" I coax my palm into his lapel in search of my wish, returning his feverish kiss. " Checkmate, you son of a bug," I say against his mouth two seconds before my fingers find an empty pocket." Sleight of hand, blossom," he says right back. " 'Tis in fact in my pants pocket, if you'd like to search there." I shove him off and drop to the floor, wiping my mouth. " It's mine!" " And you'll receive it when the time is right." His lips, all I can look at, tilt into that smug smile that I've come to detest. He motions toward the chair. " Sit. You've just been soundly kissed. No doubt you're short of breath." " Don't flatter yourself." I huff in an effort to hide the gulp of air and hold the teddy bear against my chest. " That kiss meant nothing. It had underlying motivation." " Oh, to be sure. That kiss was nothing if not motivational. "