Page 28 of Her Rugged Guardian

“You’re a cocky son of a bitch. Aren’t you?”

“Guilty as charged.”

I was pulled into a dense fog, unable to take my eyes off him. He was doing the same. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“How am I looking at you?”

“As if you’re going to ravage me for hours.” I was caught in a surreal moment, fearful he’d say I was wrong. Terrified he’d say I was right.

His eyes were suddenly hooded, his nostrils flaring in a way that pulled at every synapse in my body. “Because that’s exactly what I’m going to do to you. And here’s the thing. You’re going to enjoy every second.”

I pressed my hand to my lips but there was no denying the moan or the throbbing between my legs.

“Now, answer the question, Cinnamon Girl. Do. You. Want. To. Try?”

I swallowed hard, my heart thudding so loudly I was certain the entire town could hear it and the answer was far too easy.

“Yes.”

The next few seconds were the longest of my life. Yet the moment he removed the glass from my hand, the same crackle of heat exploding down the length of my arm, there was no chance of avoiding or stopping the single, strangled whimper from leaving my mouth. I was certain my legs wouldn’t hold me any longer as he placed the glasses on the mantel. And as he took my hand, placing it against the scars on his chest, I issued a series of strangled breaths.

I couldn’t believe I was shaking, trembling to the point I could no longer feel my toes. This had to stop. I couldn’t do this. Not now. Not when I was just ready to get control of my life again, free from the constant fear and worry, the kind of anxiety that had almost driven me to seeing a psychiatrist in hopes of getting a prescription for mind altering yet legal drugs.

A laugh threatened to bubble to the surface, the inner voice inside my big head reminding me of the promise I’d made to myself. The thought was jarring enough that I was able to break the intense connection, taking two steps backward and away from his dark and demanding aura.

What I wasn’t expecting was for him to whip the towel from behind his head or for him to fling it around my neck, not hesitating for a second to drag me against his heated chest.

“Where do you think you’re going, Cinnamon Girl?” he asked as he lowered his head, his actions forcing me onto my toes.

I pressed my palm against him as I’d done before, only this time the sensations were completely different. “Jake. This isn’t a good idea. We’re not compatible. There are rules for this kind of thing.” Rules? Where in God’s name had that come from, some textbook?

“There’s only one way of finding out. And you should have figured out by now that I play by my own set of rules.”

The energy, the raw electricity coursing through us matched what was outside, so pure and white-hot that I couldn’t breathe any more than he could. He twisted the towel around my neck, forcing me even closer until I was on my tiptoes. As he fisted my hair, lifting my head, I accepted the fact I was now swooning utterly and completely.

He chose that moment to capture my mouth as he’d done before. Yet there was something entirely different, as if we’d both accepted that the desire coursing through us couldn’t be stopped until it was satisfied.

Only I was quite certain that after tonight, it never would be.

CHAPTER 9

Jake

Yes, I had every intention of devouring her, stripping away her armor as well as her tight clothing. I’d never wanted a woman the way I did Cassandra. Everything about her was beguiling from her quirky actions to her sultry yet cautious flirtations. It was obvious she’d been hurt before. I knew a thing or two about that. I also sensed her nerves even though she was doing everything possible to keep her sassy, rebellious attitude in rare form.

While that had initially frustrated the fuck out of me, now I found her defiance adorable. Too much so.

Dear God. She’d broken through a barrier that I was certain had been built with two feet of concrete. She was a virtual stranger with a killer body and an attitude to match her caustic mouth.

And I wanted nothing more than to explore every inch of her body, making good on the crazy promise I’d made to her.

The moment defied all logic.

Just as when I’d kissed her before. At least that had been spur of the moment and done partially out of anger. I’d wanted to put a stop to her caustic mouth, to show her that she wouldn’t be allowed to try to control me in any way.

I played with her, kissing her lips as I explored, toying with her in an entirely different manner than she’d done with me. The woman was a powerful aphrodisiac, shoving every boundary that shouldn’t be pushed. Not with me anyway.

After that single kiss I’d obviously lost my ever-fucking mind. Here I was, acting as if I’d laid claim to her. She was definitely a siren who’d called to me from the sea, tempting me with her raven hair and creamy white skin, her voluptuous figure and luscious lips.

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