I saw the moment when she gave in—her face softened, like the holding out had been what was out of character. It could be, for all I knew.
“I don’t have furniture. I stuffed what fit in the back of my SUV before I headed out of Texarkana and away from my ex.”
“I’ve got a truck. We can—”
“No, we can’t. A few pieces of furniture aren’t worth the hassle.” She turned away, running her hands through her hair.
The way she stood alone bothered me, so I circled my arms around her middle and drew her close. Her body stayed tense for a beat then she relaxed into me. Now this was the way it should be. A strawberry scent drifted up from her hair—of course it’d be strawberries, a happy scent.
Arms crossed, she turned to me. “Happy now?”
“Hell no. I’m not happy.” I struggled against the anger rising since I didn’t want her to stop talking. “You know we’d help you without a second thought.”
“I can take care of myself.” She bristled and walked to the door. “See you in the morning, boss.”
Now she was pissed. What had I said to bring out the anger? I was trying to help.
With her green eyes blazing with heat, she was sexier than ever. I just wanted to sweep her up and carry her to bed. We could work out the other shit tomorrow. But she was more than some random chick, she was my employee. My responsibility.
I crossed to the door, reached over her head and swung the damn door shut. It made a satisfying boom.
“No, not even close to done with you.” The time for games was over.
The minx pushed me, not that I moved. “What do you—”
That was it, the spitfire had tempted me one too many times. I restrained both her wrists above her head and claimed her mouth. She went lax in my hold, letting me control this kiss. No, I was wrong about that. She leaned forward and pushed into my mouth, taking as much as she gave. My cock hard, the punch of need hit me full center; if I didn’t back down now, we’d be fucking in seconds. With self-control I reached deep for, I stepped away from her hot lips.
“You and me—got something between us.” I strode across the room trying to control my breathing. “But I will sort this shit first.”
She stayed where I’d left her, wide-eyed and fuckable. I wanted to take her up on that offer. Hopefully she’d still be wanting me after we were done here.
“You got a man chasing you?”
“No.”
“The loser lay hands on you? He hurt you? Why you running?” I fired questions at her. Her face drew tight.
“You got a woman? What do you want from me? Why won’t you go?”
I could see she thought I wouldn’t answer, but I’m an open book, at least in those areas. “No woman. To fuck you, over and over.” I gave her the truth. “Give me answers and I’ll leave.” That should get her to spill. She kept insisting I go, not that I wanted to go, but I did want answers most, right now.
Her thoughts played quickly across her face. “I always run.” She met my gaze with defiance bright in her expression. “Yeah, Tony hurt me some but needed to control me more. When Jericho hired me, I packed my things while the jerk worked, and hauled ass before he hurt me worse. But I’m not something he’d track down.”
“Dammit.” I hated the cold way she talked about some man using her, hurting her. This Tony needed a lesson in manners.
“Do you need to hurt me?” She shook with emotion. “Control me?”
Rage shot through me. How could she think I’d do that? With a deep breath, I searched for some calm. “I want you. I want to do all sorts of wicked things to you in bed, but I never want, or need, to hurt you, or any woman. And control is overrated—I like my women wild.”
Her chest heaved and lips were parted, ready and willing, but I’d made a promise. I stood staring at her, just to pound home the point we wanted each other. I meant to just walk out the door, but my thumb traced her full bottom lip before I walked out. The next time I kissed her, I’d be buried deep inside her.
I walked around her and out the door, like I promised. That sucked.
* * *
I woke up the next day with a pounding headache, but then drinking with Jericho always resulted in a hangover. Even full of whiskey, neither my cock nor I could forget the green-eyed redhead who had refused to back down from me. She probably had no idea how rare that was, but even my MC brothers backed down when I wanted something. Not Red. Either she was crazy brave or plain crazy—didn’t much matter to me. Tonight, she’d be under me in bed—that wasn’t optional.
I left the clubhouse about noon to head out to my trailer and get changed for the day. I had a client at four and a woman to settle.