Even thieves like her had rules.
She took a step toward the framed piece, flexing her gloved fingers. When she was halfway across the room, the hair on the back of her neck stood up. A hushed footstep and a small shift in the air alerted her to the presence of another person.
Someone was watching her.
She tried to spin around as quickly as she could, but she was too late. Within seconds of her sensing another person in the room with her, she was pinned face-first against the wall. The arms that closed around her were strong and solid, yet the man’s grip was gentle.
Something slammed across her mouth, effectively cutting off her cry—and her breath, too. She kicked backward, desperate to strike out at her attacker in any way she could, but she didn’t hit anything. If anything, the arms encircling her squeezed tighter.
Jesus, who was this guy? The freaking Rock?
“Shh.” Her captor pressed his cheek against her temple, his hot breath washing over her ear. For some reason, her body responded to his touch. As if it knew him already. What. The. Hell? “Don’t move. I’m going to uncover your mouth, but if you make a sound, you’re done. Understand?”
Aaaand that explained her body’s reaction.
She knew that voice. She would know it anywhere. Jake Forsythe, the man she’d had a crush on all throughout her teenage years…and then some. What was he doing here? Was he up to his old ways?
No.
Last she’d heard, he was in Iraq fighting the war against terror. Right before he left, they had shared one glorious night together, where they’d been thisclose to sealing the deal, but something held him back. He’d left her naked on her bed, and they hadn’t spoken since.
She didn’t know he’d returned to the country, let alone Maine.
“If I let go, will you stay quiet?” he asked, his voice raspy. “Will you obey me?”
Obey him? That sounded oddly sexy coming from his lips. As if he was demanding she succumb to him in more ways than this. She shivered and nodded obediently, though she wanted to flee now more than ever.
He slowly lowered his hand, but didn’t release her. “Be a good girl…”
Carefully, she kept her head turned away, on the off chance he hadn’t seen her face yet. She licked her parched lips. “I’ll leave, and I won’t come back. I came into your house by accident. My mistake, sir.”
“Nice try, Tara.” He rested his chin on the top of her head. He was pressed so tightly against her that she could feel every inch of his body…even the parts she’d tried so hard to forget about. “I knew who you were before you stepped on that porch.”
She lowered her lids and took a shaky breath. Her traitorous heart sped when his arms flexed around her, and she’d swear he pushed his hips against her even though he hadn’t moved. “Can’t blame a girl for trying, can you? It’s been years since I last saw you.”
She refused to mention what they’d been doing the last time they’d seen each other. It was better left unsaid.
“I suppose it has been, but you’re pretty damn memorable. I mean, you’ve grown up and all…” He lifted his head off of hers, and she could sense him looking down at her. “But you still look the same to me. If I let go, will you behave yourself?”
“Do I ever?” she asked lightly.
“That doesn’t exactly make me want to let go of you,” he said without a trace of amusement in his voice. If anything, he sounded annoyed. “Will you be good, or not? What’s it gonna be?”
She didn’t move. “It’s been a while since I had a man pressing me up against a wall. I’m cool like this if you are. Feel free to move around a bit, too, if you’d like. Could be fun—for old times’ sake.”
Instead of the laugh she expected out of him, he sighed. Man, the Marines had stolen his sense of humor. A couple of tours probably did that to a guy. “I’m serious. Will you remain where you are?”
“Fine. I’ll be good,” she promised.
“All right.” He let go of her instantly, stepping back enough to allow her breathing room. “It’s been a while.”
“Yeah.” She closed her eyes for a second, steeling herself for the way she’d feel when they locked eyes once more. All grown up and ready to take on the world. “Too long. You should’ve called.”
Her whole body throbbed with excitement and desire now that he was back here with her—which wasn’t fair. Last time she’d seen him, before he’d made her come and run off before she’d been able to return the favor, he’d promised to write to her. She’d promised to behave. Turned out they sucked at keeping promises.