He pressed down harder—groin to groin.
Every hard line of his body was pressed against her, and wicked heat settled low in her abdomen. “You’re under arrest, asshole,” she ground out.
He levered up, nostrils flaring. “I don’t think so.”
“Assault and battery,” she gasped.
“That kiss was neither.” He spoke slowly, his grip loosening just enough to ease the bite. “When you kick a guy in the balls, expect to be taken down. The charges will never stick, and you know it.”
Well. When he put it like that. Apparently, the military had taught Volk decent moves. “Let me up.”
His eyebrows rose. “I like you here.”
For goodness sakes. They were on a public sidewalk outside a diner full of kids. While the street was quiet except for the whipping wind, somebody would be coming out soon. “Now.”
He gracefully stretched to his feet, pulling her with him until they stood. Stepping back, he released her wrists. “Stay away from Mandy, stay away from my family, and the next time you try to cuff me, you’ll be wearing silver.” His voice lowered along with his chin. “I’d like to see you restrained, sweetheart.”
Her heart beat hard enough to hurt. “Like Ruby?”
Temper flared hot and bright in his eyes. “You like to push, don’t you?”
“Yes.” This time,sheclosed the distance between them. “And I won’t stop until I know what happened to that poor woman.”
“Don’t make me stop you, Mia.” His unexpected plea was as surprising as the quick flash of vulnerability crossing his expression.
“Were the cuffs yours, Seth?” She reached out to finger the zipper on his jacket. Two could play at his game.
“No. But if you want cuffs, I’ll get some.” He captured her hand. “Don’t touch unless you mean it, darlin’.”
She ignored the sudden warm comfort of his hand cradling hers. “Where would you get silver handcuffs? At the mine?”
“Yes.” He lifted an eyebrow. “You want a tour?”
“Yes.”
“Now?”
She freed her hand and stuck it into her blazer pocket. “No. In the daytime.”
“Tomorrow, then.”
“Friday.” She pivoted and dodged into the street for her cuffs. Plunking them into her back pocket, she headed toward her car at the sheriff’s station. “I’m busy tomorrow.”
“Doing what?” Seth called after her.
With a shrug, she kept walking. Her back heated from what had to be his gaze.
But she didn’t turn around.
Mia drove home,her mind spinning from the confrontation with Seth. So he liked to cuff women, huh? Or was he just messing with her? His easy strength in defending himself had shot wild butterflies into her abdomen, and she so didn’t want to be impressed by him. But she was. Once again, she’d ended up aroused after a tousle with him.
Maybe she was losing her mind. After the year she’d just had, it was entirely possible.
She parked and eased into the cabin, stopping short at seeing the women watching a black and white movie on the couch. The scent of popcorn hung comfortably in the air. “What are you two doing still up?”
Dotty snorted and decreased the volume. “What is she, our mother?”
Gena chuckled. “She’s not drunk enough to be our mother.”
