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almost made it to his desk before her hand caught his arm and he allowed the gentle contact to halt his retreat; although he couldn’t bring himself to turn and face her. Seeing rejection in her eyes would devastate him as nothing else could.
    “ Nikolai,” she whispered.
    He closed his eyes again. He would never tire of hearing his name on her lips. It was even more beautiful when she was conscious.
    “ Nikolai Voinea!”
    It had been so long since his full name had been used to reprimand him that he was momentarily struck stupid. His brows flew up. His mouth fell open and, despite his every effort, he turned to face her. He looked down into her face, expecting to see her with hands on her hips, glaring up at him. But with eyes wide, she appeared to be as shocked as he was.
    Silence stretched on as they just stared at each other. And just when he thought she was going to apologize, she straightened her shoulders disapprovingly.
    “ You’re being ridiculous.”
    “ Am I?” He cocked a brow.
    She tossed him a saucy smile. The sweet, playful grin eased the irritation. “Yes,” she scoffed, taking a step toward him.
    He turned his back to her, stalked over to his desk, and lowered himself into the chair, then motioned for Gabby to use one on the other side of the wooden barrier. He needed to keep his distance and putting the desk between them was his only hope.
    She smirked then rested one side of her fine rear on the corner of his desk just to his left.
    “ It wasn’t that I don’t want you to call me Gabrielle. It’s just that everybody calls me Gabby.” She rolled her eyes and emphasized the movement with a girlish giggle. “Well, except for my mother when I was in trouble.”
    “ I won’t—”
    Her hand flew up and her fingertips covered his lips. In the heartbeat that followed Nikolai wasn’t sure who was more surprised by the contact. Her eyes closed and he watched as she smiled, seemingly enjoying the intimate contact. Her eyes flicked open and she jerked her hand back like he had suddenly burst into flames.
    “ If you still want to, I’d like it if you called me Gabrielle … and use your accent,” she added under her breath.
    “ My accent?”
    “ Yeah … oh, never mind.” She stood and took a step away.
    Nikolai jumped to his feet, grabbed her arm, and spun her around so she faced him. He looked deep into her eyes, capturing her complete attention. Neither of them breathed for a few seconds. Nikolai leaned forward until his lips were right at her ear.
    “ Anything you want, sweet Gabrielle.” He allowed the accent he’d tried to erase for centuries to ooze thick on each syllable of her name.
    She blushed the most delicious shade of crimson, and he smiled in satisfaction.
    “ I, ah … I really should—” She stumbled as she backed away, her eyes still locked on his. “I’ve got … things to do.” Her back hit the door and air whooshed from her lungs.
    “ You know I would be a mess without you? I need you.”
    “ Thank you.” She jerked the door open. “If you … um … need anything—” With eyes still on him, she shook her head as though she were trying to focus, then she cleared her throat. “Is there anything I can do for you?”
    He smiled and raised a brow. Where to begin?
    She blushed, dropped her gaze. “Mr. Voinea.” She drew the proverbial line in the sand by using his formal title.
    “ I’m fine, thanks.” Better than fine , he thought as she walked out the door, leaving it ajar. It felt good to flirt with Gabrielle, so natural. And Nikolai looked forward to many more conversations to bring out the red hues that made her beauty even more intoxicating.
     
     
    As absurd as it was, Gabrielle couldn’t bring herself to close his door all the way. Nikolai had never been so … flirtatious.
    Was that what it was?
    Maybe he was just being nice—overly nice.
    The only thing she knew for sure about the bizarre conversation was the way he purred her name made her toes