Page 24 of Kane

My skin flushed. My pulse jumped like it had been waiting for him. And butterflies swirled in my stomach. Especially after that kiss.

I didn’t even know what to call this thing between us. It was too primal to be just an attraction.

I’d never felt anything like it before. Not even close.

I wasn’t supposed to crave the presence of the man who’d drugged and kidnapped me. To want his stories, his company, or his attention. And I definitely shouldn’t be dreaming about what would’ve happened if he hadn’t pulled away after kissing me the other morning.

But I did.

I couldn’t stop thinking about the feel of his mouth on mine. The scrape of his beard. The way his arms caged me in like he didn’t plan to let go.

I rubbed a hand over my face with a groan, wondering what was wrong with me.

Everything about this situation was messed up. But no matter how hard I tried to hold on to my anger, it slippedthrough my fingers every time Kane walked through that door and looked at me like I mattered.

In a way that made me question, again and again, what he’d really meant when he said I was his.

The door swung open and startled me from my thoughts. Kane stepped into the bedroom, wearing that same unreadable expression that never failed to make my pulse spike. His hair was still damp, which made me wonder where he’d been showering since I hadn’t seen him use the one in here.

He was dressed in worn jeans and a black tee that stretched across his chest in a way that should’ve been illegal. His club cut was over it, and he had black motorcycle boots on his feet.

“Figured it’s time you got a little freedom.”

I blinked. “Seriously?”

He nodded. “Don’t make me regret it.”

I sat up straighter, suspicious but intrigued. “Other than the obvious of not trying to get away, what does that mean?”

His eyes narrowed. “No flirting with my men to try to get information.”

“No worries there.” I shook my head with a snort. “It wouldn’t be worth the effort when it has no chance of working.”

“Not sure why you think that,” he murmured, his gaze sweeping over me.

Heat crept into my cheeks, but I ignored it as I slid off the bed. “What exactly does ‘a little freedom’ mean?”

“You can come out to the common room,” he said, holding the door open as he waited for me to pass. “Stick close to me.”

I followed him down a short hall and through a wide doorway into an open space. Pool tables lined one side, a dartboard hung on the other, and a bar—clearly hand-built from reclaimed lumber—stood straight ahead. Brown leather couches and chairs filled the space, while several flat screens played some kind of car race.

Three men were hanging out at the bar. Two were seated on stools, while the other leaned against the end of the counter with a beer in hand.

They all looked up when I walked in and went still.

Kane didn’t say a word, but I felt the shift in the air as their gaze flicked from me to him and back again.

The one who was standing grinned first. He had a beard a few shades darker than Kane’s and sharp eyes filled with a hint of mischief. “Nice to see my brother finally decided to share.”

“Edge,” Kane warned.

I laughed at their byplay, and the tension eased instantly. The other two—Axle and Nitro—introduced themselves.

“Want a beer?” Axle asked, nudging an open stool out with his foot.

“She’s twenty,” Kane cut in before I could answer.

Nitro snorted. “Since when do we play by the rules?”