“Nope.” He could hold her all night, even though the bruise on his chest was making itself known. “I’ve learned you like to run instead of talk, so we’re staying right here until you talk to me.” He was fairly comfortable, truth be told. Her ass was a handful, and he finally had his palms right where he wanted them. Although there was a lot more of her to explore. But first things first.
Her eyelashes swept down.
“Eyes on me, baby.” He put command into his voice.
Her gaze shot up. “You are so bossy.”
“Yeah. Now talk.” It was after midnight, and he had an early morning the next day, when he’d be heading to Boise to take care of the killers after her. “I’m losing patience, and you don’t want that.” It was only fair to be honest with her.
She swallowed. “Fine. Here it is. You’ll think I’m weak, but you want the truth.”
There was nothing weak about this woman. “All right. Truth?”
She sighed. “I can’t do it again. Be with a man who does a dangerous job. Losing Paul was enough for me. I know you love your life, but it’s dangerous. You got kicked by a cow tonight.”
Understanding wafted through him. The sweetheart. He leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on her nose. “If you were any sweeter, I’d get a toothache,” he muttered. “I get it. Yes, you’ve lost people, and so have I. But Hallie, life is dangerous. Just living is a risk.” He knew that better than most. “You’re an accountant, which should be one of the safest occupations possible, yet you’re on the run for your life. There might even be a hit out on you.” He kept his voice gentle.
She blinked. Once and again. “That’s a good point.”
Yeah. He had them once in a while. “People get sick and die every day. The point is, you have to live. We all have to live.” He’d learned that the hard way. He and his brothers still learned it, every day. “I’m good at my job, and I don’t take unnecessary risks. Either you trust me to do my best, or you don’t.”
Panic and then a softer light entered her eyes. “I do trust you.”
Well then, it was about time. He needed her to catch up with his understanding of their situation. The attraction between them had been instant, and pursuing it might involve risk, but as he’d told her, living was what mattered. “We good now?”
She swallowed, her gaze dropping to his lips. “Yeah. We’re good now.” Her voice had gone low. Husky. Sexy.
“Good.” He finally gave in and took her mouth the way he wanted. Hard and fast.
* * *
The kiss was beyond anything Hallie had ever experienced. He possessed her, took her over, securing everything she’d ever been and leaving the most intense longing in his path. The storm outside faded to nothing along with her worries and fears. There was only Trent Logan and his hands on her, his body easily holding her aloft.
His mouth was hot and insistent, demanding her surrender in a way that should’ve scared her but thrilled her instead. He had stopped asking and now commanded.
The taste of whiskey on his breath tantalized her tongue, while that kiss became electricity that zipped down her throat and flew throughout her body, wilder than she could’ve dreamed. His hold tightened on her, his fingers gripping her butt and the proof of his arousal hard against her core.
She moaned against his mouth, her fingers curling over his hard shoulders, feeling muscle and power.
He tore his mouth free and kissed her jawline, nipping and licking, snapping her earlobe between his lips. His movements were controlled and just rough enough to have her gasping for more. Needing more. Wanting all that was Trent Logan—the fire and the danger.
She could taste both on his skin as she licked her way up his neck to his chin, where his whiskers scratched her. Everything about him was masculine, and she reveled in the sensations, feeling safe in his arms.
Then he was moving. Easily carrying her through the house, his mouth once again on hers, demanding and fast. Each movement of his legs jolted her against him, and her nipples sharpened, rubbing against his hard chest in a way that spiraled need through her so fast her head swam.
The world tilted, and she found herself on her back on Trent’s big bed. He loomed over her, a wild cowboy in his element.