Page 34 of Ghost

Without much thought, he snapped the other cuff over his own wrist.

She blinked.“What are you doing?”

He didn’t have an answer.Not one that wasn’t dipped in lies.Because if he was being completely honest with himself, he wanted to eliminate the pain creasing her forehead.Whatever memory had upset her.

“Why’d you do that?”she pressed.

He sighed, clicked off the lamp, and walked to the bed, towing her next to him.He tossed back the covers and slid underneath while she stood motionless.“Because you escape faster than Houdini.”

He flipped onto his side, making her arm stretch across him.Moonlight streamed through the large windows in the doors leading to the balcony.He’d meant to buy better coverage for the glass than the sheer curtains.At least they allowed him to see right now.“Hurry up.”

She hissed with annoyance as she scampered over him.Her knee hit his calf and her elbow dug into his side and he grunted.If she cared she’d just about taken out his rib, she didn’t show it.

She flopped onto her back next to him.Her arm was draped over her abdomen, the cuff attached to her left hand and his right.

“You done?”His voice sounded sleepy and resigned.

She sent him a withering look.“I haven’t even gotten started.”She lifted her chained hand.“This isn’t going to work, by the way.You’re going to roll over and drag me on top of you.”

He closed his eyes, ready for her to stop talking.“Go to sleep.”

“Fine,” she said with a grumble, rolling to face the patio doors.The action pulled his arm over her waist.His fingers flexed on her belly.

She froze.

He clenched his muscles against the stirring inside him.A rush of awareness fell over the room.Her breath stilled and his came out hungrily.He balled his hand into a fist and pressed it into the mattress next to her abdomen.

All he wanted to do was slide his hand up her shirt, feel her satiny skin, and then dip his fingers below the too-large sweatpants she wore.

He did none of that because despite his dick’s lack of common sense, his brain still functioned.Mila might be feminine, sexy, and seductive in her mouthy, go-fuck-yourself way, but she was bad news.

Even though she smelled like flowers and sex and every bad decision he wanted to make.

***

Bright light beamedagainst Mila’s face.She fought the instinct to open her eyes.Fatigue hummed low in her ears.

Wait.That sound wasn’t coming from her.

She snapped open her eyes and saw the walls of a log cabin.Large patio doors with white curtains allowed sunlight into the room.Warmth poured over her back and thighs.A huge, thick hand was splayed on her skin just above her belly button.

Her heart rate picked up as she heard the sound once again.Ghost’s hot, even breath feathered over her neck.She tensed and took stock of the rest of her body.

The sweatpants and shirt still covered her, but aside from that, their bodies were glued together.Under normal circumstances, she’d slip out of bed and avoid waking him.Glancing down at her left hand, she caught the glistening metal encompassing her wrist—tying her to him.

She couldn’t run away.

Urgency filled her.Now that he’d slept, would he press her again about who’d hired her?Resume the torture-chamber practices?He sighed and pulled her closer, anchoring her ass to his very large, very hard groin.

Her nipples tightened and a thrill twinged between her legs.

“Not going to try to escape?”Ghost’s gruff voice broke the quiet.

She wiggled a few inches away from him.For a second, his arm held tight.Then he let her go but his palm stayed attached to her abdomen.She didn’t dare bring attention to the fact he was touching her so intimately.If he so much as hinted at moving his hand north or south she might just start grinding for more.

“Kinda hard to do that,” she said distractedly.

His fingers twitched on her skin.“True, but I’m surprised you didn’t try.Guess you liked being so close to me.”