Page 4 of A Sinful Trap

Bailey had never bought into the pheromone thing, but now she had to wonder. Her body recognized his and wanted, without reason. “You feel nice.”

The words slipped out without her permission and she immediately wanted to slap herself.

Pull yourself together, woman! This is embarrassing.

“I mean I feel fine. I’m nice. I’m good.” She clasped hands in her lap to stop herself from touching his chest. “Now, is there something I can do for you?”

“Loaded question.” The rough pads of his fingers slid beneath the leg of her boxers and pressed into the bare flesh of her ass, branding her with his touch. “There was something, but you’ll need to give me a minute. You feel nice, too, and I’m distracted.”

“Take your time.”

Was this really happening?

Back when she wasn’t living like a nun, she’d usually required a drink and a minimal exchange of information and banter before she got to this point with anyone, male or female. Was she really ready to drag this complete stranger to her narrow, lumpy bed and keep him there for hours? Days?

Yes. Longer, if she could manage it.

His face blurred as his mouth moved closer and she was sure he was going to kiss her. Maybe the spider knew what it was doing after all. Or maybe she’d fallen from the attic and she was alone and unconscious, because things like this didn’t happen to her.

“What are we doing, Elsa?” His voice was low, his eyes mesmerizing. “And why do you smell so delicious?”

“Bailey,” she whispered right before his lips reached hers.

Everything stopped. Not time, or the earth—because he wasn’t kissing her—but everything else. Why wasn’t he kissing her?

He straightened, taking his lips even further away while she tried not to look disappointed. “What did you say?”

What had she said? “Bailey? That’s my name.”

“I thought it was Elsa.”

And he was upset that it wasn’t? She was confused. “I’m guessing you don’t watch a lot of Disney?”

He answered with a glare, so she assumed that was a no. The unforgiving expression shook her out of her lust-hypnosis and reminded her of her precarious situation. She was alone with a stranger. In her pajamas. She’d literally thrown herself at him and he’d almost kissed her, but she had no idea why he was here or how he’d gotten inside after she’d locked the door.

“Why are you here? Did you need a room for the night?”

“Why would I need a room?”

“This is an inn. Why else would you come here?” She gave him a little nudge with her elbow. “Are you going to set me down now?”

“You’re Bailey Wagner.” It was more accusation than question. And he still wasn’t letting her go.

“According to my driver’s license,” she said warily. She hadn’t told him her last name. “I thought we covered that already.”

“Ms. Wagner is the manager here. The one in charge of budgeting, marketing, hiring and concierge service. A one-woman juggernaut, according to the previous owner. I was expecting someone… But you’re…” He looked around the hallway, as if searching for the right word. “Naked.”

Well damn.

“And then the lumberjack knight opened his mouth, forcing the capable woman— who was only temporarily in distress—to beat him with the nearest heavy object she could find until he let her go. The end.” She hid her disillusionment by trying to wriggle out of his arms with as much grace as possible. It wasn’t working—on either count. “Seriously, you can put me down now. And I prefer innkeeper to manager. In addition, for the record, not actually naked.”

Her first instinct was on target. No matter how handsome he was or how devastating to her equilibrium, this man was an asshole.

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