“I didn’t—”
I hold my hand up, cutting her words off. “But seriously… I was the stupid one for even falling for you in the first place.”
Tears spring into her blue eyes. I whip away from the sight of them, stomping out of her office. God, I was a fucking fool and apparently still am, because even though I’m beyond pissed right now, my greatest instinct is to pull her into my arms and tell her all is forgiven.
But I don’t because that’s not who I am anymore.
I stalk through the entire house, making sure all doors are locked and secure. I double-check the alarm and make sure my gun is loaded. I don’t expect any trouble tonight, but anything is possible. I’ll be ready just in case.CHAPTER 10JoslynThe glide of something along my neck causes me to awaken. For a moment, I’m confused. I don’t feel hands tightening around my throat, and I’m not being pinned down. Caught somewhere between a dream and reality, I feel the rough fingertips move to my jaw, which causes a tremor to shoot up my spine.
His voice feathers over me in a low whisper, recognizable and safe. “Shouldn’t have shown me that file, Jos.”
Not my stalker.
Kynan.
My eyes pop open. There’s enough moonlight I can see him bending over me. His fingers grip my jaw, and his words are harsh, “I was better off not knowing the truth.”
I bring my hand to his, not to try to pull away, but to press him to me. “I swear I didn’t know that stuff was fake. You’re right… I was so stupid.”
“Not stupid,” he chastises me gruffly. “Young and easily misled.”
“Why would she do that?” I cry out in frustration. “I hate—”
He responds by moving his hand to cover my mouth, cutting my rage against my mother off. “Don’t want to talk about her.”
I tilt my head, wondering if he can see the question in my eyes through the gloom of the night. Why wouldn’t he want to talk about her? She screwed us both over. Took something that was magical and true, and ripped it all apart.
“Would rather see if you’re wearing the same outfit you had on in Pittsburgh,” Kynan murmurs, and it takes me a moment to process. His hand stays over my mouth, but the other moves to the sheet and comforter I’d pulled up to my shoulders.
The air hits my bare skin, but it’s the knowledge he wants to see my body that has my nipples puckering tight. The blankets moving over them actually irritates—in the best of ways—and they’re popping against the soft cotton of my camisole top. Not the same one as Pittsburgh, but similar. It’s actually a nightie rather than a shirt and shorts set. My eyes have adjusted to the dark, and there’s just enough moonlight to see Kynan watching the trail of the sheet as it reveals my body to him.
When I start to pant, Kynan twists to see me, his lips set in a hard line. “Going to fuck you tonight, Jos. And don’t even think to deny me the pleasure.”
My breath comes out in a heavy rush through my nose, and Kynan slides his hand free from my mouth. He leans over, his lips hovering just over mine as he warns me, “In fact, your next words had better be ‘Kiss me, Kynan’ or there’s going to be hell to pay.”
I can’t help it. A strange giggle of relief and yearning bubbles out of me, and I’m smiling when I say, “Kiss me, Kynan.”
His teeth flash white, his eyes feral and hot. I expect his mouth to crash down on mine. Instead, it goes to my neck where his teeth graze over my skin.
Immediately, I know things are different. Twelve years ago… just a mere nineteen years old…I really didn’t know much about sex. Kynan was only my second, and he taught me so much. But he was sweet and gentle with me, patiently guiding and urging and whispering lovely words.
I know instantly the Kynan McGrath I’d known is gone. That whatever has happened to him in the last twelve years has changed him. He is not a sweet and gentle lover anymore. That knowledge excites me like nothing ever has, and I can feel wetness seeping into my panties.
Kynan scrapes his teeth along my throat, all the way to the center of my chest where he presses a kiss. His hands press into the mattress by my ribs, then he’s biting my nipple through my cotton nightie.
Crying out, I clamp my hands onto his head—not to push him away, but to pull him tighter. Definitely tighter. He sucks hard, wetting the hard nub through the fabric and causing my hips to buck upward.
I try to pull him up, make him kiss me on the mouth, but then his body is on top of mine. Heavy and safe. My legs part, wanting him to settle his hard, thick length right up against my core.