Page 20 of Untamed Sinner

I walk past him, careful not to let our bodies touch. But I feel the heat of him anyway, feel the pull of whatever this is between us.

I make it to the stairs before I hear his voice again.

"Mandy?"

I stop but don’t turn around. "What?"

"I don't make promises I can't keep."

I know what he's saying. He's not promising to keep his hands to himself. He's not promising this stays professional. He's not promising anything except that when this thing between us finally breaks—and it will break—neither of us is walking away unscathed.

"Just remember you started this," I toss over my shoulder. I scurry upstairs and lock myself in the guest room, my heart pounding and my body aching.

I need to buy a vibrator—the loudest vibrator I can find. We’ll see who begs first.

I drop my head against the door. Fuck, I hope it’s not me.

21

HENDRICKS

Ijerked off twice in the shower before coming downstairs, and now after less than ten minutes with her, I’m hard and need to take care of myself again.

This is going to be a long five days.

22

MANDY

Morning comes too early and not early enough.

I didn't sleep. I lay in the guest room, overheated, hyperaware of Hendricks moving through the house. Water running. Footsteps. The creak of floorboards. Every sound made my pulse kick up, made me think about him standing in that kitchen half-naked, water dripping down his chest.

By the time dawn breaks, I'm exhausted and wired and annoyed at myself for being both.

I dress in last night’s yoga pants and tank top and head downstairs with my computer and the notebook. Even if the thought of sitting next to him, sharing information, being in close proximity for extended periods makes my skin feel too tight.

He's already in the kitchen when I arrive, standing at the counter pouring himself coffee. He’s fully dressed this time, thank God. Dark jeans and black T-shirt that fits him like a second skin. His hair is still damp from the shower.

That’s it—I’m going online and buying a vibrator today.

"Morning, sunshine," I say with false cheer, setting my things on the kitchen table. "Ready to play detective?"

His eyes do a sweep of me from head to toe before they zero in on my face. "You sleep?"

"Like a baby.” One with colic. I open the cabinet that has cups in it and take one down. “You?"

"No."

The honesty catches me off guard. I was expecting at least some deflection. Instead, he just stands there, watching me over the rim of his mug with those cold gray eyes that see too much.

"Well," I say, helping myself to coffee. Because coffee alone isn’t going to cut it, I go into his pantry and select a chocolate iced donut with sprinkles from the box I picked up in town before I came here yesterday. "At least we're both exhausted and cranky. Should make for a productive day."

He doesn't smile. He doesn't react at all.

“Case in point.” Using my foot, I pull out a chair and sit at the table. I take a bite of my donut.

Before I can set it on the table, he slides a small plate toward me.