She stepped lightly, leaning over to pat his heated back. “Shane. Are you okay?”
Swifter than sound, he pinned her under his hard body, his hand at her throat. He pressed into her, his mouth near her ear. “Not this time. I told you never again—no more training like this.”
Josie struggled. Training? “Shane. I can’t breathe.”
He stilled. His eyes flashed open. “Josie?” The hand on her throat loosened. He shook his head, eyes focusing. The darkness failed to hide the still-fresh bruises that mottled his face. “What are you doing here?”
“You cried out.” She blinked back tears. Who moved that fast? “I thought your head was hurting you.”
“It is now.” He hardened against her, settling between her legs. The sweats failed to mask his sudden erection. Shadows danced across his angled face, making him both handsome and mysterious. His deep voice roughened to an almost guttural tone. “You want to take the hurt away, baby?”
Need flashed through her on the heels of apprehension. Instinct kicked in. “You’re scaring me, Shane.”
He instantly rolled over, releasing her. She hated that about him. Always had. He was so easy to manipulate with weakness, with fear or softness. But try to meet him head to head, and he ran right over her. Without causing a bruise. Apparently the real Shane was returning. “God, you piss me off.”
“I’m sorry I scared you.” He raked both hands over his face.
She wouldn’t scream. Not a chance. Levering up, she leaped onto his stomach, her knee pressed precariously close to his balls, the knife at his throat. “Now who’s scared?”
Soft light filtered in, making his eyes glow in the near-darkness. His entire body stiffened below hers. Ready to fight. “What do you think you’re doing, angel?” Warning melded with curiosity in his tone.
“You don’t know me, you moron.” She tightened her grip on the handle. “Maybe I did hire those men in the morgue. I could’ve been the one to injure you. To put you in the hospital and take your memories.” Her knee inched closer to his boys. Just once, she needed to see the real man behind the calm mask. “Yet you trust. So easily. Why?”
“Because you’re half my size and look like an angel.”
“That’s fucking stupid.” One swift move and she could sever his jugular. A move he’d taught her so long ago. “If you have a blind spot, Shane, it’s for women who look soft. I don’t know why.”
He frowned. No concern filtered in his eyes from her threat, so she pressed her knee up. His sharp intake of breath made her smile.
“Josie, move your leg away from my balls and get off me. Now.”
“Or what?”
“Or I’ll forget you’re soft and teach you a lesson.” The Southern drawl escaped, though his tone remained calm.
Finally. His fa?ade was cracking. “Bring it on, asswipe.”
She flew into the air.
Her yelp echoed around the room. He’d levered his feet and tossed her up without moving his arms. Strong hands flipped her around on her flight down. She found her back pressed to his front, the knife at her jugular. Heat enfolded her. His broad hand in her hair tugged her head to the side, exposing her neck to the cool night air. “Asswipe?”
Both her elbows shot back into his gut. Her wrists were quickly secured by one of his hands at the small of her back.
“Did I ever tie you up, darlin’?”
Desire shot through her like a shot of hard whiskey. “No.” She tried to move, to tug her wrists free.
“Too bad. Restraining you excites me.” His head dropped and his mouth engulfed her collarbone. The knife clattered to the floor. “If you don’t want gentle, you should’ve said so.” He flipped her around, and his lips crushed down on hers.
She didn’t want gentle. She wanted Shane—all of him. Her nails bit into his chest while a moan filtered up her throat. Finally. Oh, she’d worn bruises after a particularly passionate and athletic night during their marriage, and they were well worth it. But something new had just sprung free. She sensed it. A wildness in Shane, something he normally trapped and kept veiled. Somehow, finally, it roared.
His mouth locked on hers. No gentleness. No softness. Just pure, raw lust.
She stretched up on her tiptoes, cradling his cock between her legs. Oh God. She wanted.
He stilled.
No. She clutched him closer.
A rustle sounded outside the window, and a scrape echoed from within the house.
He stepped back, grabbing her arms, his head turning toward the door. “Do you have a gun, angel?”
A gun? She gulped in air. What?
He shook her. “Gun. Where is it?”
“Um, I left it in the glove box in my car.” Fear slid through the desire.
Glass shattered. Something clattered across the floor. “Fuck.” Shane threw her onto the bed and rolled to the other side, yanking the mattress on top of them as they hit the floor. A bang echoed.