Holding it flat on his palm, he offered it to me. “Take it.”
I backed up instead. “I’m good. Thanks.”
He exhaled, slow and frustrated. “I said,take it.”
“Why?”
“Because I told you to.”
“But...” I swallowed hard as my anxiety ramped up. “You’ve already shown me where the best places are to strike someone. That’s enough.”
His hand shook a little, offering up the dagger. “Once is not enough. I doubt you’ve obeyed me and practiced so...you’re practicing. Right now.”
“But—”
He shot forward, grabbed my wrist, and slapped the wooden hilt into my grip. His large, hot hand wrapped around mine, folding my fingers tight around it, not letting go.
His closeness, his harshness—it made the air spark and blood burn.
I shivered, unable to hide my reaction.
“Stop shaking,” he growled, his voice slipping beneath the black dress I’d borrowed from Evelyn’s wardrobe.
Goosebumps shot down my spine because apparently, I was crazy and infected with need I could no longer control.
Trying to get free, I forced a laugh. “I get it. I get it. I know how to hold a knife.”
His jaw clenched as he held me tighter.
I held my breath,needinghim to let me go before I did something stupid.
With a soft groan, he moved before I could react.
His other hand landed on my hipbone, pivoting me and yanking me back so my spine slammed to his front. The spin left the world lopsided—his body steadying mine as firmly as a brick wall.
Lydia flashed into my head.
This was how he’d grabbed her yesterday. How he’d held her as he killed her.
“W-Wait—” I strained in his hold as his arm snaked around my middle, jerking me harder against him, ensuring I felt every inch of him. Every powerful, masculine, hard as rock inch.
I went absolutely still.
He...wasaffected.
Same as me.
I wasn’t alone in this madness.
Wasn’t drowning in a sea of need alone.
His chest moved against my back, his nose dropping to nuzzle my hair, and his hips...they twitched against my lower back, pressing unmistakable arousal against me.
My heart went berserk.
My pulse drenched my sensitive system with nervousness and need and pain.
I needed to run.
