Page 59

Somehow, I manage to tear my eyes away from the magnificent sight that’s Rowan, naked in the shower.

I even cover my eyes with my hand, so I don’t accidentally look again, and focus on breathing through the desire that’s buzzing in my abdomen.

He’s a killer.

You have to get over your crush, and whatever you do, make sure you never look at him again when he’s showering.

The man gets paid to eliminate people. Or at least, that was his job before he retired.

Still, you’ve done stupid things before, but getting involved with a man who can kill four people in seconds is not going on your list.

The water turns off, and I listen as he gets out and moves around the bathroom. Once I think it’s safe to look, I lower my hand. My eyes go wide as they lock on his naked hip. For a nanosecond, I get a glimpse of something big.

“Oh Jesus!” I dart up off the toilet and rush to the nearest corner, covering my face with both hands. “For the love of God, please tell me when you’re fully clothed.”

Holy shitballs. He is huge!

Rowan chuckles, the sound deep and manly, and it has me glaring at the wall while my stomach erupts with butterflies.

“This isn’t funny,” I grumble, not liking the physical reactions I’m having toward Rowan.

Only then do I realize it’s the first time I’ve heard him chuckle.

Silence falls between us, and I do my best to keep the erotic images of his naked body from flitting through my mind, but I’m pretty sure I’ll never forget how incredible he looks.

Especially wet.

In an attempt to stop the desire and insane attraction dead in their tracks, I recall the night before. How quickly he moved. How he killed without mercy. How he dragged me out of the bar.

“Would you have killed Harlan and Miles if they’d tried to help me?” The question makes the bathroom sound hollow, as if all the life has been sucked out of it.

“Yes.”

No hesitation.

Not caring about disobeying him, I walk to the shower and grab the key. Unlocking the door, I yank it open and leave the bathroom.

“But that wouldn’t have happened because they care too much about you to risk your life,” he says as he follows me into the room. “And Miles knew better.”

“Still, you would’ve killed the two people who mean the most in the world to me. You just said so yourself!” I snap as I rip the covers back on the bed.

Rowan suddenly grabs hold of my shoulder and spins me toward him. His other hand wraps around the side of my neck, and he leans down until his face is too close to mine.

“I fought you every day for the past two and a half months,” he says, his voice filled with tension. “It was fucking maddening trying to suppress everything you made me feel. Then I gave up and accepted my fate. Do you know what that’s like for someone like me?”

“No.” My eyes burn into his. “Because you never let me in. You kept pushing me away. One day you would give me hope, only to rip it away again the next.” A sob bursts from me. “But none of that matters anymore.”

I jerk free from his hold and stumble back against the bedside table. The next instant, Rowan grabs hold of my hip, and I’m yanked flush with his body.

Our eyes lock again, then his head dips and his mouth crashes into mine.

In a moment of anger and weakness and God only knows what else, I lift up on my tiptoes, giving in to the kiss.

He dominates my mouth in such a way that my skin tingles, begging for his touch. An overwhelming need almost robs me of all rationality.

Sadly, I’m not the one who ends the kiss. Rowan is.

He takes a step back, his lips glistening while he sucks in deep breaths, his features dark with desire. It looks like he’s a second away from losing control and fucking me.