Page 24 of Wanted
Her eyes went round, and her body heaved beneath him. “No,” she pleaded.
He was in no mood to compromise. The way her body was working beneath him, he had no doubt that she’d send her claws at his face if he let her go. He looped the restraint over one delicate wrist and clicked the handcuff into place.
“I’m innocent,” she cried out. “This isn’t right. You can’t do this.”
“Watch me.”
She began to struggle more violently, but he caught her under the armpits. He moved her on the bed so she was lying lengthwise instead of across it. Her gaze flashed toward the headboard when she saw his intent. “Don’t you dare.”
“It’s for your own good,” he said. “You need to settle down or one of us is going to get hurt, and I’ll be damned if it’s going to be you.”
He tugged her resisting body into position and looped the handcuffs around a spindle in the headboard. She fought him as he pulled her other wrist upward, but he easily locked the metal bracelet into place.
“No,” she said when she heard the click of metal against metal.
That one little sound signaled the end of her freedom.
She went a little wild underneath him, and Reno couldn’t help his reaction. He felt for her, but his body had other ideas. Letting go of her wrists, he pushed himself up onto his haunches so he was straddling her. “Take it easy.”
Her fiery blue gaze seared him.
Man, she was magnificent. Her blonde hair spilled across the dark bedspread, making the strands seem like sunshine. Her curves were swamped in an oversized white robe, but he knew what the terrycloth was hiding. She was the embodiment of pure, hot adrenaline.
She fought like a tigress, and a growl left her lips. She bucked her body, trying to dislodge him, but barely lifted him an inch. A hard smile crossed his face. Leaning down close to her, he whispered, “Gotcha.”
Dani closed her eyes as she felt the bitter taste of defeat. It settled in her chest, blocking out any hopes for her future. She wouldn’t be slipping out of his clutches this time. No, she’d just drawn a “Go Directly to Jail” card.
She cried out from the frustration. She was trapped. It didn’t matter how she twisted her wrists or pulled against the metal. He had her.
She opened her eyes and found him looking down at her. His dark brown eyes were deep and fathomless, but she detected a hint of some emotion… Sympathy? Did he feel sorry for her? “Please take them off.”
He let out a low laugh. “Not on your life.”
He shifted his weight, and all of a sudden, she became vividly aware of the hard bulge against the niche at the top of her legs.
“Now,” he said, “we talk.”
Talk?
She wiggled, trying to get her wrists loose, but stopped when he let out a low curse.
He gritted his teeth. “I’m not letting you loose until we straighten out this…thingbetween us.”
The thing between them had her full attention, but something in his tone made her look at his face. He was deadly serious.
“And yeah, that’s part of it.”
She lifted her chin. “You wouldn’t dare.”
She wouldn’t put much past him, but he had principles. He wouldn’t force her.
The question was, would he have to?
Slowly, he reached for the tie of her robe. “Wouldn’t I?”
She watched, her muscles tense, as he methodically undid the knot at her waist. There was nothing she could do when his fingers sank into the cushy lapel of her robe… and just sat there, the weight of his hand resting against her breast.
“Bastard,” she hissed.
