it didn’t happen.
Pierce’s arms held her tighter. “Watch your head.” He yanked open the door to the walkway leading to the rooming house. “Not that a concussion wouldn’t work in my favor.”
Mona dropped down as he walked straight through the door. “For someone who’s worried about my safety you’re awfully fine with decapitating me.”
“Not decapitating. Just concussing.” Pierce went through the door at the other end before heading directly up the stairs.
“Change the codes on my doors.”
“What?” Mona craned her neck, trying to get a look at what in the hell he was talking about. “You can’t just lock me in my room, Pierce.”
“I have no intention of locking you in your room.” He didn’t stop at the second floor. Instead Pierce kept going up the stairs like he wasn’t hauling an extra person along with him. “I’m locking you in my rooms.”
“You can’t just lock me up.” Mona tried to wiggle free, attempting to work her legs loose. “It’s against the law to hold someone against their will.”
“Sue me.” He reached the third floor. “I’ll give you Charles’ number. I’m sure he’ll be thrilled.”
Pierce managed to swipe his badge and open the door with one hand. The hall he walked into was silent. A single door stood at the center.
He dropped her to her feet right in front of it before tapping his ear. “What’s the new front door code?”
Dutch. Damn it.
“Tell Dutch when I see him again–”
“Thank you.” Pierce ignored her threat as his hand went to the keypad.
She held her breath as his finger hovered over the numbers.
He tipped his head her way. “Close your eyes.”
“No way.”
Pierce’s arm looped around her waist, pulling her close. “I didn’t expect you to be so difficult.”
He didn’t sound completely upset about the revelation.
“I didn’t expect you to be such a pain in the ass.”
Pierce’s lips curved into a small smile. “Surprise.”
And then his body was pressing her to the door as those same lips came to hers in a kiss that stole her thoughts. His mouth was hot and hard, demanding as it claimed hers. Owning every breath she managed to take.
This was the man she wanted to know. The man she was willing to do insane things to force from hiding.
Mona shoved her fingers into Pierce’s hair. He’d already had his hands in it. What would a couple more hurt?
The dark strands were surprisingly soft. Longer than they seemed when they were slicked into place. She fisted his hair a little tighter, using it to pull him closer.
He made her so damn mad.
But he made her other things too. Especially when he wasn’t trying to treat her like one wrong move would break her to pieces.
Pierce growled into her mouth, his frame pushing harder into hers, pinning her to the door as his hand went to her ass, pulling her closer, making it impossible to ignore the rigid line of his dick.
She’d spent a lifetime being too scared to take chances. Too worried to even consider if a risk was worth the reward.
It was a lifetime too long.
Before she could decide against it, Mona dropped one hand from his hair, moving it directly to the solid jut of his cock.
Pierce’s lips dropped hers as he sucked a breath through clenched teeth.
It emboldened her. Fueled the sense of power she was only just beginning to recognize might be hers.
She stroked along his length, rubbing her hand over the fabric of his pants.
Pierce’s lips caught hers as her second hand worked the button of his pants free and dipped inside.
His groan was like the air she used to fight to find in his presence. It fed her. Nourished the tiny bit of her just beginning to bloom.
His body was hot and hard everywhere. It made her want to see all of it. Touch all of it.
Taste all of it.
See just how out of control she could make this man be.
Because that’s what this was about. All of it.
Control.
Who had it.
Who needed it.
Suddenly Pierce’s fist hit the door, making it vibrate against her back. His arm went tight around her waist as he dragged her from the door.
Five beeps came in rapid succession.
It took her a second to realize where they came from.
“Damn it, Pierce.” She wrestled against him. “Let me go.”
He managed to get her through the door before doing exactly as she asked, releasing her immediately.
“Did you just do that to distract me?”
“You should believe what I say, Mona.” He raked one hand through the hair she’d managed to completely