Page 103 of Ice Devil

“Sure. We can make that happen.”

“No, we won’t. I can shower all by myself, thank you very much.”

My sigh was based on sheer frustration. “Come on. I’ll get you some clean towels.”

Just her being close meant the heat between us continued to build to an explosive point. I grabbed some towels, avoiding touching her when handing them over and before she was safely locked behind the closed bathroom door, I scampered away.

Sweat rolling down both sides of my face.

Minutes later and with her safely out of my hair, I grabbed a beer. Why the hell not? Having her in my house, in my space, and going through my things hadn’t been on my weekly bucket list.

As I stood by the kitchen window, staring out at the woods, I realized I kind of liked having her close. At least I didn’t need to lie to myself, but she’d never learn the truth. The lingering remnants of her perfume alone were enough to drive this big boy crazy.

Ground rules were needed. Lots of ground rules. After her shower, we’d sit down and I’d lay them out for her.

I took another deep pull on the brew. Then another. Every muscle remained tense. That’s what she did to me.

At least the spare room had a bed. It was clean with new sheets thanks to my sister’s insistence. So we were set. Yeah, set. My ass.

A shrill scream less than ten minutes later and I flew into action again without thinking, rushing toward her terror-filled cry.

When I threw open the bathroom door, I hadn’t been prepared for the sight in front of me.

Her naked body glistening from the shower, her towel in her hand and she was swatting at something.

“What is going on?”

“A bug! There’s a bug the size of a small dog.”

Noticing a beetle the size of a peanut on the bathroom counter, I leaned against the doorjamb. I’d finally found something she was terrified of.

And I had to admit that I loved having control over her. “You’re afraid, huh?” I could stand here all day.

“Aren’t you going to kill it?”

I’d preferred staring at her luscious body, every curve exactly as I remembered. Yet I wouldn’t mind ensuring my fingers hadn’t lost their touch.

With my dick beating the same rhythm as the song against my zipper, I reminded myself of all the reasons this arrangement wasn’t going to work.

However, with the fear in her eyes, her strangled terror struck a nerve. Instead of killing it, I scooped the little insect into my hand, giving her a heated look.

As I was leaving the bathroom, her retort was classic Sloane.

“Once a hero, always a hero.”

CHAPTER 22

Sloane

An incredible glow shimmered every surface in the room as I pulled myself from a delicious fog.

Only in doing so, I had to slip away from the raucous dream.

Holy moly, the dream had been carnal. Primal. Unsettling.

And of course every frame, every vivid image had included Beck ‘the Devil’ Kendrick. Every single one. His face. His muscular chest. Thighs the size of tree trunks.

I pushed my hands against the soft sheets, marveling that he’d even own a set so luxurious. There seemed to be a lot about the man I didn’t know about or understand.