Page 24 of Unburied

Her initial relief turned to fury, and she spun to face him, already swinging. “You jerk!”

She got three good hits to his chest before he grabbed her wrists and shoved her backward, pinning her to the wall. She jabbed upward with her knee, but he dodged it. “Watch it!”

That served only to infuriate her further, and she kicked out at him. “Are you kidding me right now?”

Mason leaned into her, using all of his weight to keep her still. She could feel his golden gaze boring into her even in the dark. “You done yet?”

“Hell no, I’m not done!” she shrieked. “I swear to God, I⁠—”

Her next words were stolen as his weight lifted off of her and he moved quicker than lightning. Adjusting his grip on her wrists, Mason spun her around once more until she was wrapped in his embrace, his thick arms securing her in place. “You think I was going to let you go without a fight?”

He wanted a fight? Well, she was about to give him one. “You broke into my house!” She stomped on his foot, eliciting another low growl from him. “You scared the life out of me!”

His grip tightened infinitesimally, then loosened. “I know, babe. I’m sorry.”

He released her, and she whirled to face him. “What were you thinking?”

Citrine eyes glowed like a cat’s in the dim light. “I had to see you.”

Incredulousness rendered her speechless for a second. “So you broke into my house and waited for me in the dark like a crazy person? What is wrong with you?” When he failed to answer, she smacked his chest once more. “Answer me! What if I had company over?”

At that, Mason took a step forward. “I don’t want you seeing him.”

I’m sorry, what? “You don’t get to tell me what to do.” She shoved at him, but he didn’t budge an inch.

He peered down at her, his face only inches from hers. “Did you kiss him?”

Her mouth dropped open at the jealousy tingeing his tone. “What do you care?”

One hand settled on the curve of her waist, and his thumb stroked over her stomach. “Because I want you. I thought I made that crystal clear.”

“Too bad. You had your chance,” she spat. “I’ll go out with whoever I want.”

His fingers curled into her flesh where he held her. “Over my dead body.”

She let out a half laugh. “You and your stupid rules. You’re so worried about another guy kissing me, but you won’t do it yourself.” She stared at him. “Isn’t that right? You wouldn’t kiss me that night at the hotel. Well, do it now. You want me that bad? Prove it.”

He hesitated, a muscle ticking in his jaw. For a second, she thought he would do it—she’d hoped he would. Silence spread between them, and the hot flush of humiliation rose over her body.

“That’s what I thought.”

Tears pricked her eyes as she pulled back a step, her heart crumbling to dust in her chest.

CHAPTER

FOURTEEN

She was right; he hadn’t kissed her. He couldn’t.

He hadn’t kissed a woman in ten years, but this tiny little spitfire tempted him to break his most steadfast rule. Kisses spoke of intimacy and passion, and he was terrified that her kiss would tear him apart.

She was funny, smart, and he loved that wicked sense of humor. If he let her kiss him, if he really let her in, he had a feeling it would be the end of the world as he knew it. It wouldn’t just be another soulless encounter with Vivi, and he wasn’t sure he was ready for the change that might bring.

But his window of opportunity rapidly narrowed as her eyes filled with hurt and she turned away. Without conscious thought, his hand shot out and grasped the back of her neck. Her gaze snapped with fire as he spun her back to him, and her mouth parted to let loose the string of oaths he knew hovered on her tongue.

If he did this, if he kissed her, everything would change; he would never be the same. His gaze dropped to those perfect lips, and he knew then he had a split second to make a decision. Stay or go? Give every piece of himself to her or walk away forever?

The realization that he might never feel her next to him again cut through him like a knife, and he couldn’t bear the thought. Eyes fixed on her lips, he dipped his head and accepted his fate.