The Warlord Returns novel · Chapter 6 of 24

Chapter 6: One Bed

The guest room had a four-poster bed, a fire laid in the grate, and a lock that turned with a heavy click.

Jack shot the bolt.

Then he stood with his back against the door and his hands flat on the wood.

"You told them about the money," he said.

"You told me to be myself."

"I told you to be Jo Pinkett, the girl who likes me. Not to throw a knife across the table."

"It worked."

"It did." His voice was low. "You scared Wyatt. I watched him sweat."

I stood in the middle of the room in my work dress, my pulse still going from that kiss.

"You said not like this," I said.

"I did."

"What did you mean?"

"I meant I shouldn't touch you when I'm angry and grieving, and you're the only warm thing within a mile."

"I'm not asking you to be good."

His eyes closed.

When they opened, they weren't careful anymore.

He crossed the room in three steps.

His hand found the back of my neck, and he kissed me hard.

I pulled him down by his shirt.

He tasted like red wine and something dark underneath.

I made a sound I'd never heard from myself.

He backed me against the bedpost.

"Tell me to stop," he said against my mouth.

"No."

"Jo."

"No. Don't you dare stop."

He growled.

His hands went to the zipper at my back and dragged it down in one pull.

The dress slid off my shoulders and pooled around my feet.

He stepped back just far enough to look at me, in my plain cotton bra and underwear, and his breath came out rough.

"God, look at you."

I reached for his belt.

He caught both my wrists in one hand and pinned them over my head against the post.

"Mine to do," he said.

My heart slammed.

He kissed down my throat slowly while I strained against his grip.

He found the clasp of my bra with his free hand and snapped it open.

His mouth closed over my breast, hot and wet, and I arched off the bedpost with a gasp.

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