I gave an incredulous glance down at his finger, still pressed into my chest. “Get that off me or I’ll knock it off.”
His brow arched in open dare. “Take your best shot, luv.”
You asked for it. My fist connected with his jaw. Bones ducked before I could land another one, green flashing out of his eyes.
“Is that all you’ve got? Not nearly good enough.” And he jabbed me in the chest again.
Oh, it’s on now, honey!
I grabbed his wrist and yanked, kicking his shin at the same time to throw him off balance. He was too quick, though, leaping over my sweeping leg and using my momentum against me. One light shove in the back had me sprawling into the couch. Liza let out a horrified bleat.
“Please, both of you, stop!”
I ignored her. So did Bones. My pulse sped up in anticipation as I got to my feet. The opportunity to blow off some steam with a full-fledged brawl sounded great to me. From the glittering green in his eyes, he was game, too.
But just to be certain…“Sure you want to play rough?” I asked, keeping my mind blank of my intentions.
His smile was smug, taunting, and sexy as he let me draw close. “Why not? I’m winning.”
I smiled back. Then I rammed my fist into his stomach. Take every cheap shot, Bones had taught me when he trained me years ago. Who said I didn’t pay attention?
But instead of doubling over like I’d expected, he flung me straight up over his shoulders. My body cracked against the ceiling, knocking the wind out of me. I had a split second to kick off the crown molding before he flew at me, and he hit empty space instead. I rolled when I hit the floor, knocking over the coffee room table in my scramble to get away.
He was on me in the next moment. A gloating smile met my gaze as Bones pressed his full weight down to hold me. The top of my robe had sagged open, leaving my bare breast rubbing against his shirt as I squirmed under him. He glanced down, tracing the inside of his lip with his tongue.
“Give up now?” he asked.
My heart hammered with excitement even as I wanted to smack the smirk off his face. He’d left my arms free, which was a mistake.
“Not yet.” I reached behind me and grabbed the first thing my hands made contact with. Then I heaved it over my head at him.
The marble coffee table split into large pieces when it crashed over Bones. It hit his head, dazing him, which I took advantage of. I’d wiggled out from under him and was about to crow over my victory—when I felt twin iron bands cut into my ankles. I tried to twist away, but he held on, shaking the table remnants from him. The only thing in reach was the pewter serving platter. I grabbed it and brandished it like a weapon.
“I’ll use this next!” I warned him.
Still gripping my ankles, Bones blinked up at me. I glanced around, seeing Liza in the far corner with her hand stuffed in her mouth, horrified. Hopscotch and Band-Aid lingered near the doorway, not knowing what to do.
All at once, I started to laugh.
Bones’s mouth twitched. Liza’s eyes bugged when he let out a chuckle. It grew even as mine did, until he let go of my ankles and we were laughing helplessly together.
Bones shook the marble remains from his head, still laughing. “Bloody hell, Kitten. Never thought to be flogged by my own furniture. Do you know I saw bloomin’ stars when that cracked over my nog?”
I knelt next to him, raking my fingers through his hair to get out the last of the table’s shards. His eyes were bright green, and the laughter caught in my throat when he yanked me closer and kissed me.
His mouth was hard, demanding a response. The adrenaline inside me changed to something else as I gripped him back with equal urgency. I had time to hear the door shut behind the hasty retreat of our three onlookers before his body flattened mine.
“We haven’t sparred together in quite a while,” Bones murmured as his mouth slid down my throat. “I’d forgotten how much I enjoy it.”
His hand caressed up my thigh without restriction, as I still had nothing on under the robe. A primal sound came from me when his fingers stroked between my legs.
“Seems you enjoyed it, too,” he whispered.
I tugged at his shirt, ignored the pieces of the table everywhere, and slid my legs around him.
“I need you.”
I wasn’t just talking about how much I wanted him. I’d hated the distance between us the past few days. Right now, I was desperate to feel close to him. To believe that everything would work out, no matter how crazy things got.
He pushed me back against the couch, yanking down his pants. I groaned at the deluge of sensations his first thrust caused, biting his shoulder to keep from shouting at how good it felt.
Bones pressed my head closer as he moved deeper inside me. “Harder,” he said with a moan.