He knew what he preferred, but he’d settle for what he could get.
“You are utterly insane. You can't stay here just because you want to.”
“Watch me. Going to throw me out yourself? Let’s do it. But the instant you get your hands on me—all bets are off.”
47
Madison just lookedup at him. The man was beyond insane—no, he’d totally gone off the deep end here. “No. No way.”
She could not havehimof all men here. Just not him.
Her apartment was her home turf. Her only real safe spot away from him. From the TSP in general. She needed that space, more than anything. Otherwise, she was sure she’d eventually go mad.Mad Mads,that was what they’d call her then. Done in by Dom, of course. He was her own personal albatross and everything.
There was no way she wanted him here, invading. But how to remove him—no, she had no real working ideas here. For one thing—she could call the TSP, but…who knew who would respond.
Her luck, it would be Murdoch Lake—and the jokes would never stop.
“Yes, way. Until we find out who exactly is behind all of this, I am not letting you out of my sight.” Dom almost dwarfed her entire apartment. His shoulders were wide enough to almost touch the frame of the door he was blocking. She was feelinga little like a captive maiden here. “Gunnar took his eyes off of Powell. Look what happened.”
“We’re not Powell and Gunnar, though. They are in love, having a baby and planning a major wedding. That will never beus.” Powell had somehow walked right into the OPJ ring on her own. Gunnar had been trying to stop the ones responsible. Now they knew who had been responsible for those drugs, and Powell and Gunnar were going to be together forever. “It was just a seriously bad coincidence that she was involved at all. Just because she was buying houses and everything. And…there are a lot of scientists out there. How do you know it’s me?”
“I justdo.”
Madison wasn’t so sure she believed that. Although…she fell more in the everything wasconnectedcamp like Jarrod. That was terrifying really. When she thought about it. The idea that he wasthere,close, and ready to keep her safe—did it make her a wimp to admit that kind of helped a little? “You are not staying here.”
“Wanna bet?”
Hard hands went around her waist and Madison was just…lifted right off her feet. She squealed. “What are you doing?”
“If I do not stay here, then you are going back to my place with me. You are just going to have to get used to it. I am not going anywhere. I will keep you safe. Period.” His arm hooked around her waist, and she ended up pressed against him in ways Madison was not about to let herself think about. “I am not letting you out of my sight. Get used to it.”
Well, she had to do what she had to do. What would her friends say if she just let him have his way here? She was a woman of pride, after all.
Madison kicked him. Not hard. Not really.
Itshouldhave made him drop her. But Dom was stubborn. The stubbornest man she had ever met. He just tightenedhis arms around her, until Madison was pressed against him completely. If they’d been naked, they’d already be doing things they shouldn’t. She couldfeelthe muscles of his chest against her. And it made the fingers extra-tingly now.
“Let me go.”
“You going to be reasonable?” He just glowered down at her. Dom was exceptionally good at glowering. Vince insisted his son had inherited that little trait from his mother. Madison believed it, Vince was usually a calm, affable guy. Not so much this younger version.
“I am always reasonable. You are the lunatic.” Madison wiggled, then froze.Thathad not been a smart thing to do. Considering. She wasn’t even wearing a bra right now. Pressing against the man…no. This was beyond insane here.
This way lay massive danger and her mama had raised her to play life safe and everything. This man…nope. Not going to happen.
Though, at the moment, she really couldn’t recallwhyit couldn’t happen. He felt…perfect against her and everything. Very tempting and tingle-inducing.
He growled. The man really was part animal. “Don’t do that.”
She knew her reasons for that. She had never figured out his, though. Not once had he ever evensaidanything about it. Having him around had made it a bit difficult for her to date other men. Every time one at the TSP had asked her out—Dom had somehow chased him off. Until now…the men just didn’t bother asking.
Talk about irritating.
It was all his doing.
Not that she was really in the market for a guy right now. She just wasn’t.
Men were far too complicated. “Put me down, Dominic. Now.”
