Blackwolf's Redemption

“Sienna,” he said sharply, “what the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“I can tell you what I’m not doing,” she said. “I am not letting you rape me.”

“Are we back to that? I have no intention of—”

“Get out of my way.”

“Sienna. Listen to me. You’re not making any sense. You’re not thinking straight.”

“I am. I am thinking very, very straight.”

“You’re trembling. Do you have any idea how dangerous—”

“How dangerous you are.” Her chin came up. Or it would have, if she wasn’t having so much difficulty not sinking to the floor. “Yes. I do.”

“Damn it, woman! It’s not me that’s dangerous!”

“Yes, you are. And I’m not going to sta-stand here and—and—”

But she wasn’t standing. She was sliding down the wall. Jesse got to her just in time—and took a weak but well-placed fist to the jaw by way of thanks. He grabbed her hands in one of his as he lifted her into his arms.

“Stop it!”

Her hands flailed at his face. Her sharp teeth sank into his biceps and he growled a warning, shifted position, hoisted her over his shoulder, sheet and all, and strode into the bedroom.

Now what?

Getting some light in here would change things, but only an octopus could hang on to a struggling female and turn on a lantern at the same time. If he put her down, she’d run again. Or grab something and slug him with it.

“Hold still,” he ordered. “Hold still or so help me, I’ll get a rope—a real rope—and tie you up.”

That did it. She went limp. He waited, counted silently to ten. Then he eased her off his shoulder, set her on her feet but kept her balled fists clasped in his hand.

“I want to talk. Just talk. You got that?”

She made a sound. A snort of derision. Another good sign. Some of that toughness was coming back.

“I have no interest in you sexually.” Okay, a lie, but a meaningless one. His hormones were interested but he certainly wasn’t. That made it easy to keep his tone cold. Almost clinical. “You’re not my type. And just so we get this straight…” His lips twitched. “I don’t generally have to force women into my bed. Got it?”

An endless silence. Then she nodded.

“Great.” Carefully, he let go of her hands. “Can we talk now?”

She swallowed dryly. Her face was turning pink.

“I’m—I’m naked.”

Her voice was low. He felt a twinge of sympathy—and a twinge of that damned hormonal lust. It made his response harsh.

“Next time I’m stuck with a woman who looks like a half-drowned cat, I’ll pass on trying to save her ass. Anything else?”

“I don’t know where I am.”

“My place. Blackwolf Ranch. I brought you here, remember?”

“That isn’t what I meant,” she said quickly. “I meant—I meant—”

She fell silent. Too late. He knew what she meant. That nonsense about the year. She didn’t know it, or she couldn’t remember it. Something like that.

That she was so completely confused mystified him. It had to be the after-effects of the lightning strike. He had a set of Grolier’s; he’d look it up in the encyclopedia once the power came back on. Reassure her. Reassure himself that she wasn’t—

“I’m fine now.”

His eyebrows rose. “Yeah?”

“Everything just, you know, clicked into place. It was the, uh, the cold. The rain. Shock. That can cause confusion. Right?”

Her lips curved into a smile. It was about as phony as anything he’d ever seen, but he decided to pretend he’d bought into it. It would make her easier to deal with.

“Good. I’m glad to hear it.”

“So, if you’d just give me something to wear—”

“I’ll get you something of mine. Sweats. They’ll swim on you but—”

“That’ll be fine.” She inhaled, let the breath out on a long whoosh. “And thank you. For all you’ve done.”

Her smile was real this time. He felt its impact, the softness of her voice, sink into him like a caress. Something twisted in his belly; it was a feeling he’d all but forgotten, a sense of connection that he’d thought he’d never feel again. He didn’t like it, didn’t need it, and the sooner she understood that, the better.

“I only did what I had to do,” he said coldly. Her smile died and he turned away from her, grabbed the Coleman lamp and lit it. Half the room filled with its welcome light.

“Okay,” he said briskly. “I’ll get the sweats. Once you’re dressed, head down the hall to the kitchen… What now?”