All right. He was definitely pissed. She licked her lips, gratified when his eyes flared even more. “I didn’t want to wake you.” Plus, she’d known she now had electricity, thanks to him.
His jaw clenched tight as if he were trying really hard to hold onto his temper.
Fascinating. She watched him, realizing belatedly that she wasn’t afraid of him in the slightest. But she knew not to grin. Right now, anyway. “Ace.”
He slowly drew off his leather jacket and tossed it to a hook near the door. The jacket, predicably, hung in place. “There is a killer wandering Knife’s Edge who murdered a blonde woman much like yourself. There is another killer that hunts and rips out eyeballs in the mountains of this state that even my brother Christian can’t find. Finally, you have an asshole of an ex in town who came here specifically to find you.”
Well, that was all true. “It isn’t even dark outside,” she said lamely.
“Even so, it’s the middle of the night,” he returned evenly. Way too evenly.
Her mind scrambled. “You didn’t ask about the baby.”
“I already know about the baby because I went by the hospital after making sure Amka got home all right,” he lumbered. “Found out that the baby is just fine at nine pounds, three ounces. What I didn’t find at the hospital as expected, was your very cute ass.”
Well. All right. “I figured it was too late to call you.” Truth be told, she’d been so tired that she hadn’t given it much thought.
“You said you’d call me.”
That was true. Even so, whatever. “I’m sorry, but if you think giving me a generator—one I still plan to pay for—and taking me on one date gives you the right to order me around, you’ve lost your ever-loving mind.”
He changed. Slightly. Just enough. A warm swell of heat rolled toward her, spiking her senses into full awareness. “I don’t give a shit about a generator.” He moved toward her like an angry bear stalking its prey for the night.
Her knees wobbled and she planted her feet. “I do.”
“Too bad.” He reached her, and warmth instantly cascaded across her front. “It might’ve been one date, but the night before meant something. You cried out my name. Several times.” His hand tangled in her hair and drew her head back with enough bite to spiral electricity down her entire back. “Tell me you get me.”
This was new.
Even her breath heated. She stared at him, not quite sure what she’d unleashed. The edge had always been there, but he’d camouflaged it under humor and plenty of alcohol. She’d bet her bottom dollar Ace was stone cold sober right now. “This is silly,” she mumbled, not quite able to enunciate her words. Need and want clashed inside her in a completely inappropriate reaction to his sudden hint of dominance.
But was it sudden? Ace had never hidden his true self from her. She just hadn’t looked closely until now. “You’re overreacting.” Yeah, she was pushing. Maybe just a bit.
His chin dropped, and that was the only warning before his mouth was on hers.
Hard and fast, no gentleness. Just pure, unchecked male. Ace Osprey in full force.
He kissed her with one hand fisted in her hair and the other gripping her hip, pulling her against solid muscle. Her eyelids closed and she kissed him back, unable to do anything else. Didn’t even consider stopping. Fire lashed through her, awakening every nerve, sharpening her nipples. Her breasts ached against his hard chest. The kiss was fierce with a hint of punishment.
His thumb pressed into her jaw and she opened her mouth, allowing his tongue to sweep inside. He tasted like mint and good coffee. No alcohol. The hand at her hip grasped her sweater and tugged it up. He released her mouth, for a second, to free her.
Then his lips took control again.
The world tilted, and she was somehow in his arms, moving through her small home. Still, he kissed her, pouring fire inside her.
He shifted and planted her on her bed, and she had a fleeting thought she was glad she’d made it earlier the day before. Still working her mouth, shoving all other thoughts out of her head, he pulled down her scrubs and panties.
Had she ever needed somebody like this? No.
Her bra went flying across the room.
He wrenched his mouth free and pushed her back. Gasping, she fell, her head hitting the bedspread just before her shoulders. He wasn’t gentle as he pushed her thighs wide with his thick shoulders, and then his mouth really found her.
God, his mouth was inferno hot. She looked up at the darkened ceiling, since her blackout blinds were covering her windows. Warning bells clanged in the back of her head, but it was too late for caution.
His tongue was rough.
Harsh.
