “It would feel weird to call you Mattias.”

“What do you know about Mattias, Bianca?”

“You mean, what do I know about you?” I made a face.

“Yes.” He nodded and sighed. “Aside from what I told you on the island, what do you know?”

“I know that you’re David’s brother. I know that you’re the CEO of Bradley Inc. I know you respect your privacy. I know that you never wanted to meet me for dinner when I was dating David. I know that you don’t like to attend shareholders’ meetings. I know that you have a great security team because there’s nothing about you on the Web, not even a photo.” I gazed at his handsome face. “Let me guess: You’re scared that if people knew how rich you are and saw how hot you are, you’d have even more gold diggers than you have now?”