Rough and Ready (More Than A Cowboy 2)

I looked her over, took in her prim work clothes, the way her hair fell forward to shield her face. “Do you really want him, Harper?”

She turned to me, narrowed her dark eyes. “You have no right.”

“If you really want to fuck Larry, I’ll go back and get him. Even apologize.” I paused, but she didn’t respond. “Do you want me to do that?”

She pursed her lips. “No.”

“You want to fuck?” I put a hand on my chest. “I’m right here.”

Her mouth fell open, and she looked at me in outrage. She didn’t need to use fists to take me down, just that glare.

“I don’t want to—”

“Then what were you doing with Larry?”

“I…I—” She looked away, knowing I’d caught her in her own lie. “Just leave me alone.”

She started to climb the stairs, but I grabbed her wrist before she made it far.

“Oh, no. You approached Larry for a reason.” I tugged her, so she turned and faced me. With her on the steps, she was a few inches taller than me. “Does he make you wet, princess?”

Her cheeks flushed, and she pulled against my hold. If Larry didn’t make her hot, then why did she go to him?

“I’m not answering that,” she snapped. Every line in her body was filled with tension. I had to assume she knew no self-defense, otherwise she’d have broken my nose by now or worse, kneed me in the nuts. I turned my hips a little though, just in case.

“Because the answer is no. You wanted to fuck him but weren’t interested.”

“What’s wrong with that?” she countered, clearly offended. “What’s wrong with a woman wanting a quick release?”

“Absolutely nothing.” The idea of seeing Harper come, hearing the sounds she’d make, made me hard. “You want to get off.”

When she just crossed her arms and stared down at me with that stern librarian look, I’d had enough.

I stepped up, leaned in and tossed her over my shoulder. I didn’t slow as I went up the stairs, even when she pummeled my back. I only set her down when we were in my apartment, door locked behind us.

I sat down in my overstuffed armchair, took her hand and pulled her to stand before me. The apartment was sparsely furnished. I didn’t need much. There were no knick-knacks from trips, no family photos. Yeah, my dad never let me stop the car for a selfie together after he robbed a convenience store. No framed prints on the walls. I didn’t bring women here, so there was no one to impress.

After a long day of training, I liked to sit in my chair in front of the TV, zone out or even ice something that needed it. While it wasn’t my bed, it was a close second. And having Harper stand before me… hell. Just having her in the apartment changed the feel of the place.

I didn’t release her hand but tugged her close, my knees parted, so she was right there. If I leaned forward, I could put my mouth on her breast.

She was pissed. Really pissed. Perhaps she knew she couldn’t win against a fighter. Perhaps she was just being patient and waiting for a moment to strike—or slip away. It was a smart move for an uneven fight, and I figured this was more her plan. But I wasn’t going to let that happen. She wasn’t going anywhere until I had this figured out. Until I had her figured out.

“I’ll get you off,” I promised. “Come closer.”

Giving her a tug, she gasped as she fell forward, her hand landing on my shoulder for balance. Her one knee settled on the outside of my thigh. Her skirt was narrow, so she hovered above me somewhat awkwardly.

“Reed,” she practically growled, trying to retreat.

My hands cupped her thighs just above her knees and slid the material of her skirt up until she could settle herself, straddling my legs. I was used to a willing woman on my lap. Harper resisted and cried out my name again, and it wasn’t in pleasure.

I studied her closely. I’d let her go if she was really freaked. Right now, she was just mad. I could handle that. I needed to know what was going on in that gorgeous head of hers. She was probably one of the smartest people I knew, yet she’d been ready to fuck Larry. It made no sense.

“I don’t want to have sex,” she told me, making it clear she was saying no. I saw the crease that formed in her brow, heard her angry tone. I still didn’t let her up.

“Oh? You wanted it downstairs. Is it me? I just don’t do it for you?” The sarcastic lilt to my voice didn’t go unnoticed.

A sigh escaped as she glared at me. “Just leave me alone.”