Holding her gaze, he stalked forward as graceful as any jungle cat. Slow and sure—closing the distance between them until she inhaled his scent of heated cedar. A hum began in her abdomen. Heat flushed along her skin.
One of his thick knuckles lifted her chin. She should step back. Away from danger. But something… something kept her still. Maybe it was curiosity. Maybe it was hope that she could still feel on fire. Her limbs grew heavy. Too heavy to move. Her heart rate picked up.
Slowly, so slowly they both knew she had eons to move away, he lowered his head. His lips brushed hers. Firm, knowing, so hot. Once, twice, and then a third time.
A moan fluttered in her throat.
He stepped into her, one hand clenching her hip and the other angling her chin. Fire. His tongue shot past her lips, taking. One movement and he tugged her against his hard body, forcing her curves to accommodate his larger size, to accept him, to cushion the firm ridge of an erection digging into her skin. Need rippled through her so fast she shivered. Her sex softened. Her nipples pebbled.
The hand on her chin moved and tethered her hair as he destroyed her mouth. The familiar taste of him flayed her heart. His mouth released hers to press wet, open-mouthed kisses along her jaw to her neck.
So fast.
So hard.
So demanding.
She gasped for air, her mind spinning. Her knees weakening. Shane.
He kissed lower, dipping his face in the V of her shirt, pushing the material aside to nuzzle the tops of her breasts. A low hum of male appreciation echoed against her skin. She slid both hands through his thick hair, tugging him closer. Heat filled her. A ringing began in her ears. Her body leapt to life. For the first time in two years, she craved.
Suddenly, he shifted again, cupping her ass and lifting her against him. She gasped as her feet left the ground. Her legs automatically circled his waist.
This was crazy… and she truly didn’t care. More. She needed more.
Her body had been asleep for two years and suddenly felt awake. Alive.
The demanding hardness of his cock pressed against her core. His mouth returned to demolish hers, his strong hands working her body against his. Held aloft, she moaned and pressed her thighs against his hips, rubbing against him. Needing. Finally, he lifted his head.
His kiss was harder and more insistent than in their earlier life together. He’d always been so careful—so gentle. Something wild and new cascaded from him now. Excitement flared inside her chest. For once he was treating her as an equal. As a woman and not as something fragile he needed to shield.
Possession. It glittered in his gray eyes along with need. Desire. Promise. She should think. Shouldn’t she think?
“Josie. Either tell me where the bedroom is, or I’m taking you on the floor.” Low, almost guttural, his voice caressed the raw nerves all but begging for his touch.
Dazed, she opened her mouth to speak. The shrill of the phone made her jump. She shook her head. Reality. Where was reality? The phone rang again.
Shane’s eyes narrowed. His grip tightened on her ass, pulling her sex harder against his. She moaned. His dangerous gaze kept her captive.
The phone rang again.
Then her voice telling the caller to leave a message.
Then… Tom. “Hi, beautiful. How about dinner tonight?”
Chapter 3
The air chilled ten degrees. Maybe more. Tension ripped through the once-peaceful kitchen. This was bad. Disastrous. Josie released Shane’s hair and slammed her hands against his chest, trying to unhinge her legs from around his hips.
He held her in place.
“You’re hurting me,” she whispered. He wasn’t, not even close, but the words would make him release her.
“Then stop moving.” Not an ounce of give showed on his face.
She blinked several times. Shock kept her body immobile. The Shane she’d known would’ve set her immediately and safely to her feet.
Tom’s voice droned on in the background, detailing late dinner plans. She had to shut off the machine. Josie struggled, fighting to drop to the floor. She’d almost had sex with Shane. Two more seconds and—
“No.” Shane’s jaw hardened to rock. His eyes darkened to slate.
Panic. Danger. Violence. Josie stilled, her gaze captured by the anger in Shane’s. So much. Her lungs compressed. In all the time they’d spent together, not once had she been afraid of him.
Until now.
The machine clicked off.
The seconds ticked by as her heart rammed against her ribs. His gaze kept hers. No expression showed on his savage features, no glimmer in those eyes. She suppressed a shiver. Who was this man? Slowly, almost gently, Shane lowered her to the floor, holding her shoulders until she’d steadied herself. Then he took two steps back.
A chill ran over her arms, and she rubbed trembling palms against goose bumps. How in the world had she let this happen? She hadn’t ever tried to stop him. Even now, her body ached. For Shane. He was different this time. Not in control, not hiding his feelings. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out.