Page 17 of Dark Lover

“I’m not leaving,” she said flippantly.

He thought about performing for her—again. But that wasn’t what his body was screaming for. He tightened his grasp on her, wedging her against a hall table.

“Don’t think it,” she murmured.

“I can’t think of anything else. Especially with yer body shackled to mine an’ quiverin’ so hotly.”

“You can’t think of anything else, whether we’re shackled together or not.”

He decided not to answer. Instead, he slid his hand down her hip.

She went still, inhaling. “Make a pass at your own risk.”

He smiled. It was hard to restrain himself. He wanted to put his hand between her thighs; he wanted to turn her around and bend her over the table and just do it, finally. She knew. And she wouldn’t object very much. Her words were sharp and caustic, but her tone was thick, those violet-blue eyes smoldering. He could feel her pulse slamming beneath her skin. He could feel her desire building; he could feel the urgency and need.

It almost matched his.

“Why are ye so strong, so brave?” He touched the bloody, crusting tatters of the jersey dress, her left breast brushing his hand, and felt her flinch.

“I’m a Slayer, Maclean.”

“Are ye ever afraid?”

She stared into his eyes. “Not for myself.”

For one moment, he forgot how much he hurt. Admiration swept through him, maybe for the first time. “Then who do ye fear for?”

She wet her lips. “My sister. Brie. Allie…”

Her breast was heavy on the back of his hand. He pressed upward. Her gasp had nothing to do with pain from the gash on her ribs. “How much does it hurt?” he whispered, sliding his hand over to cup her breast.

“What are you, a high-testosterone version of Florence Nightingale?”

He took her bodice in his hands and snapped it down below her breasts.

She inhaled.

His mouth became dry. Very slowly, he looked up into her eyes. “We can tend yer cuts, if ye really wish to, or ye can turn around and let me have ye on this table, from behind, the way I like it.”

Her grasp on his wrists tightened.

He shifted and pushed the weight of his entire arousal against her thigh. “Turn around, Sam.”

She looked down at what was between them. “As good as that looks and feels, no thanks.”

She would resist him still. He reluctantly looked past her bare breasts, her nipples taut, at the open, bleeding knife wound. She wasn’t immortal. She should take care of the cut. He looked up. “Are ye sure? Because I can pleasure ye right now…more than ye’ve ever been pleasured, Sam.”

“I’d rather pleasure myself.”

“Ouch,” he said, but he grinned. He was going to enjoy the hunt. Their gazes held, hers warm but fierce. His hands were positively itching, and he finally let go of her bodice. He knew he’d pay, but he cupped her bare breasts anyway.

Her single spike heel bore into his instep. He released her, cursing.

“Hands off,” she warned. She jerked the dress up.

“Maybe ye should have thought twice about handcuf-fin’ us together.”

“If you didn’t have the power to leap, I’d handcuff you to the wall,” she snapped. “No, to the bed—but alone. I’ll bet that would torture you.”