Her abdomen began to hum… in warning and something darker. A feminine desire for him to explain everything—for him to say it was real. But the only thing that was real was the lust they’d felt. Still felt. “Don’t make me kick you again.”
His smile slid slow and sure across his face. Dangerous. “Ah, darlin’, I’d love for you to try it again.” His hands dipped under the skirt, pushing the silk up, his palms heating her thighs. “Something occurred to me last night.”
Desire rippled through her with memories of what those hands could do. Even lying to her, he’d exploded her world. She grabbed his hands, halting their journey. So close to where her body was beginning to ache. The man knew her body and exactly how to play her. The thought brought both unease and intrigue. “What’s that?” Her voice came out hoarse.
“I’ve been too easy on you.” He flipped one hand over, easily trapping both of hers. “Treated you with kid gloves, kept you out of my life.”
She frowned, her lids dropping. “You remember.”
“No.” He sighed, his free hand curving to the side of her thigh and heading toward her hipbone. “I’ve been thinking about what you said. What you were able to do by kicking me in the face.” He traced a path over her thigh toward her core, his gaze dropping to her breasts. “Let me feel you, Josie.” Three fingers pressed against the outside of her panties. “Just once. Before everything goes to shit. Open for me, baby.”
Electric shocks cascaded out from his fingers. Molten lava. Fire whipped through her until she tilted against his hand. She knew the pleasure he could bring. Even with the pain that would follow, that pleasure was seductive. To get lost like that again. Sometimes to feel the fire, you had to get burned. She swallowed. They were in her office, for goodness’ sake. The temptation made her catch her breath. So much temptation.
So wrong.
This time the fire would consume her. She just knew it. So she tugged her wrists free, scooting back and smoothing down her skirt. “Keep your hands off me.”
Shane sat back, desire flushing red across his high cheekbones. “Never.”
“Stop it, Shane.” She clutched her jacket shut over throbbing breasts. Needy breasts. There was something seriously wrong with her. “The police are looking for you. No way can you get me out of this building.”
His lip quirked. “You think I’m here to take you?”
Well, yeah. Her face warmed. Of course he was there for her. The man wanted her, didn’t he? Temper lifted its head. “I assume most stalkers try to take their prey at some point.”
His teeth flashed in a smile. “You’re my prey now?”
Oh, most killers on television had charm, too. “You’ve been watching me. Stalking me. Some of those pictures in your bungalow go back three and a half years.” Her voice rose on the last.
“Keep your voice down.” He rubbed his chin. “I can’t explain the pictures right now. There’s no logical reason for me to have stalked you, and you know it. I had you.” His eyes warmed. “I’ll have you again.”
Heat filled her body while confusion filled her mind. He was playing her, damn it. And like any victim, she was letting him. “Then where did the pictures come from?”
“I’ll find out, though my best guess is that I was watching you to keep you safe if somebody is after you.” He leaned forward, the rough stubble on his jaw making him look more than ever like a pirate searching for loot. “Now you need to trust yourself, Josie. Believe in your instincts, in whatever made you trust me in the first place. Give me a chance to figure this out, angel.” His eyes softened with the entreaty.
“Not a chance in hell.” The words came out weaker than she’d intended. Was Tom correct? Was she caught in some abusive vortex where she continued to trust when she should just flee?
“We’re family, angel. Have been since we said our vows.” Shane glanced at her ringless hand.
“Straight for the jugular, huh?” Typical of Shane to slice right to her heart. To the heart of a kid raised in foster care who’d prayed for a family. But she’d developed excellent instincts in that system, and she’d married the man with her eyes wide open. So that could only mean he was better than most predators—much better. She’d never even seen him coming until it was too late. Now was the time to be smart. “I’m not leaving with you.”
“I know.”
His easy acceptance bothered her more than it should. She bit her lip. “Why are you here?”
“There were seven bugs planted in your house, angel.”
What a complete jerk. “You planted seven bugs?”
“No. Three matched my equipment in the bungalow.” His gaze stayed steady and watchful on hers.
She frowned. “I don’t understand.”