Page 44 of Claim Me

Yet I should consider her off limits.

What the hell had I been thinking in fucking her? Was it the way she’d ignored me at first when I’d walked through the door? Was it the confrontation after recognizing her stalker? Or maybe theintensely passionate music she’d written with dark fantasies in mind.

I closed my eyes and leaned my head against the wooden headboard. The insanity of my cravings was ridiculous, but with her naked body wrapped around mine, my cock was in a painful state of discomfort and arousal.

The filthy thoughts lingered even though I’d tried to fill the void with rage. I should feel anger. At the detective for proving he’d been bought and sold. At Vladimir Popov who’d orchestrated some insane deal with Jameson Valentine, the patriarch of their little family prior to his death.

And for his murder as Charlie had indicated.

Or maybe I should simply be furious with myself I’d allowed my guard to fall. Either way, I couldn’t allow myself another night of sheer indulgence. Doing so could be at Marissa’s expense.

It was time to get to work starting with the flash drive while she remained asleep.

I pushed back the covers and gently eased her onto the pillow before planting my feet on the floor. Just before I stood, I heard her mewing once again and my cock twitched.

“Mmmm…” The moment she placed her hand on my back, I stiffened. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong,” I said, tipping my head over my shoulder in hopes she could read my lips.

“I don’t believe you. You’re tense.” She dared brush her fingers across my muscles. When she shifted, the sheets rustling, I lifted my head toward the ceiling. I’d considered myself someone withexcellent self-control, yet being around her seemed to leave me defenseless.

The heat of her body was too much for my resolve. I craved fucking her all over again. I fisted my mouth, willing myself to leave the room.

A sudden crack of thunder and she uttered a sharp cry. My reaction was instant. I twisted my body and pulled her even closer.

“Just a storm. I understand you get them frequently in Seattle.”

“Rain. Not necessarily storms.” She threw a look toward the window, tugging on the sheet as she did. When she lifted her head toward me, her eyes caught sight of the weapon. “Do you always carry a gun with you?”

“Not always.”

“You own a casino.”

“My family owns several.”

“So no bad guys playing blackjack?” Her face lit up briefly with a smile, but her eyes were still swollen from the tears. Even so, I couldn’t tear my gaze from her soft lips.

“A few bad actors. Nothing I can’t handle.”

“Why do I have the feeling you can handle almost anything?”

“I don’t know about that. Why don’t you get some sleep?”

Her sigh matched the one I’d let off earlier. Knowing what to say to her was difficult and she certainly had no understanding of who or what I was. Maybe I didn’t either. “The man you killed. He was going to take my life like he did with Charlie?”

I hadn’t wanted to tell her the truth, but I had a feeling she wouldn’t allow anything but honesty. “It appeared he was going to kidnap you. He had zip ties and a syringe full of muscular paralyzer.”

I’d expected shock, but she was calm, reserved in trying to learn the truths she needed. “Where was he taking me?”

That I wasn’t ready to share. The flash drive came first. “I don’t know, but I certainly had no intention of allowing anyone to take you away from me.”

“From you,” she repeated. Her upper lip curled.

Fuck me. “From your life. Your home. Your career.”

“Ah. Of course.”

I hated the tone of her voice, yet I could sense her continuing desire boiling within her. We were far too attracted to each other, which had already become a problem. “As I said. You need to get some sleep.”