Page 28 of Hot Blooded

“Because it is!” She couldn’t figure out how to explain the hurt she felt without making herself sound pathetic. She had been starting to feel like Amos thought she was special. He’d told her he wanted to court her and guard her and gave her all kinds of sweet bullshit. But it turned out he thought she was something he could buy. She felt cheap and gullible.

“Tessa,” he said, raising his hands in partial surrender. “The money was going to be yours either way. What does it matter if you have it all now, or if you get it portioned out month-by-month?”

“Because that was the agreement! And it was separate from us. But now there’s this… this thing between us. Do you think I’m for sale?”

Amos’s expression shifted from confusion to dismay. “Ah, fuck,” he groaned, dropping his head, pinching the bridge of his nose. He inhaled slowly, and Tessa braced herself for an offended tirade. But it never came. Instead, quietly, calmly, he said, “Tessa, I’m sorry.”

She blinked, caught off-guard. “What?”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve pursued anyone romantically. I was trying to do the opposite of that. I didn’t want the ongoing payments to put you in the position where you couldn’t walk away if you were unhappy. If you had it all right now, you could make whatever choice you wanted to.”

The hurt and anger fizzled immediately. “Oh.” The stiffness eased from her shoulders. “That’s… um, really thoughtful, actually.”

Amos looked up. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” With any of her exes, and most the other men she’d known, she’d have still been suspicious. But Amos had proven himself time and time again to be patient and thoughtful and protective. She believed him. She believed that he just wanted to give her choices, not make her feel beholden. “Thank you. And… sorry. For flipping out.”

“Don’t apologize. If I do something that upsets you, I want to know.”

Well, that was something she’d never heard from a man before.

“Do you still want to come over?” he asked.

“Yeah, of course. It’s Wednesday.”

“You don’t have to. I meant what I said, Tessa. If you’re upset with me—”

“I’m not. I’m really not.” She took his hand. “Come on.”

Back at his place, Tessa toed her shoes off and unbuttoned her coat while Amos locked the door. As she slid her coat down her arms, revealing her outfit, Amos made a throaty sound almost like a purring cat. Tessa glanced curiously at him. His pupils had dilated, just a bit, as his gaze tracked over her curves. She couldn’t help but subtly cock one hip.

“Tessa…” He wiped at his mouth. “What is this?”

She smiled demurely. “I don’t always wear scrubs, you know.”

The black of Amos’s pupils slowly overtook the red of his irises as his expression shifted to undisguised predatory hunger. Tessa suppressed a shiver as she stared back at him, acutely aware of the rise and fall of her breasts with each breath, of the ticking beat of her pulse in her throat, her wrists, between her thighs.

“Your sweet scent is getting stronger.” Amos stepped closer, backing her against the wall. He put one hand on the wall, caging her with his arm, and leaned in close. His other hand cupped her cheek, thumb stroking over her bottom lip. “You like being prey.”

A thrill of something dark and weak and needy shot through Tessa’s body. Her knees wanted to tremble, but she clenched them together while she met Amos’s midnight gaze. Hungry Amos was an entirely different beast from the polite, respectful man Tessa had been treated to so far. The difference was a surprise, but not an unwelcome one.

“Maybe I do,” she said, more breathlessly than she intended.

Amos’s predatory gaze held hers for a moment. With visible effort at self-control, he stepped back. “Go to the living room,” he said. “At the end of the hall.”

Not the politely formal sitting room, but instead, the cozy, personal space. “By myself?” she asked. “Where are you going to be?”

“Right behind you.” The words were nearly a growl in his deep voice.

A hot shiver ran down Tessa’s spine. Weak-kneed, she somehow managed to navigate the path to the living room. Amos shadowed her, close enough that she could feel the looming force of his presence with every step. She paused at the threshold of the living room, taking in the space while she savored the feel of Amos at her back.

“Go in,” he said, his voice soft, but irresistible with command. “Sit down.”

She did as he told her, anticipation simmering beneath her skin. As she turned to sit on the couch, she swallowed a gasp. Amos was right there, standing over her. In the dim light, his face was a shadowed mask. The gleam of his eyes flickered as his gaze tracked over her body.

And then suddenly, Tessa was on her back, laying on the couch, with Amos’s immovable bulk pinning her down. She didn’t even have time to gasp. He’d moved so quickly, she never saw it.

“Amos,” she said on a shocked, hitched breath.

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