Trish looked up and touched the side of his cheek. “Will you sleep with me, Alek?”

Sucking in a sharp breath, Alek was instantly hard. “That would be a really bad idea.”

“Why?” she asked.

“Why?” he sputtered. “I don’t know where to begin with the reasons why this is a bad idea.”

“Listen, Alek, I haven’t had much experience,” Trish admitted. “That time with you was the only time I’ve ever climaxed with a partner.”

Alek opened his mouth, but all that came out was a strange gurgling sound.

The woman actually laughed at him. “You look ridiculous. Is this all it would have taken to get you to back off a month ago? Are you one of those guys who only want a woman who’s a challenge?”

“I prefer women who aren’t a challenge,” he admitted. “You’re an exception. That has nothing to do with the reason I think this is a bad idea. I’m not going to take advantage of you when you’re recovering from a serious injury. You’ve had some terrible shocks in the last couple of days.”

“Believe it or not, I’m just asking you to sleep,” she said. “I’m freaked out and emotional. I watched my father die today, and I don’t want to be alone.”

Alek was more than a little embarrassed about his assumption. “Of course. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“You were thinking you’re an attractive man who has women throw themselves at him all the time. Bet not a lot of women invite you to their bed for reasons other than sex.”

“True, but I should have known you weren’t planning to seduce me.”

“I wouldn’t even know where to start,” she admitted. “Seduction isn’t something I have a lot of experience with.”

“You were doing fine when you told me I’m the only man you’d ever climaxed with,” he confessed. “That got me thinking about all sorts of other ways I want to make you climax.”

The shy smile she gave him made him even harder, something she must have noticed while sitting on his lap. “Good, because I do plan to seduce you, just not tonight.”