Chapter 13
My hackles rise as I push up from the table, taking the mostly-empty plate that held my breakfast to the sink.
“Don’t be like Caleb. He made decisions to keep things from me, and I don’t like it.
I deserve to know about things that affect me.
I’m a grown woman who gets to make decisions about my life. ”
Diesel grumbles something and grabs my arm, spinning me toward him, forcing me to look at him. “We’re trying to keep you safe, River.”
“Let me decide what safe means.” I glance down at his scarred, battle-tested hand which is latched around my bicep. “Right now, safe means you not touching me until you’re ready to treat me like an equal.”
Diesel’s gaze narrows, his fingers tightening on my arm. Not painful, just enough to make me feel that touch all the way to my marrow.
“You think I don’t see you as an equal?”
“I think if you did, you wouldn’t dodge the question.”
I twist free, but he doesn’t let me get far. His hand catches me again, this time pulling me in until I’m an inch away from his chest and his gigantic frame fills my vision.
“Why did you do that?” I ask, annoyed—and far too aware of how close he is.
“Because I wanted to.”
That honesty knocks the breath out of me more than the grip ever could.
I scoff, pinching his side. “You’re just trying to distract me.”
Diesel’s mouth curves, the grin slow and unapologetic. “I won’t deny it.”
When I look away, his hand slides beneath the hem of my shirt, fingertips tracing my spine, climbing up my vertebrae, short circuiting me.
“I like seeing you in my clothes,” he murmurs. “Especially across the table first thing in the morning.”
I should push him away. Instead, I stay even though it’s easy to see right through his methods. “You’re really going for broke on this distraction thing, aren’t you?”
“No,” he says, leaning in, dropping his voice to a whisper next to my ear, “If I was going for broke, I’d do this…”
Oh no.
There’s only a heartbeat to brace before his arm scoops under my butt and he yanks me up his body. Scraping my puckered nipples against his pecs, my pelvis against his zipper as he positions us eye to eye, mouth to mouth.
God, he plays dirty.
The instant his other hand spears into my hair, grip tight at my nape, I know this is a losing battle.
I don’t want to fight it any more.
He’s going to kiss my brain right out of me. I’m going to let him.
Diesel doesn’t hide his hunger as he drags me forward that last inch.
He opens me with a rough sweep of tongue, claiming the inside of my mouth and tightening his hands on me. Those hard, long fingers bite into me with his strength, causing my muscles to go loose.
I groan. The sound is low and involuntary as my body trembles, while I let the former SEAL devour me.
Woman down. I need back up.
He’s breathing erratically, molding me to every inch of his body. Powerful hands, hungry mouth, throaty male sounds.
It’s inevitable. Whatever this is between us feels as if it is written in stone already.
“Diesel,” I drag my mouth away, licking at the tingles on my mouth the crushing kiss left behind. “You’re the devil.”
He rumbles with a quick laugh.
“I won’t argue with that.” Shifting me against him, he grinds me in a tight swivel, shoving the thick ridge of his erection tight against my clit. “Wanna take a ride on my pitchfork?”
I shouldn’t laugh, but I do, because at this point he could call his cock a light saber and I’d probably agree.
I’m really going to do this.
As terrible and irrational as this idea is, I’m going to have reckless sex in a safe house with a man who was paid to stalk me.
Hours ago I was living my life.
Then Diesel Drake happened.
Dammit. I wish I really hated that more.
But he sets me away from him, a look of regret on his face. “Too bad we have somewhere to be.”