Summon Toren(34)

She needed to keep her distance. Stupid female parts just had to decide to start working full throttle in a crisis. Hell, no doubt that’s why they were, she was desperate and her levels were all whacky. “Thank you.” She regretted the barking tone but she didn’t know how else to hide the embarrassing truth.

The last thing she needed was falling for a guy that was way way way out of her league. Hell, if she thought Joe’s rejection had hurt, she could only imagine what being rejected by Toren would feel like once she let herself fall.

She’d need a nuthouse instead of a convent to save her ass. Someplace they could perform a lobotomy and wipe it out of her mind. But a man like him…Jesus, he had the power to mark a woman soul deep.

Sam was suddenly at a weird loss for words while standing there in the hallway feeling so many things, but especially like she owed the man something more than her damn sarcasm. “Come here.”

She walked ahead to the bathroom and looked back to ensure he followed, bristling at herself for the crass command like he was some subservient dog. Hell she didn’t talk to animals in the tone she used with him.

He followed with a slight smile and she wondered what was going through that beautiful hairless head of his. She opened the bathroom door and turned on the light, then got the stool from next to the tub and set it in front of the mirror. “You missed a few spots.” She cleared her throat a little trying to soften her voice. “If you don’t mind…I’d like to get them for you.”

She fought to hold his gaze and not get all dizzy. Such beautiful eyes. Eyes that bore into hers without hesitation or inhibition. Bold and demanding. Devouring even. She released a breath when he broke eye contact but then he removed his shirt in one move. Lordy help her.

Now she didn’t know where to look. Not meeting his gaze meant staring at his chest. Damn she’d never been so torn. His gaze, meet his gaze.

When she did, she forgot what the hell she was supposed to be doing. She closed her eyes, focusing.

“You okay?” Deep voice. Small space. Intimate as hell.

“I’m fine.” Still not looking. “Just um. Thinking. Sit. Please.”

“Yes ma'am.”

Sam found herself staring at the back of his perfect head feeling like she was about to jump off a bridge. She finally had the sense to get the razor. “Can’t have you halfass shaving your head now can I?”

“No ma'am.” His tone vibrated through her.

“Whooowee, hot in this little box, told them they needed to put a damn window.” She stroked his scalp looking for those missed spots she’d seen. No sooner had her fingers touched his head than she got lost in the feel of him. So soft. Wow. She turned on the hot water and stood to his right then slowly ran the razor over his head. She methodically repeated the steps in a pattern to make sure she got every spot, pretending his head was just another animal she was shearing.

Finally done, she wet her hands and passed them over his head to make sure she got it all. He made a sound that resembled maybe a moan or a pained grunt and her fingers slowed. “Irritating?”

“Hell no.”

Her heart skipped several beats then raced to catch up. He turned his head and looked up at her. She realized she had no legitimate reason to still be touching him and removed her hands from his head. He reached for one of her hands and before she realized what he was doing, he rubbed her palm across his chest. Drying it. She couldn’t take her eyes from his as he slid it slowly over his hard muscles. Hot muscles. She couldn’t keep from pressing her fingers either, to feel him. Immaculate. Very nice for touching. And hell, tasting.

He stood up and she was suddenly swallowed by his towering frame. He was dangerous in so many ways. Especially those eyes right in that second. Hooded with…sex appeal.

“Thank you.”

She blinked several times at his strange words. “Thank you?” Whatever for? For touching him? Liking him? Wanting him? Wanting him to kiss her? In that very second? She wondered if he could read her mind with the way he suddenly stared at her mouth, contemplating. She licked her lips, oh my God, why did she do that? To entice? Yes, definitely.

It worked.

He slowly lowered his head, his brows drawn, her mouth seeming to be his aim. She parted her lips, waiting for it. To be kissed. She closed her eyes and then opened them when his warm breath hit her lips. His brows were drawn hard, like something hurt.

Worried he’d not do it, she reached up and stroked her fingers across his face. Then tip-toed and closed the distance, pressing her lips into his full soft ones.

A guttural sound filled his throat. “Samantha.” He gasped her name then captured her jaw and neck in one large hand and plundered the hell out of her mouth with his skillful tongue. Sam inhaled as he boldly invaded her, telling just what he wanted from her. All and everything, right in that second.